The benefits of predefined FP&A solutions to achieve industry-specific outcomes
Predefined industry model solutions for Financial Planning and Analysis (FP&A) are beginning to grow in adoption, particularly among small to mid-sized enterprises who want efficiency, standardization, and out-of-the-box functionality when it comes to planning processes.
Vendor solutions that offer predefined models and features that suit your specific industry, such as public sector, nonprofit or professional services, or regional needs, is particularly of use to mid or small-sized enterprises that have strict resource utilization goals.
In this blog, we will explore findings from BARC and BPM’s Corporate Performance Management Report 2025 which examines the value of predefined features, templates, and models, as well as their usage.
Keep reading this blog to learn how Unit4 can supply predefined FP&A solutions for your specific needs.
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What is a predefined FP&A solution?
A predefined FP&A solution refers to a financial planning and analysis software or tool that comes with ready-to-use templates, workflows, and functionalities designed to help organizations streamline their financial management processes.
These solutions are typically built with best practices in mind and cater to common FP&A activities like budgeting, forecasting, variance analysis, and reporting but a focus on industry-specific needs.
BPM and BARC comment that: “Built on top of a vendor’s platform, end users get the best of both worlds: the option to configure the platform to address unique needs, and predefined solutions for more universal issues such as compliance or specific processes.”
What are the benefits of predefined solutions?
- Out-of-the-box Features -Those who invest in predefined solutions will benefit from key features such as preconfigured dashboards, reports, and data visualization tools that are available out of the box, bringing great value for little effort.
- Accuracy – Even the most experienced financial staff can make errors, especially when forming reports from scratch or inputting data manually. With standardization of processes through predefined features and templates, accuracy can be increased and this burden can be alleviated from financial staff.
- Industry Best Practices – A predefined solution has built in methodologies that align and standardize processes under industry best practices, ensuring that these processes are optimal from the get-go. This also includes tracking key industry metrics, KPIs, and more that drive success for industry leaders.
- Customization – While a predefined solution may provide an industry-specific framework, this can still be configurable for your organization’s specific needs, providing even more customization of processes that are built on accurate and industry-specific best practices.
- Faster Implementation – As BARC and BPM note in their survey: “Having predefined planning content helps save organizations significant time and money in terms of implementation” thanks to out-of-the-box functionality. Unit4 supports organizations through their FP&A implementation, regardless of predefined features.
Who are predefined solutions for?
The obvious candidates for predefined solutions are industries that have specific processes or workflows that often repeat and can be time-consuming.
For example, nonprofit organizations may specifically want features to help with grant management. While Public sector organizations may want medium-term planning or scenario planning features to meet changing circumstances confidently.
Many industries are also subject to strict compliance measures that are often hard to manage manually, as well as to avoid errors in this process. With a predefined template, built by the vendor and established on industry best practices, compliance can be much easier and less error-prone.
BPM and BARC highlight that “these predefined solutions are often a better approach for business users who are less comfortable using a platform’s tools to build their own solutions.”
Notably, this points to interest in predefined solutions for smaller organizations with fewer IT resources to create bespoke solutions to their unique issues, choosing to invest in out-of-the-box capabilities that will provide them with greater return on investment and time to value.
This is reflected in responses to BPM and BARC’s survey concerning the usage of predefined features for FP&A. The features have the most use in Asia and the Pacific, (89% use or plan to adopt) compared to 56% in Europe and 57% in North America.
Moreover, this may hint that organizations that have non-technical staff could also benefit greatly from predefined templates and features that ensure greater accuracy and standardization of processes.
This shows that where resources and investment are scarce predefined solutions can have a great effect. But BPM and BARC note that usage will “increase in the future as more vendors roll out appealing options that address more use cases and fast time to value.”
How can Unit4’s predefined FP&A solutions help you achieve industry-specific outcomes?
Unit4 has a number of predefined and reputed FP&A solutions and models to help you solve specific industry problems and manage workloads, with faster time-to-value:
Unit4’s Professional Services Model
Unit4’s Professional Services Model supports all types of service and project-focused businesses around the world, offering unbeatable industry-specific features and functionality tailor-made for the industry.
Unit4 FP&A empowers professional services firms with advanced financial planning, accurate forecasting, and optimized resource allocation. With automated reporting, scenario planning, and customizable dashboards, firms gain data-driven insights to boost profitability, efficiency, and growth.
Unit4’s Public Sector Model
The public sector must plan and manage changing regulations, compliance, funding, and grants to thrive in their industry by making more effective use of taxpayer funds.
Unit4’s Public Sector FP&A model offers robust tools to manage complex budgets and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements. With capabilities like multi-dimensional analysis and performance tracking, public sector entities can enhance their strategic or medium-term planning and resource management.
Unit4’s Nonprofit Model
Nonprofits have industry-specific needs and processes from grant management and succinct financial compliance to donor reporting and managing volunteers. Nonprofits benefit from enhanced financial visibility and automated compliance reporting, which reduce administrative and manual burdens.
Unit4 Nonprofit FP&A Model streamlines the industry’s unique financial planning processes, ensuring funds are allocated effectively to maximize impact. The platform’s donor management and grant tracking features provide comprehensive insights into funding sources and expenditures.
To learn how Unit4 can provide pre-defined features for your industry-specific needs, visit our industry-specific product pages, our FP&A product page, or talk to sales today! Or, read BARC and BPM’s Corporate Performance Management Report 2025 in full.
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