New BARC Score Highlights Top Planning Software and Key Market Trends
BARC has unveiled the latest edition of its BARC Score Integrated Planning & Analytics (IP&A) 2025, offering a detailed analysis of the top software providers in the IP&A space. This annual report supports organizations in identifying the most suitable solutions for modern, data-driven planning and performance management.
“Many companies still struggle with fragmented processes, outdated planning cycles, and a lack of data transparency. Truly integrated planning and analytics can help close these gaps. Our latest BARC Score IP&A 2025 highlights which software vendors are best positioned to support organizations in transforming their planning processes, improving forecast accuracy, and enabling faster, data-driven decisions,” said Dr. Christian Fuchs, Senior Analyst and Head of Data & Analytics Research at BARC.
Market Trends and Key Insights from BARC Score IP&A 2025
The report is based on in-depth market research, including data from numerous BARC surveys and direct analyst evaluations. Among the most important developments:
IP&A Takes Center Stage – More companies are seeking unified platforms that combine planning, forecasting, and analytics to improve speed, accuracy, and adaptability in decision-making.
Data Consistency as a Foundation – Integrated data models and platforms are critical for eliminating silos and providing a consistent, centralized data view across the organization.
Scenario Thinking and Simulation – Organizations increasingly rely on what-if analyses and simulations to prepare for uncertainty and steer more effectively.
Cloud Adoption and Business Empowerment – Cloud-first strategies and intuitive self-service tools are helping finance and business teams take more control of planning and reporting.
AI and ML Integration – Advanced technologies are being embedded to improve forecasting precision, automate repetitive tasks, find anomalies and offer intelligent recommendations.
Challenges in Achieving IP&A Integration
Despite the benefits, many organizations still struggle to connect planning and analytics seamlessly:
- Only 18% have fully integrated both areas.
- Manual data handovers remain common – four out of five companies still transfer data manually between tools.
- Excel continues to be widely used, often leading to errors, inefficiencies, and frustration.
IP&A as an Enabler for Better Performance Management
Combining strategic, financial, and operational planning with analytics in one environment is becoming a decisive competitive advantage. Unified platforms built on consistent data enable faster insights and more agile management.
Still, choosing the right technology is only one part of the equation. A clear vision, aligned processes, and a roadmap that addresses technical and organizational factors are equally important. While many IP&A initiatives begin with tool selection, success depends on a holistic approach also covering processes, methodology and organization.
