Case Study
Cigna Accelerates International Close and Reporting with Oracle Hyperion
Cigna is a global health service company with operations spanning dozens of countries and millions of customer relationships. To improve its international close and reporting process, Cigna implemented a multi-cube Oracle Hyperion solution supported by MindStream Analytics.
Cigna needed a finance and reporting environment that could better support evolving business requirements without adding more complexity for the team. That meant improving structure, reducing manual effort, and creating a system that could be trusted for ongoing analysis and decision-making.
MindStream Analytics approached the engagement with a practical focus on long-term usability, making sure the solution improved day-to-day execution while also creating a stronger foundation for future planning and reporting needs.
The Challenge:
Cigna needed faster reporting, better visibility into the international close process, and improved support for cash flow, plan, projection, and constant currency reporting.
International financial reporting from Oracle 11i was slow, with some reports taking hours to generate. This made it harder for the organization to move efficiently from raw data and process inputs to timely, reliable financial insight.
The existing data structure did not support cash flow reporting or full management reporting needs. This made it harder for the organization to move efficiently from raw data and process inputs to timely, reliable financial insight.
The organization had limited visibility into the international close process, contributing to delays. This made it harder for the organization to move efficiently from raw data and process inputs to timely, reliable financial insight.
As reporting expectations increased and business needs evolved, Cigna needed a more dependable environment that could improve visibility, streamline workflows, and support faster decision-making.
The Solution
MindStream helped implement a multi-cube Oracle Hyperion architecture designed to support conversion, reporting, constant currency analysis, and specialized financial workflows.
Used a Data Conversion cube to transform YTD source files into monthly values and support currency translation. This step helped align the platform more closely with business requirements and reduced dependence on fragmented or manual workarounds.
Created a Data Repository cube for specialized monthly functional and USD balance reporting. This step helped align the platform more closely with business requirements and reduced dependence on fragmented or manual workarounds.
Implemented a Constant Currency cube and calculation processes for management reporting scenarios. This step helped align the platform more closely with business requirements and reduced dependence on fragmented or manual workarounds.
Built a Reporting cube and automated data flows through FDMEE, EAL, and SmartView-supported supplemental inputs. This step helped align the platform more closely with business requirements and reduced dependence on fragmented or manual workarounds.
Rather than stopping at a basic technical implementation, MindStream focused on creating a more stable and scalable operating model inside Oracle. That gave Cigna a solution that was easier to manage, easier to trust, and better suited for growth over time.
Key solution components included:
The Result
The solution gave Cigna a more capable international close and reporting framework, improving speed, automation, and support for broader management and financial reporting needs.
Improved reporting capabilities and reduced delays in the international close cycle. In practical terms, that meant stronger visibility, better process efficiency, and more confidence in the information being used to support finance and leadership decisions.
Supported cash flow, plan, projection, and constant currency reporting requirements. In practical terms, that meant stronger visibility, better process efficiency, and more confidence in the information being used to support finance and leadership decisions.
Automated important data movement and transformation processes across cubes. In practical terms, that meant stronger visibility, better process efficiency, and more confidence in the information being used to support finance and leadership decisions.
Increased visibility and control over international reporting workflows. In practical terms, that meant stronger visibility, better process efficiency, and more confidence in the information being used to support finance and leadership decisions.
Overall, the engagement helped Cigna move beyond short-term pain points and establish a more reliable framework for reporting, planning, and financial analysis going forward.