Article: Vena Solutions: Practical Insights into an AI-Powered Planning Platform
Do we really need another planning tool? The market for planning and CPM solutions has been crowded for years and is difficult to navigate for many users. From a functional perspective, most vendors promise professional support for planning and forecasting. So why should companies take a closer look at Vena? Based on our consulting experience, we see several good reasons why Vena is a compelling option for many organizations; especially when architecture, organization, and ways of working are considered together.
Data architecture as a key decision criterion
One essential and often underestimated selection criterion for a planning tool is the company’s current and target data architecture: Where is actual data stored? Which data platform forms the backbone for reporting and analytics?
In practice, it quickly becomes clear that the more defined a company’s technology strategy is, the shorter the list of viable planning tools becomes. Many companies (especially in the mid-market) have made a clear commitment to a Microsoft-based architecture, often built around Power BI, Azure services, or increasingly Microsoft Fabric as the data platform.
This is where Vena really stands out. The solution integrates seamlessly into the Microsoft ecosystem and complements existing analytics and reporting solutions with a powerful planning component, without creating architectural breaks. In a way, Vena closes the “write-back gap” in Power BI.
Not replacing Excel, but professionalizing it
The key strength of Vena is its native Excel integration and the fact that it's fully embedded in Microsoft (365). Planning, budgeting and forecasting continue to take place in a familiar Excel environment; an important adoption factor for both business users and controlling.
While other planning tools also offer Excel add-ins, Vena takes a more consistent approach: Excel is not just a frontend, but an integral part of the overall planning concept. Vena enhances and extends Excel rather than replacing it.
This extension is particularly evident in:
Centralized and consistent data management
Support for multidimensional planning models
Clear governance mechanisms
Improved data security and version control
Straightforward integration of multiple data sources
In doing so, Vena addresses the typical weaknesses of traditional Excel-based planning without fundamentally changing already established ways of working.
Complete functionally, with clear strengths
From a functional standpoint, Vena provides the core building blocks of modern corporate planning: scenarios, workflows, commenting, reporting integration, and collaboration. With Vena Copilot, the solution delivers AI features and agents for reporting and planning. What makes the solution compelling is less a single “killer feature” and more the coherent combination of technology, user acceptance, and governance.
Based on our experience, Vena is particularly well suited for companies with revenues between 150 million and 5 billion Euros. In this segment, several factors often come together: a strong Excel culture, limited IT resources, and at the same time growing requirements for integration, transparency, and effective performance management.
For very large and complex planning models (such as extensive S&OP scenarios with massive data volumes or advanced simulation requirements), other tools may have an advantage. This should be addressed transparently as part of a structured tool selection process.
Illustrative screenshots of the Vena planning tool (courtesy of Vena)
Our conclusion: When Vena makes sense
Vena is not a “silver bullet”, but it is a very compelling planning solution for organizations that rely on a Microsoft-based architecture and deliberately want to keep Excel as a central component to their planning approach and environment.
Any company looking to professionalize Excel, more tightly integrate planning and reporting, and at the same time improve governance, security, and scalability should include Vena on its software selection shortlist.
