CCH Tagetik: tips & tricks for users - Multiple forecasting techniques

How to spread your data with multiple forecasting techniques

Working with CCH Tagetik with many of you, we found several tips ’n tricks for working with the application we would like to share with you. The purpose of this particular edition is to show how you can spread your data within forecasting by using the following techniques: spreading; break back and monthly splitting. Also, we will show which technique is best used for each situation.

Spreading is a very good trick to be able to set a high over amount and let the tool spread your data over all underlying elements through different spreading techniques. This can save a lot of time and has less risk of input errors. It makes forecasting a lot easier (and fun) and therefore we have committed this Tips & Tricks (#8) to the following spreading techniques:

Spreading data → formula based

The Spreading functionality allows you to change in Data Entry (DE) the result of a formula and ‘spread’ the difference on all editable elements of this formula. Basically, it automatically allocates one amount. Spreading you data can be performed through different spreading methods:

  • Proportional: existing amounts used as weight
  • Flat: distributed evenly
  • Seasonality patterns: 4-4-5. 4-5-4. 5-4-4 and custom
  • Based on other Scenario: Scenario navigation

You can find the spreading functionality on the Excel Ribbon bar Data Entry:

You can find the spreading functionality within the webform via:

Break back functionality → Input on an aggregated level

Normally data entry must be done using a combination of the dimensions’ lowest level elements in the data model. However, when loading Budget or Forecast you might only want to report and load on aggregated level and not on the lowest and detailed account or entity level. In this case you can use the “break back technique”. This allows you to load data on an aggregate level. CCH Tagetik will automatically distribute the amounts on lowest level elements.

The dimensions on which the Break back can be enabled are:

  • Accounts
  • Entity
  • Custom Dimensions

 Let us assume that the sales of products are grouped under the “Sales Software” node of the following hierarchy:

Break back using proportional distribution

Break back using a reference account

Enabling Break back in Process

The Break back utility can be enabled for the whole application by operating at the data entry rules level. This setting can be overridden at the Process level, so it is possible to disable or enable this utility for each process. Each element related to a node can be defined as the reference element for that specific node. The reference element is defined in the hierarchy management window:

Enabling Break back in form

The available options and the values are:

  • Breakback dimensions:
    • Default. The system uses the value specified at process level
    • DisabledBreak back
    • Custom dimensions
    • Custom dimensions, Entity, accounts
  • Save on the reference element
    • The system uses the value specified at process level
    • Yes
    • No

Monthly splitting → Spreading data using Tagetik database

Monthly splitting allows the user to ‘split per month’ the cumulated amount present on the last period of the scenario. The system creates a data processing that allows to generate entries on target periods. Monthly splitting is used for P&L, BS Variation and Other Variation Account. There are three Monthly splitting types:

  1. Flat
  2. 445 / 454 / 544
  3. Advanced, e.g. based on account

The desired method of Monthly splitting can be defined per account. You will have to enable monthly splitting in the process and design Data processing at DE-Form. Finally, run the DE-form and the Monthly splitting functionality. Monthly splitting is enabled into process definition of HTML5 interface: in Data Processing frame enable tick Monthly Splitting checkbox selected on the folder Enable Exceptions.

These calculations are then activated through regular Entity Data Processing.

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Want to know more?

Are you curious about the possibilities of CCH Tagetik and Finext? Have a look at our CCH Tagetik page here.

Want to know how Tagetik is used for planning and budgeting? Watch our webinar here.

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to let us know. You can find all our CCH Tagetik specialists here.