In this blog I explore how the Profit& approach balances control with creative discovery to unlock the full potential of digital FP&A.

Something fascinating happens in nearly every Integrated Business Planning (IBP) project we deliver.  Despite a thorough discovery, scoping, and procurement process, something shifts in the early weeks of delivery. A moment of realisation. Excitement. Innovation. You begin to see—really see—what’s possible with a digital platform like Anaplan or Jedox.

It’s as if someone’s turned on the lights.

You might remember how exciting Excel felt when you first discovered its power. There was a sense of control and possibility—formulas, linked sheets, pivot tables. You could build your own models, tailor them to your needs, and drive your own planning. But now, this? This is something else entirely. Moving from Excel to a digital platform is like swapping a paper map for live GPS—you’re no longer plotting your course manually, you’re adjusting in real time with clarity, context, and confidence. Much like a GPS you are working out how to get to the destination faster, with minimal traffic and avoiding any unnecessary issues, like those pesky speed cameras. 

• You’ll surface key pieces of the puzzle that didn’t seem relevant before.
• You’ll re-imagine workflows you’ve followed for years.
• You might even turn long-established processes upside down and inside out.

It’s a thrilling, creative shift. And—it’s one of the biggest drivers of scope drift in IBP projects.

The Creative Risk of Transformation

Let’s be clear: this kind of scope drift doesn’t come from poor planning or unclear requirements. It comes from you seeing more. From your team beginning to understand what digital transformation truly means—not just replacing spreadsheets, but stepping into a completely different way of thinking about planning, forecasting, and decision-making.

And that’s a good thing.

But it needs to be managed intentionally. Otherwise, the project can lose focus, overrun its budget, or fall short of its original promise.

Re-Centring Around Value

At Profit&, we don’t try to shut down this creativity. We help you channel it.

That’s why we define value and outcomes with you up front—not to limit your ambition, but to give it direction. These clear, measurable outcomes become the foundation for decision-making as your ideas evolve:

• Does the new idea support your original strategic goals?
  
  
• Does it enhance the outcomes you set out to achieve?
  
  
• Will it unlock additional value, or is it a “nice to have”?
  
  

By anchoring every scope change to what matters most, we keep creativity aligned with impact. It’s not about saying “no.” It’s about asking: is this the right “yes”?

The Profit& Way: Managing Scope in Agile Delivery

Our agile approach to IBP projects builds in the flexibility to adapt—without losing control. Here’s how we manage creative scope drift:

1. Defining the Currency of 'Value'

By having a clear view of what metrics / KPIs we will monitor and measure for each benefit we are able to put all features against each other to really identify where the true value lays.

2. Sprint-Based Prioritisation

Your new ideas can be logged, assessed, and prioritised for upcoming sprints. If they offer real value, we’ll make space for them—intentionally and transparently.

3. Transparent Change Control

If a change impacts timeline, effort, or cost, we’ll document it clearly and discuss options with you. Would you like to fund additional effort? Or reprioritise something else?

4. Ongoing Value Check-Ins

We build regular checkpoints into delivery—not just to track progress, but to ensure everything still aligns with your strategic priorities. Are we still solving the right problem?

5. Empowering Your Team

We’ll equip your team to think critically about scope, value, and design—so you can confidently co-own the solution, and make informed decisions throughout.

Transformation is Messy. That’s Why Governance Matters

Real transformation doesn’t follow a script. Especially when it involves unlearning years of spreadsheet logic. But that’s no excuse for chaos. If anything, it calls for stronger governance, clearer communication, and a shared understanding of what success looks like.

Just think, if it was easy it would already be done, we are embarking on a brave new world!

By planning for discovery, aligning around value, and embedding agile disciplines from day one, we can help you embrace creativity without losing control.

From Wonderland to Clarity

If you’re considering a move to digital FP&A, know this: the benefits you’re seeing now—the ones drawing you in—are only the tip of the iceberg. The real magic happens once you begin. When you step into the project and start discovering what these platforms can really do, your thinking will shift. You’ll see more, expect more, and design more.

You might even relate to this: when Excel first came into your world, it felt like falling down a rabbit hole—an exciting, complex place filled with potential. Models grew, links multiplied, and you found yourself exploring new levels of analysis and control.

But over time, Wonderland became a bit of a maze. What once felt limitless began to feel messy. Fragile. Hard to navigate.  Now, it’s time to surface.

• Start small and fast, this will allow the creative juices to flow before you have over committed.
  
  
• Do not be afraid to throw things away if you have divine inspiration after 6 months.
  
  
• Embrace project management, done well it is a facilitator not a blocker.
  
  
• Be led by your strategic outcomes.  If you can’t map the outcomes your tool should deliver for your business - try again.  Good planning is only a reward when it enables better decisions and outcomes.
  
  
• Be clear and specific about how you will measure success.  You should be able to set a budget on the KPIs you hope to move, and measure them as frequently as cost and duration of the project.
  
  
• Communicate, communicate, communicate!  An engaged team working to the same goal is much more effective and better at solving inevitable problems.
  
  
• Always under complicate a problem.  Overcomplication is so hard to unwind, but something can always be expanded.

Digital platforms like Anaplan and Jedox offer not just more capability—but more clarity. More light. More confidence. And a clearer path forward. This is where planning becomes truly connected and intelligent. And this is where your transformation journey really begins.

That’s the Profit& way.

Ready to Explore the Magic of Digital Planning?

If you’d like to discover what’s truly possible beyond the boundaries of Excel, get in touch. We’d love to show you how a digital planning platform can transform the way you work—and where the real magic begins.