In this uncertain environment, FP&A professionals need to reconsider their approaches to forecasting and revenue management. It is very important to incorporate Machine Learning into these finance processes.

This paper covers the findings of our sixth annual FP&A Trends Survey, where we share the trends and challenges facing FP&A departments around the world. The survey was performed at a time where organisations were looking to recover from the pandemic when many were trying to figure out how to operate in a changed business world.

Microsoft’s mission is to empower all people and organisations to achieve more. But the company has also been striving to achieve more itself, and xP&A has been instrumental in this pursuit.

In times of uncertainty, the failings of systems and measures are brought sharply into focus. Managing profitability often requires a complete re-think of how an organisation plans and the supporting systems that can help sustain profits in both the short and long term. That’s the subject of this paper.

xP&A is more than an attempt to ‘fix’ the planning process. It is a complete transformation of the FP&A function to continually challenge the status quo, to educate, shape and influence management decisions on how the organization achieves its goals.

In this paper, we will explore these different areas to explain what they are, how they have benefited other organisations and the steps an organisation can take in making the transition.