We are happy to share some insights about Planful drawn from our latest market research, Ventana Research Buyers Guide: Business Planning, which assesses how well vendors’ offerings meet buyers’ requirements.
In all of our Buyers Guides, we utilize a structured research methodology called the Value Index that includes evaluation categories designed to reflect real-world criteria incorporated 
in a request for proposal (RFP) and vendor selection process. We evaluated Planful and 12 other vendors in seven categories, five relevant to the product (adaptability, capability, manageability, reliability and usability) and two related to the vendor (TCO/ROI and vendor validation). To arrive at the Value Index rating for a given vendor, we weighted each category to reflect its relative importance in an RFP process, with the weightings based on our experience and on data derived from our benchmark research on business planning.
Our analysis classified Planful as a vendor of Merit, receiving an overall grade of B++ with a 79.4% performance. Planful’s best grouped results came in Product Experience at 79.8% performance and a B++ grade, due in part to 
its A- in Manageability. In Customer Experience, Planful received a B++ grade, with a 78.2% performance due to its 81.5% performance in Validation. Planful was designated a Leader in Usability. Planful fully participated in the RFI process.
Planful’s B++ grade in Product Experience was impacted by its B++ in Adaptability where it could improve its customization. Customer Experience was impacted by its B+ grade in TCO/ROI where it could improve the resources provided to prospective buyers for making the business case for investment.
Planful performed best in Product Experience with a B++ grade, notably in Usability, where it is a leader, because of its user experience, in Manageability, receiving an A- due to its licensing and security, and an A- in Reliability because of its technology architecture. In Customer Experience, Planful’s references and case studies led to its A- in Validation.
This assessment was based on Planful, v. 23.8, released August 2023.
This research-based guide is the most comprehensive assessment of the value of business planning software in the industry. Technology buyers can learn more about how to use our Buyers Guide by clicking here and included vendors that wish to learn more can click here. Read the report here.
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