Sales Performance Management Solutions, Incentive Compensation Software | Enterprise Incentive Software

MODELING FUNCTIONS

Does your system provide the ability to update report sorts & execution frequencies without programming changes?
Is the report writer intended for use by non-technical end users?
Which query language does the report writer use?
Can the reporting or query language call routines written in a different programming language (e.g. VB, C++, SQL Server Stored Procedure)
Can the data structure of your system be accessed by external report writing tools?
Can reports be queued to run unattended in batch mode at night, and be able to be dependent on an event such as the existence of a file and not just a time of day?
Does the system warn the user of the number of records selected or the approximate time needed to run the report before processing?
Can CATS test assumptions regarding plan elements and predict the outcomes?
Can CATS create and maintain a plan template library?
Can CATS perform all plan modeling using a zero footprint client without the requirement of maintaining a client application?
Can CATS model using the same tool for plan administration and daily administration?
Does CATS support modeling specific requirements, including navigating into and out of, and copying data between modeling scenarios?
Does CATS allow for modeling to be done by the compensation group, finance, and/or executive management?
Can CATS model mid-year compensation plan changes and view the expected expenses before implementing the change?
Can CATS model new revenue forecasts based on different combinations of revenue sources (geography, line-of-business, channel, customers, etc.)?
Can CATS utilize data from the prior year to model future costs?
Can CATS provide "what-if" functionality to quickly model the cost of the plan under different performance circumstances?
Can CATS share commonly used components between plans and then add a specialized component without having to re-create the plan?
Can CATS migrate plans from the active operational environment to the modeling instance without IT involvement?
Does CATS allow for a separate modeling instance of the current production environment with full access to active operational data and plan rules?
Can CATS provide an incentive budget to managers with cost rollups during merit planning and/or when making incentive recommendations?

Does your system provide the ability to update report sorts and execution frequencies without the need for programming changes?
WebFOCUS reports can be constructed with variables coded for the sort field(s), and default values specified for standard execution. These variables can then be overridden at report creation time if the user wants to change the sort field, without requiring programming changes. Because execution frequencies can be automated using a rules-based scheduling component of WebFOCUS, execution frequencies also do not require programming changes.

Is the report writer intended for use by non-technical end users?
WebFOCUS was in fact originally designed to be used by non-technical end users.

Which query language does the report writer use?
SQL. In addition, WebFOCUS itself, which enables syntax, which performs queries on relational and non-relational data, sources (over 85 in total) with no knowledge of the native data structure required. Either WebFOCUS’ own query capability, or SQL can be used to query data.

Can the reporting or query language call routines written in a different programming language
(e.g. VB, C++, SQL Server Stored Procedure)?
WebFOCUS can call routines written in different programming languages, such as VB, C++, SQL Server Stored Procedures, etc.

Can the data structure of your system be accessed by external report writing tools?
There are no limitations to the accessing the data structure of the system by external writing tools.

Can reports be queued to run unattended in batch mode at night, and be able to be dependent on an event such as the existence of a file and not just a time of day?
These capabilities are provided by WebFOCUS Report Caster. Report Caster is a powerful and flexible solution for scheduling and distributing reports generated with WebFOCUS. It gives incentive compensation administrators exceptional control over when reports are run and how they are distributed. Control over scheduling can be concentrated in the hands of a single administrator, or spread among any number of pre -authorized end users. The content, timing, frequency, format, and even the method of distributing reports can all be easily managed and customized to meet individual needs. WebFOCUS Report Caster has been newly architected for optimum performance, scalability, and end-user functionality.

Does the system warn the user of the number of records selected or the approximate time needed to run the report before processing?
WebFOCUS Resource Governor lets you optimize control over critical areas of your business intelligence system by acting as an intelligent agent for performance management rules. You define the parameters and WebFOCUS Resource Governor will determine which WebFOCUS reports can pass through its preemptive governor – even before the reports run. And, unlike conventional reactive governors that stop requests only after they exceed a certain limit, WebFOCUS Resource Governor stops queries before they reach the database. The bottom line? Problem queries are stopped before they ever start, resulting in better control over resource consumption, prevention of Web browser time-outs, and exceptional system performance and availability.

Can CATS test assumptions regarding plan elements and predict the outcomes?
CATS comes integrated with a powerful and comprehensive modeling module that permits 'drag & drop' grouping of data and up to 12 simultaneous side-by-side modeling scenarios to be viewed. This analytical data is directly exportable to Excel and/or a wide variety of file formats for additional manipulation. Multi-dimensional pivot table-like views can be created instantly with no programming or vendor/IT support.

Can CATS create and maintain a plan template library?
We deliver all CATS on a fully implemented basis with our warranty including any design objects unique to the customer's requirements. There is also a robust incentive design object library that allows objects to be used again in future incentive plan designs.

Can CATS perform all plan modeling using a zero footprint client without the requirement of maintaining a client application?
Access to the application is required to use the Modeling Module. The CATS' Portal can contain a Calculation Wizard that permits salespeople access via web browser to calculate the value of a specific transaction based on their YTD achievement and the rules then in effect.

Can CATS model using the same tool for plan administration and daily administration?
The CATS calculation engine powers both the Administration and Analysis/Modeling modules. This ensures that every calculation, whether real or projected, benefits from the precision of all plan rules expressed in CATS.

Does CATS support modeling specific requirements, including navigating into and out of, and copying data between modeling scenarios?
CATS is a 100% Microsoft-centric application having been developed in Microsoft Visual Studio. Anyone at the intermediate level use of Excel can manipulate incentive compensation data faster and more powerfully inside CATS than attempting to perform similar calculations in Excel. However CATS data can be exported in a variety of data formats including a single click to Excel. Conversely, CATS can import Excel-based data with a single click for analysis and modeling activities.

Does CATS allow for modeling to be done by the compensation group, finance, and/or executive management?
Access to CATS Modeling Module may be assigned to any number of individuals. Using the role-based security feature, financial analysts or managers could be permitted to model data without IT involvement while having the ability to change data or plan rules restricted.

Can CATS model mid-year compensation plan changes and view the expected expenses before implementing the change?
CATS permits the administrator to model expected or projected results prior to implementation. In fact, this is the recommended process for using the integrated Modeling Module in CATS.

Can CATS model new revenue forecasts based on different combinations of revenue sources (geography, line-of-business, channel, customers, etc.)?
Administrators may use the CATS Analytic Module to run assumptions against changes in revenue data (e.g., number of mortgages, size of deals, margin or spreads), changes in plan rules (e.g. payouts, quotas, hurdle rates, steps, etc.) and/or performance distribution (e.g. excellence, average, below average, etc.) or any combination thereof.

Can CATS utilize data from the prior year to model future costs?
Any modeling assumptions may be run against any data set by simply selecting it. Data may be imported into CATS or CATS can be directed to access external data tables.

Can CATS provide "what-if" functionality to quickly model the cost of the plan under different performance circumstances?
CATS can perform up to 12 side-by-side 'what if' calculations against any of the 36 pre-set metrics and/or any customized metrics with a single click.

Can CATS share commonly used components between plans and then add a specialized component without having to re-create the plan?
One of the many "Wizards" embedded in CATS permits the incentive compensation administrator to use the existing position as a template and modify any aspect of it in creating a unique version for use throughout the enterprise or for a specific individual's compensation. This interrogation utilizes artificial intelligence such that the questions asked only pertain to the position the administrator is attempting to modify or create.

Can CATS migrate plans from the active operational environment to the modeling instance without IT involvement?
The CATS Administrator has 100% access to any data used by CATS without DBA involvement. The CATS Modeler uses the CATS Calculation Engine in performing all analysis. Once completed data may be exported from CATS into any data format including Excel with a single click. If plan changes are the goal, these changes may be saved and become the new rules by which a position is managed without the need for a separate programming step or any IT involvement.

Does CATS allow for a separate modeling instance of the current production environment with full access to active operational data and plan rules?
CATS has an integrated modeling module that uses the calculation engine when performing all analysis. In addition there is a Modeling Wizard that permits the administrator to select a specific position and perform up to 12 side-by-side 'what if' calculations using any combination of plan rules, performance distribution and sales data.

Can CATS provide an incentive budget to managers with cost rollups during merit planning and/or when making incentive recommendations?
CATS 2007 comes with a powerful Analytic module. This permits administrators with the ability to create up to 12 simultaneous comparisons of plan variables and/or sales projections in a matter of several mouse clicks. Such metrics as total compensation or compensation pertaining to a specific measure or organizational unit can be quickly isolated and evaluated using user-defined assumptions. All analysis performed within CATS can be exported into Excel with a single mouse click.