Rexel AB, a leading electrical wholesaler and part of the global Rexel Group, faced significant challenges in managing its financial planning and analysis (FP&A) processes. With an annual turnover of approximately €700 million and 57 branches across Sweden, the company relied heavily on complex Microsoft Excel spreadsheets for budgeting and forecasting.

The challenge: Navigating a complex landscape with Microsoft Excel

This approach proved cumbersome, inflexible, and lacked the granularity needed to effectively manage the business.

Key challenges included:

• ֛Cumbersome processes: Consolidating data from 300 cost centres using Microsoft Excel was a time-consuming and error-prone process.
• ֛Lack of flexibility: The rigid, top-down budgeting process offered little room for input from individual departments or the ability to easily adjust to changing market conditions.
• ֛Limited insight: The focus on top-line budgeting hindered the ability to connect budget to strategic goals, customer segments, or specific activities.
• ֛Difficulty in forecasting: Detailed forecasting was challenging, limiting Rexel AB’s ability to proactively respond to market trends.
• ֛Slow decision-making: Analysing different scenarios and making informed decisions was hampered by the complexity of the spreadsheets, slowing down the overall process.

The solution: Anaplan and Bedford Consulting – a powerful partnership

Recognising the need for a more agile and insightful FP&A solution, Rexel AB chose Anaplan. Anaplan’s planning and analysis platform offered the flexibility, scalability, and detailed modelling capabilities required to address Rexel AB’s challenges. Rexel AB also chose to partner with Bedford Consulting for the implementation. “I was impressed by how quickly Bedford Consulting captured what we were after,” says Magnus Åström, Head of Business Control at Rexel AB. “It was above my expectation in the beginning there.” The implementation focused on building two key applications within Anaplan:

• Sales Application: This module captures all data related to sales and margin, providing a granular view of performance by customer segment, product, and activity.
• OpEx Application: This module manages workforce planning (FTEs) and other operational expenses, allowing for detailed cost tracking and scenario analysis.

A phased rollout was adopted, planning for expansion over time. Bedford Consulting provided valuable training throughout the implementation, emphasising the importance of internal ownership and expertise.

The results: Empowering ownership and driving faster decision

The implementation of Anaplan has delivered significant benefits to Rexel AB, transforming their FP&A processes and empowering them to make smarter, faster decisions.

• Increased efficiency: “We’ve saved a lot of resources centrally,” notes Åström, highlighting the impact of the centralised platform on data management and consolidation.
  
• Improved collaboration and ownership: Anaplan has fostered greater collaboration between departments, empowering budget owners to take ownership of their numbers and align their plans with overall company strategy. Discussions shifted from debating the numbers themselves to focusing on strategic activities and resource allocation.
  
• Enhanced agility: Anaplan’s scenario planning capabilities have enabled Rexel AB to quickly assess the impact of different business decisions, such as reorganisations or top line adjustments. This agility has been crucial in responding to changing market dynamics. “This was where we actually saw the biggest benefit,” explains Åström, referring to the ability to easily model the impact of resource changes on the P&L.
  
• Faster decision-making: The ability to quickly analyse data and explore different scenarios has significantly accelerated the decision-making process. Rexel AB can now make informed decisions more efficiently, enabling them to capitalise on opportunities and mitigate risks.
  
• Greater transparency: Anaplan has provided a single source of truth for financial data, eliminating discrepancies and fostering trust in the numbers. Stakeholders across the business have a clear understanding of how the budget is built, leading to greater buy-in and acceptance. “Everyone is clear on what sits in their budget,” says Åström.
  
• Streamlined budget revisions: The ability to easily track changes and comments within Anaplan has simplified the budget revision process, making it more efficient and less prone to errors.

Bedford Care: A valuable partnership for ongoing success

Rexel AB also leverages Bedford Care for ongoing support and development. Rexel AB quickly realised the value of having access to Bedford’s expertise. “I was a bit hesitant how this was going to work,” admits Åström, “but I think that has worked better than I anticipated.” Bedford Care has helped Rexel AB maximise their use of Anaplan and continue to refine their FP&A processes.

Next steps: Expanding the power of Anaplan

Rexel AB plans to expand its use of Anaplan into other areas of the business, including supply chain planning and detailed forecasting. The company sees significant potential to leverage Anaplan’s capabilities to further improve decision-making and drive business growth.

Advice for other customers: Embrace training and foster internal expertise

Rexel AB’s advice for other companies embarking on an Anaplan implementation is to:

• Invest in training: Thorough training is essential for maximising the benefits of Anaplan.
• ֛Foster internal expertise: Developing internal expertise is crucial for long-term success and enables the company to take ownership of the platform. “You mustn’t underestimate the importance of an internal champion,” emphasises Åström.
• ֛Engage with Bedford Care: Bedford Care provides valuable support and guidance, helping companies get the most out of their Anaplan investment.

To find out more about the ways we are helping our customer achieve planning excellence, visit our website.