Infographic: CPM Trends 2026

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989 participants, 15 trends: The second edition of the annual CPM Trend Monitor reveals why data management and self-service matter more than AI.

Data Management and Self-Service Remain Core Priorities

This year’s CPM Trend Monitor 2026 on Corporate Performance Management (CPM) trends finds that, despite growing interest in new technologies like AI, organizations are primarily focused on strengthening their foundations. Based on insights from 989 participants, the results highlight the importance of data quality and user autonomy.

Data Management as the Foundation for Decisions

Data management ranks as the top priority in CPM. The study confirms that high-quality, consistent data is the prerequisite for sound business decisions. It also provides the necessary groundwork for the future use of technologies such as artificial intelligence.

Self-Service Empowers Business Departments

Following data management, the trend toward self-service capabilities in CPM is a key focus. Organizations aim to reduce the reliance of business departments on IT to shorten planning cycles and increase agility.

Differing Priorities by Role and Region

The analysis reveals clear differences in how trends are perceived:

  • Vendors vs. Users: Software vendors focus on technological drivers like simulation, scenario planning, and integrated cloud platforms. In contrast, business users prioritize the integration of financial and operational planning, self-service CPM, and integrated corporate planning. IT users focus on AI/ML, generative AI, and ESG reporting.
  • Company Size: Large companies emphasize self-service CPM, consolidation platforms, and ESG reporting. Small companies, however, prioritize integrated corporate planning, risk management, and integrated CPM platforms.
  • Region: In North America, priorities are geared toward operational efficiency and risk mitigation, while Europe places a stronger emphasis on sustainability and technological innovation.

Access the Complete Analysis

These findings offer an initial overview. The complete study, featuring an analysis of all 15 trends and detailed strategic recommendations, is available free of charge.

Infographic: CPM Trends 2026
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Author(s)

CEO, BPM Partners

Craig Schiff is CEO and Lead Analyst at BPM Partners. He was a founding member of Hyperion (which is now part of Oracle), and spent 16 years as SVP of its Products & Services group. More recently he was co-founder and CEO of Outlook-Soft (now part of SAP). He was also a founding member of the BPM Standards Group and is a recipient of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

He has spent 30+ years focused on budgeting, forecasting, consolidation, reporting and analytics. He has contributed his expertise to CFO Magazine, American Productivity & Quality Center, Association for Financial Professionals, Institute of Management Accountants, IndustryWeek, TechTarget, Information Management, TDWI and other leading finance and technology focused publications and conferences. For the fourth year in a row BPM Partners has been recognized as one of America’s Best Management Consulting Firms by Forbes.

Senior Analyst Data & Analytics

Dr. Christian Fuchs is a Senior Analyst and Head of Data & Analytics Research at BARC. He is the author of numerous BARC studies as well as a sought-after speaker at conferences. His areas of expertise are decision support information systems in corporate performance management (CPM), planning, consolidation and analytics front ends.

As a consultant, he supports companies in the software selection process and in the implementation phase as well as with strategic questions regarding tool portfolios, architecture and usage scenarios.

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