Business performance management specialist, Applix, has just launched Applix On-Demand (AOD), a new website providing a range of downloadable “out of the box” business solutions.

AOD will provide customers and partners with immediate access to solutions, applications and developer tools to support integrated business performance management. A community section will allow Applix customers to keep up on the latest developments, discuss issues and give feedback on solutions.

Jason Mullins, Applix product marketing manager, said the site would provide a “customer focused” resource, enabling businesses to get more out of Applix and letting Applix market its solutions and partner products in an interactive way.

Users will be able to download a complete solution to jump-start their business analytics projects and then develop and customise the templates with downloadable tools and utilities, Mullins said. Additional off-the-shelf applications provided by Applix partners, such as the Varicent’s sale performance management application, can also be downloaded, added Mullins. "The site will function similar to a one-stop shop,” he added.

TM1, Applix' low involvement report and analysis tool, will be one of the solutions available in AOD’s “Solution Center.” This solution is currently being rolled out in local councils, such as Westminster, to improve financial business processes by freeing up staff time, enabling immediate access to financial information and providing tighter control of budgets.

The new solution will automatically collect all the council’s financial data and insert this into excel spreadsheets. The spreadsheets will connect back to the Applix database and the TM1 in-memory capability will calculate the council’s consolidated monthly expenditure forecast for finance performance staff.

This new streamlined process means account data will go straight to account budget holders during departments’ monthly forecast and reviews, replacing the current labour-intensive procedure involving numerous spreadsheets and consolidations.

Peter Carpenter, Westminster Council’s financial service manager said the big saving is that once Applix has delivered the training on how to use its product and the tool set, everything can be carried out in-house.

Applix products design appears to be moving in this direction that intends to give business customers complete ownership of their business performance solution.
“Applix On-Demand puts the business user in charge, reducing the cost and need for IT involvement,” said Ben Plummer, senior vice president of marketing and strategic alliances Applix.