Maximizing Enterprise Performance in an Age of Uncertainty: Insights from the Dresner Advisory EPM Market Study
In today’s volatile business environment, the role of Enterprise Performance Management (EPM) has never been more critical. Organizations are navigating unprecedented levels of uncertainty with geopolitical instability, economic fluctuations, rapid technological change, and intensifying competitive pressures.
Against this backdrop, finance teams are being asked to do more than ever: remain nimble, maintain cost discipline, and provide the insight needed to steer the business confidently through shifting conditions.
In our recent webinar with Dresner Advisory Services, I sat down with industry veteran VP and Distinguished Analyst John Hagerty to unpack the findings of the Wisdom of Crowds® Enterprise Performance Management Market Study.
Our conversation explored how expectations of EPM are evolving, the growing influence of AI, and the barriers organizations must overcome to achieve true connected planning.
What follows is a synthesis of that discussion and a view into what’s next for the Office of Finance.
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EPM Today: Broader, Deeper, and More Strategic
EPM has traditionally been viewed as a finance-centric discipline, focused on budgeting, forecasting, and reporting. But as John reminded us, the definition has expanded significantly. EPM is now understood as a holistic, enterprise-wide framework for planning, managing, and reporting on performance.
The Dresner study reinforces this shift. While financial budgeting and planning remain the top-rated capabilities, with 50% of respondents identifying them as critically important, organizations increasingly expect EPM to support:
- Workforce planning
- Sales and operational planning
- ESG reporting
- Cross-functional scenario modelling
- Integration with ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) and specialist systems
This expansion reflects a simple truth: performance is no longer owned by finance alone. Every function contributes to the organization’s ability to respond, adapt, and grow. To support this, EPM must be connected, collaborative, and deeply integrated into the operational fabric of the business. With Unit4 FP&A’s native integration to ERP and specialist systems, organizations can unify financial and operational data, eliminate silos, and plan with far greater accuracy and confidence.
Why Connected Performance Matters More Than Ever
One of the strongest themes in our discussion was the need for truly connected performance across the organisation. As EPM expands, the volume and diversity of data required to support effective planning grows rapidly.
When information flows naturally between systems, teams gain a shared view of performance. They can model scenarios with greater accuracy, respond to change faster, and make decisions based on a single, trusted source of truth. But when connectivity is fragmented or dependent on manual workarounds, delays, errors, and misalignment inevitably follow.
This is why Unit4 has invested in a unified, people‑centric platform where ERP, FP&A, and HCM work together by design. As John noted, hidden connection costs are one of the biggest contributors to EPM project overruns. Removing those barriers allows organisations to focus on value creation, not system maintenance.
AI in EPM: From Hype to Practical Impact
No conversation about the future of EPM would be complete without addressing AI. And while AI can feel like a catch‑all term, John broke it down into three practical categories that are already reshaping finance:
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Predictive AI — algorithms that analyse historical patterns to forecast future outcomes.
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Generative AI — large language models that interpret natural language queries and generate narrative explanations.
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Agentic AI — automated workflows that execute tasks based on rules or learned patterns.
The Dresner study shows a clear shift in sentiment: 60% of respondents now view AI’s impact on EPM positively, compared to just 40% the previous year. In our live poll, 92% of attendees said AI would have at least some positive impact on EPM processes.
Why the change? Because organizations are beginning to see tangible benefits:
- Faster, more accurate forecasting
- Automated narrative reporting
- Reduced manual effort in routine accounting
- More time for strategic analysis
- Better detection of anomalies and emerging trends
At Unit4, we’re already applying these capabilities across our entire platform, not just within FP&A, but everywhere data, process, and insight come together. What makes our approach unique is that AI isn’t an add‑on or a standalone feature; it’s woven directly into the workflows that finance teams rely on every day. This means AI becomes a true multiplier across the full FP&A cycle, helping teams move from manual data preparation to higher‑value analysis, faster insights, and more confident decision‑making.
The Barriers to Success — and How to Overcome Them
Despite the momentum behind EPM, many organizations still struggle to achieve the level of connected, continuous planning they aspire to. In our webinar poll, the biggest perceived barriers were:
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Management engagement
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Implementation cost and complexity
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Cross-functional alignment
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Post‑implementation skills gaps
The Dresner study echoes these findings, with cross-functional alignment and leadership buy-in topping the list.
John’s advice for overcoming these hurdles was refreshingly pragmatic:
- Get the right people aligned early.
Successful EPM isn’t a technology project; it’s a business transformation. Bringing stakeholders together at the outset ensures shared expectations and a unified vision.
- Seek experienced guidance.
Whether through a trusted vendor or consulting partner, expert support accelerates alignment, reduces risk, and helps organizations avoid common pitfalls.
- Choose technology that reduces complexity, not adds to it.
Seamless integration, intuitive design, and strong vendor support dramatically reduce the total cost of ownership and improve adoption.
This is where Unit4’s strengths shine. In the Dresner rankings, Unit4 FP&A achieved top scores in customer experience, trust, value, low TCO, ease of use, and consulting support, all factors that directly mitigate the risks organizations face when modernizing their planning capabilities.
A Future Built on Connected, Intelligent Planning
As we wrapped up the webinar, one message stood out: EPM is no longer optional. In a world defined by uncertainty, organizations need the ability to plan continuously, model multiple futures, and respond with agility.
But achieving this requires more than tools. It requires:
- A unified data foundation
- Cross‑functional collaboration
- Leadership commitment
- Intelligent automation
- A platform designed for people, not just processes
The organizations that embrace this approach will be the ones best positioned to navigate disruption and unlock new value.
If you’d like to explore the findings further, the full Wisdom of Crowds® EPM Market Study is available to download, along with our FP&A eBrochure, and product demo.
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