Question 1

What is Enterprise Performance Management (EPM)?

Accepted Answer

Enterprise Performance Management (EPM) encompasses the processes, methodologies, and systems used to plan, budget, forecast, and report on business performance. Column5 modernizes EPM by integrating AI, moving beyond traditional platforms to deliver faster, more actionable insights.

Question 2

What is the Flywheel Method?

Accepted Answer

The Flywheel Method is Column5's proprietary service delivery model that uses AI throughout the engagement. It mitigates cost overruns, accelerates time to value, and leaves your team with an AI assistant for max sustained independence.

Question 3

How does Darwin AI work?

Accepted Answer

Darwin AI acts as a management client that connects to multiple EPM tools using MCP and other methods, building a context stack of your specific business logic. It assists in all aspects of an EPM solution lifecycle, first engaging before the project begins, through the implementation and can even be left behind with a RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation) model to empower your team continuously. Darwin AI enables the Flywheel Method.

Question 4

What is Darwin AOP and how is it different from Darwin AI?

Accepted Answer

Darwin AOP (Agentic Orchestration Platform) supports complex landscapes for EPM and Analytics where multiple tools, datasets, and business processes are orchestrated as one continuous landscape. Using a central data store of a customer's choosing (always deployed in their firewall and under their control), a canonical model and an ontology layer, Darwin AOP offers the utmost in Analytics power without sacrificing freedom to choose components that best meet each customer's needs. AOP stacks with Darwin AI to provide an orchestration capability across EPM, BI and Data products.

Question 5

What is EPM orchestration?

Accepted Answer

Orchestration is how planning, reporting, and analysis stay aligned when assumptions sit in more than one system. It is the layer that connects, aligns, manages, operates, and analyzes across the components you already use so the landscape behaves like one capability. You need it when more than one system holds the assumed future and the business still has to move as one.

Question 6

Are you tied to a specific EPM vendor?

Accepted Answer

No. Column5 is proudly agnostic and supports a broad range of EPM solutions, including OneStream, SAP, Tagetik, Vena, and legacy products like Hyperion and BPC. We recommend the best tools for your specific needs.

Question 7

What is the ROI of AI-accelerated delivery?

Accepted Answer

The highest ROI comes from using AI to elevate quality, accelerate strategic value, and build lasting independence - not just speed and cost reduction. The Flywheel Method creates compounding returns: cycle time reduction, quality improvements in forecasting accuracy, analyst time redirected to strategic work, reduced risk through better governance, and long-term cost savings from greater self-sufficiency.

Question 8

What legacy EPM products does Column5 support?

Accepted Answer

Column5 supports legacy EPM products including SAP BPC (Business Planning and Consolidation), SAP BFC, and Oracle Hyperion through the Lifeline program. We provide 24/7 coverage, upgraded components, and rare experts even after vendor maintenance ends.

Next Step Playbooks

SAP BPCLIVE NOW

EPM Summit 2026

AI Skill: BPC Next Step

Recorded Webinar: SAP EPM Strategy Update

White Paper: BPC Migration Options

Blog: If your BPC case only says 'unsupported,' you already know what you'll get

SAP BFCComing soon!

EPM Summit 2026

AI Skill: BFC Next StepsComing soon!

Recorded Webinar: BFC Next StepsComing soon!

White Paper: BFC Next StepsComing soon!

Blog: BFC Next StepsComing soon!

Hyperion HFMComing soon!

EPM Summit 2026

AI Skill: Hyperion HFM Next StepsComing soon!

Recorded Webinar: HFM Next StepsComing soon!

White Paper: HFM Next StepsComing soon!

Blog: Hyperion HFM Next StepsComing soon!

Hyperion PlanningComing soon!

EPM Summit 2026

AI Skill: Hyperion Planning Next StepsComing soon!

Recorded Webinar: Planning Next StepsComing soon!

White Paper: Planning Next StepsComing soon!

Blog: Hyperion Planning Next StepsComing soon!

Hyperion EssbaseComing soon!

EPM Summit 2026

AI Skill: Hyperion Essbase Next StepsComing soon!

Recorded Webinar: Essbase Next StepsComing soon!

White Paper: Essbase Next StepsComing soon!

Blog: Hyperion Essbase Next StepsComing soon!

Playbook FAQs

Ready to talk through your next step?

Next Step Playbooks

SAP BPCLIVE NOW

EPM Summit 2026

AI Skill: BPC Next Step

Recorded Webinar: SAP EPM Strategy Update

White Paper: BPC Migration Options

Blog: If your BPC case only says 'unsupported,' you already know what you'll get

SAP BFCComing soon!

EPM Summit 2026

AI Skill: BFC Next StepsComing soon!

Recorded Webinar: BFC Next StepsComing soon!

White Paper: BFC Next StepsComing soon!

Blog: BFC Next StepsComing soon!

Hyperion HFMComing soon!

EPM Summit 2026

AI Skill: Hyperion HFM Next StepsComing soon!

Recorded Webinar: HFM Next StepsComing soon!

White Paper: HFM Next StepsComing soon!

Blog: Hyperion HFM Next StepsComing soon!

Hyperion PlanningComing soon!

EPM Summit 2026

AI Skill: Hyperion Planning Next StepsComing soon!

Recorded Webinar: Planning Next StepsComing soon!

White Paper: Planning Next StepsComing soon!

Blog: Hyperion Planning Next StepsComing soon!

Hyperion EssbaseComing soon!

EPM Summit 2026

AI Skill: Hyperion Essbase Next StepsComing soon!

Recorded Webinar: Essbase Next StepsComing soon!

White Paper: Essbase Next StepsComing soon!

Blog: Hyperion Essbase Next StepsComing soon!

Playbook FAQs

What happens when mainstream maintenance ends for SAP BPC?

Do we have to replace BPC, BFC, or Hyperion right away?

What is the Lifeline program?

Can we use AI before we migrate off a legacy product?

What options should a business case consider?

Ready to talk through your next step?