Case Study
Cleaver-Brooks Aligns Business Goals with the Right Product Through Advisory Software Selection
Cleaver-Brooks approached MindStream to replace an outdated business intelligence platform that could not support dynamic reporting. Through a broader advisory software selection engagement, MindStream helped the company look beyond a single-tool replacement and identify a more complete enterprise performance management solution.
Cleaver-Brooks 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:
Cleaver-Brooks initially believed it needed a specific planning tool, but the deeper challenge was finding a unified solution that could support reporting, consolidation, budgeting, and forecasting for a dynamic manufacturing business.
A legacy reporting tool could not support dynamic reporting for actuals and planning data. This made it harder for the organization to move efficiently from raw data and process inputs to timely, reliable financial insight.
The business needed more agility for planning during acquisitions and other major business events. This made it harder for the organization to move efficiently from raw data and process inputs to timely, reliable financial insight.
The organization needed a clearer understanding of which vendors could meet both business and technical requirements. 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, Cleaver-Brooks needed a more dependable environment that could improve visibility, streamline workflows, and support faster decision-making.
The Solution
MindStream provided software selection advisory services, using a structured and software-agnostic evaluation process to align business goals with the right long-term solution.
Performed system analysis and requirements definition to clarify business and technical needs. This step helped align the platform more closely with business requirements and reduced dependence on fragmented or manual workarounds.
Conducted solution assessments and SWOT analysis across multiple vendors. This step helped align the platform more closely with business requirements and reduced dependence on fragmented or manual workarounds.
Coordinated demos, proofs of concept, reference checks, and vendor validation activities. This step helped align the platform more closely with business requirements and reduced dependence on fragmented or manual workarounds.
Supported vendor contract negotiation and helped the client choose OneStream as the final solution. 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 OneStream. That gave Cleaver-Brooks a solution that was easier to manage, easier to trust, and better suited for growth over time.
Key solution components included:
The Result
The engagement helped Cleaver-Brooks move beyond its initial assumptions and choose a solution that better matched the full scope of its reporting and planning needs.
Identified a broader enterprise reporting need beyond the originally assumed planning-tool issue. In practical terms, that meant stronger visibility, better process efficiency, and more confidence in the information being used to support finance and leadership decisions.
Helped divisional and corporate stakeholders align around a unified reporting and planning direction. In practical terms, that meant stronger visibility, better process efficiency, and more confidence in the information being used to support finance and leadership decisions.
Provided a trustworthy software evaluation process grounded in both finance and IT experience. In practical terms, that meant stronger visibility, better process efficiency, and more confidence in the information being used to support finance and leadership decisions.
Led Cleaver-Brooks to select OneStream as a unified solution for reporting, consolidation, budgeting, and forecasting. 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 Cleaver-Brooks move beyond short-term pain points and establish a more reliable framework for reporting, planning, and financial analysis going forward.