It’s been a busy year so far in our ongoing partnership with Planful, and the team at Verostone wanted to share an update on our successes, where we’re at now and what the future looks like.
We’ll be providing regular updates in future to share
all the latest news with the wider Planful team!
Verostone has seen great success in partnering with Planful to empower businesses across the UK and Europe.
Some of the highlights of the past year:
We’ve also helped many more Planful clients get the most from the solution. These collaborations showcase our expertise in tailoring Planful solutions to meet specific client needs.
We’ve delivered and continue to deliver support services and follow-on project phases to 80% of these clients and have also become the preferred partner for a number of ex-RSM clients.
Success stories like DGI Byen, Stenn International, Apollo, RSSB, and Hobbii, who we continue to work with post-launch, demonstrate the tangible benefits of partnering with Verostone. We’ve helped these clients achieve improved data accuracy, deeper financial insights, and increased overall satisfaction, paving the way for long-term growth.
Verostone has also participated in key events highlighting in collaboration with Planful in recent months:
One highlight was our co-hosted ‘Intelligent Finance’ event at Gordon Ramsay’s Lucky Cat in London (see below), which provided a platform to discuss the future of FP&A, fostering connections and generating interest in Verostone’s services and Planful’s solutions.
In addition, we were excited to attend some key Planful events. In February 2024, we attended Planful’s Palooza 2024 event in Palm Springs, fostering collaboration and alignment of shared goals.
In May 2024, we engaged with industry peers and gained actionable insights at the Perform24 event held in San Diego.
We also participated in CFO Connect in the UK, to showcase Planful’s benefits and drive pipeline growth.
Looking ahead, Verostone and Planful will continue to drive innovation through joint webinars, content campaigns, and industry events. By leveraging our combined expertise, we’ll empower even more UK businesses to achieve financial success with Planful.
We have another update for you, where we’ve recently co-hosted a successful “Intelligent Finance” event at Gordon Ramsay’s Lucky Cat in London on the 13th of June 2024. This exclusive gathering, titled “The Secret Ingredient in Advanced FP&A Leadership,” brought together 30 key finance leaders from our client and prospect businesses for an informative discussion on AI-driven finance functions.
Cohosted by Planful’s Chris Howard, Kimberly Simms and Brian Ormsby, along with Verostone’s Dave Francis, James Coupar and Jite Udje, the event explored how predictive technologies and intelligent planning tools are revolutionising finance and accounting. Attendees learned valuable strategies for leveraging these advancements to achieve significant performance gains.
This soft sales opportunity served to foster connections and generated interest in Verostone’s services and Planful’s innovative solutions. Attendees included high-profile finance leaders from the likes of Gousto, Deutsche Bank, Christian Aid, Tata Consultancy, and the Hippodrome Casino.
We look forward to building on these relationships, with 6 potential opportunities already in motion off the back of a successful event.
In February 2024, Verostone attended Planful’s Palooza 2024 event in Palm Springs. We had a blast connecting with the Planful team. This dynamic event fostered collaboration and solidified our shared goals.
It was an invaluable opportunity to engage with the Planful team, align our goals, and celebrate our shared successes. The vibrant atmosphere fostered meaningful connections and provided insights that will drive our partnership forward. We were inspired by Planful’s commitment to innovation and collaboration, reaffirming our mutual dedication to growth. We’re grateful for the enriching experience and look forward to leveraging this momentum for continued collaboration.
We look forward to continuing our partnership with Planful and achieving more milestones together.
We recently celebrated another successful project close-out – with Stenn International, bringing onboard another valuable client for Planful. The Verostone team joined the team from Stenn for an evening out to mark the occasion!
Key highlights:
Common group chart of accounts: We established a unified chart of accounts across Stenn International’s entities, enabling consistent financial reporting.
Historical data loading: Four years of historical financial data were seamlessly integrated into the Planful system, providing a robust foundation for future planning.
Intercompany eliminations configuration: We configured intercompany eliminations across 13 entities, ensuring accurate financial consolidation.
Our Planful implementation for Stenn International was a meticulous process, requiring 174 hours of dedicated effort from our team. This comprehensive approach, coupled with a 12-month support agreement, empowers Stenn to maintain operational efficiency and address evolving needs effectively.
We’re excited about the future with Planful and anticipate reaching even greater milestones.
We’re delighted to announce our Business Development Representative Sean Khoza has recently achieved Planful Sales Certification! Our Implementation Consultant Endora Miles-Wilson is also enrolled in the programme, helping to grow our delivery capabilities even further. Verostone continues to invest in the training and development of our team to ensure we deliver best-in-class services to our clients. By doing so, we ensure that our team remains at the cutting edge of industry practices, providing innovative and efficient solutions to our mutual clients.
Key components of our training initiatives include:
Advanced training: Comprehensive sessions to master Planful’s features and functionalities.
Certification programme: Obtaining formal certifications to validate our expertise and commitment to high standards.
Continuous learning: Regular updates and refresher courses to keep our skills up-to-date and aligned with the latest advancements.
Through these initiatives, we are dedicated to delivering exceptional service and support, helping clients achieve their financial planning goals with the utmost confidence and efficiency.
As an existing Planful client, Apollo has signed a new 100-hour support contract with Verostone to help enhance their planning models, cashflow models, and integrate data seamlessly into their systems. Additionally, we developed a cutting-edge program cost model, which has gained recognition in the Planful Solution Exchange.
By leveraging our expertise and resources, we have not only met but exceeded Apollo’s expectations, ensuring their satisfaction and long-term loyalty.
Our partnership with Apollo highlights the transformative impact of our services, turning satisfied clients into advocates for our brand. We are excited about the journey ahead with Apollo and look forward to achieving even greater milestones together.
In May, we attended the Perform24 Event held in San Diego. The conference offered a fantastic blend of insightful keynotes, practical training sessions, and engaging breakout discussions. We gained numerous actionable insights to leverage Planful’s capabilities more effectively.
Beyond the formal sessions, we truly valued the opportunity to connect with the Planful team and other attendees. The chance to bond over various activities and discussions was both enjoyable and beneficial, deepening our understanding and appreciation of the Planful ecosystem.
Thanks to Planful for hosting such a well-organised and impactful event. We’re excited to apply this knowledge and empower our clients to take their financial performance to the next level!
After their initial Planful implementation, we were introduced to RSSB to provide improvements and ongoing support. The enhancements led to a significant increase in customer satisfaction. RSSB has now signed a one-year support contract with us, demonstrating their commitment to our services.
Enhanced Planful solutions for RSSB
As a reputable organisation committed to enhancing safety standards across the rail industry, RSSB turned to Verostone to provide improvements and ongoing support.
Key highlights:
Implementation enhancements: We took on RSSB’s existing Planful setup, focusing on enhancing their planning models, cashflow models, and data integration processes.
Innovative programme cost model: Developed a state-of-the-art program cost model that has been recognised in the Planful Solution Exchange, providing RSSB with robust tools for financial analysis and decision-making.
Ongoing support contract: RSSB has signed a 1-year support contract with us, reflecting their satisfaction and commitment to long-term partnership. This contract includes dedicated support hours for further enhancements and system optimisations.
Our partnership with RSSB exemplifies our dedication to delivering exceptional solutions tailored to our clients’ needs. Through our expertise, we have not only met but exceeded RSSB’s expectations, ensuring their continued satisfaction and reducing the likelihood of churn.
Verostone has invested in attending CFO Connect, a series of brokered virtual meetings with potential clients. This platform offers a unique opportunity to engage with senior finance leaders and present the benefits of the Planful solution, paving the way for new business opportunities and client acquisitions.
Key benefits of CFO Connect include:
Guaranteed meetings: Engage directly with senior executives who have live projects and budgets
AI matching: EUtilise an innovative AI engine to identify and connect with the most relevant prospects
Detailed briefs: Access comprehensive profiles and project briefs to prepare effectively for each meeting
Expansive reach: Leverage a series of in-person and online events to maintain a robust pipeline throughout the year
The first CFO Connect of 2024 took place at the beginning of June, where we met with a shortlist of carefully selected prospect accounts, to discuss their FP&A challenges, and discover where we can add value, with potential sales opportunities for Planful’s suite of solutions.
Looking ahead, Verostone and Planful are planning a series of webinars, content campaigns, and events aimed at promoting Planful in the UK market. These initiatives will leverage Verostone’s reputation as a leading FP&A solutions provider to attract new clients and raise the profile of Planful, further solidifying our partnership and market presence.
Our aim is to attract broader adoption of Planful in the UK market by showcasing its strong capabilities in financial planning and analysis. By combining our expertise and resources, we aim to drive significant interest and engagement from potential clients across the UK.
Stay tuned for more details on our planned activities, including:
Webinars: Insightful sessions featuring industry experts discussing the latest trends and best practices in FP&A.
Content campaigns: Engaging and informative content designed to highlight the unique benefits of Planful.
Events: In-person and virtual events to connect with senior-level executives and decision-makers.
Together, we will build momentum and create new opportunities for Planful, ensuring its success and growth in the UK market.
Following on from the success of our joint event at Gordon Ramsay’s Lucky Cat, we’re planning another joint event in early 2025, this time at the prestigious Dorchester Hotel in Mayfair, London!
We’ll be hosting a roundtable lunch in the Crystal Room, where we’ll be discussing the three essential stages of financial planning transformation with a room of finance leaders from a range of client and prospect businesses.
The event will be taking place in the Crystal Room, a luxury event suite that features Liberace’s mirrored piano as a talking point! We expect a lively event and facilitated discussion, with the chance to educate the audience to the benefits of Planful.
Watch this space for more updates to come.