What Column5 Consulting does

Column5 Consulting, founded in 2005 and headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, is a privately held professional services firm specializing in SAP Enterprise Performance Management (EPM) and Extended Planning & Analysis (xP&A) solutions. The company was established by former OutlookSoft leadership, including founder David Den Boer (previously Director of Services at OutlookSoft, 2000-2005), giving it deeply rooted expertise in SAP Business Planning & Consolidation (BPC), which evolved from the OutlookSoft product after SAP's 2007 acquisition. Column5 also operates offices in Chandler, Tempe, London, and Birmingham, serving enterprise clients across the Americas, EMEA, and APJ with implementation, optimization, training, managed services, and program management for SAP BPC, SAP Analytics Cloud (SAC), SAP HANA, S/4HANA Group Reporting, and related SAP performance management technologies.

The core technology stack centers on SAP's EPM portfolio combined with a strategic partnership with Darwin Analytics, which provides an agentic AI orchestration platform and prebuilt content marketplace that enable vendor-agnostic, AI-driven EPM/xP&A deployments. Column5 packages this capability through proprietary assets including the EPM Academy training platform, a five-stage EPM maturity assessment framework, BPC performance benchmarking tools, and the EPM Leadership Summit Network (with annual in-person events in Las Vegas and London plus a virtual subscription offering 45+ sessions). Select enterprise customers span media, financial services, retail, healthcare, technology, telecommunications, and public-sector organizations, including NBC Universal, DNB ASA, Amtrak, ServiceNow, Palo Alto Networks, and the World Bank, among others.

The business model is anchored in project-based professional services engagements, complemented by recurring-revenue streams: managed services delivered on Basic/Enhanced/Premium subscription tiers with preset monthly support hours, eLearning subscriptions through the EPM Academy, and the EPM Summit Online annual subscription. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed, with service engagements customized by scope and complexity. Go-to-market combines direct enterprise field sales, SAP partner channel referrals, Darwin Analytics co-sell, and thought-leadership-driven demand generation through content marketing, webinars, and industry events. Strategic partnerships with SAP (Gold Level Partner with Recognized Expertise in EPM), Darwin Analytics (core), and EPM International (secondary) underpin both credibility and pipeline development.

Name

Column5 Consulting

Legal name

Column5 Consulting Group, LLC

Website

https://column5.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Column5 Consulting is a privately held, SAP-focused professional services firm specializing in EPM and xP&A implementation, optimization, training, and managed services for large enterprises across the Americas, EMEA, and APJ.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Enterprise Performance Management Consulting

NAICS

Management Consulting Services (54161), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151), Custom Computer Programming Services (541511), Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services (541611)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)

akta.pro primary industry

Enterprise Performance Management (EPM) & FP&A Platforms (HDAEAEAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Enterprise Application Reporting, BI & Analytics Enablement (BPAEAGAK), Operations & Process Improvement Consulting (BPAHACAB)

Keywords

• Enterprise performance management
• SAP EPM consulting
• Extended planning analysis
• Financial consolidation services
• SAP BPC implementation

Headquarters

HQ city

Scottsdale

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Consulting & Implementation Services: Professional services for implementing, optimizing, or transitioning EPM/xP&A solutions. Includes solution architecture, system build, configuration, and deployment services for SAP BPC, SAP Analytics Cloud, and related EPM technologies. Revenue is project-based and varies by scope and complexity.
2. Training & Education Services: EPM Academy training services including eLearning subscriptions, hands-on workshops, and custom enterprise training delivered via eLearning, virtual, or on-site formats. CPE credit offerings for professional education.
3. Technical & Managed Services: Ongoing technical support, performance tuning, landscape design, hosting services, and managed service offerings with flexible SLAs. Supports client environments, Column5-hosted environments, or SAP RISE deployments.
4. EPM Summit Events & Subscriptions: EPM Summit Network virtual subscription providing access to on-demand content, live events, and community resources. Annual pass with recurring subscription revenue model.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Column5 Consulting provides professional services for implementing, optimizing, and transitioning SAP Enterprise Performance Management (EPM) and Extended Planning & Analysis (xP&A) solutions. Offerings span consulting and implementation, training via the EPM Academy platform, managed and technical support services, program management, EPM assessments, and cloud hosting, with specialization across SAP BPC, SAP Analytics Cloud, S/4HANA Group Reporting, SAP HANA, and Darwin Analytics orchestration.

Product overview

Column5 Consulting offers a portfolio of SAP xP&A and EPM consulting services built around core implementation expertise and specialized modules. The core offering is EPM and xP&A consulting for implementing, optimizing, or transitioning solutions including agentic AI through Darwin Analytics. Supporting modules include EPM Academy (training via eLearning and workshops), Managed Service (administration and support), Technical Services (performance tuning and landscape design), Program Management, Cloud Hosting, EPM Assessment, and SAP BPC Roadmap Workshop. The company specializes in a broad range of SAP technology platforms including SAP BPC (Business Planning & Consolidation), SAP Analytics Cloud (with AI-driven Smart Assist features), S/4HANA Group Reporting, SAP Financial Consolidation, SAP Disclosure Management, and SAP HANA. These products form an integrated ecosystem addressing enterprise planning, budgeting, consolidation, and extended planning and analysis needs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SAP xP&A and Enterprise Performance Management (EPM) Consulting Core professional service for implementing, optimizing, or transitioning EPM and Extended Planning & Analysis (xP&A) solutions, including agentic AI integration with Darwin Analytics on any EPM platform. Targeted at large enterprises with complex SAP EPM environments.
• EPM Academy Training and education division offering eLearning subscriptions, hands-on workshops, and EPM Summit Network access covering SAP BPC, SAP Analytics Cloud, and Darwin EPM solutions, with CPE-accredited courses for finance and IT professionals.
• Managed Service Administration, support, and process outsourcing with flexible SLAs for EPM solutions, supporting customer environments, Column5-hosted environments, or SAP RISE deployments. Extended Support is offered in Basic, Enhanced, and Premium plans with preset monthly hours.
• Technical Services Performance tuning, landscape design, and go-live support services for modern and legacy SAP EPM systems, aimed at resolving performance bottlenecks and supporting system administration.
• EPM Assessment BPC Application Review and comprehensive EPM assessment delivering a best practice roadmap for financial forecasting, planning, reporting, and analysis based on the firm's 5-stage EPM maturity framework.
• SAP BPC Roadmap Workshop Strategic workshop service that helps customers navigate SAP BPC transition options and plan future-state EPM roadmaps, particularly for organizations approaching BPC end-of-maintenance timelines.
• Program Management Project management services designed to deliver EPM/xP&A projects with reduced risk, faster cycles, and measurable ROI for enterprise engagements.
• Cloud Hosting Hosting service for EPM/xP&A solution deployment on public, private cloud, or hybrid models, with hosting environments managed by Column5 or via SAP RISE.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduced planning turnaround times through optimized EPM processes
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers18 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

AI capability3 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• Darwin AnalyticscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership to deliver vendor-agnostic, AI-driven EPM solutions. Column5 partners with Darwin Analytics to combine Darwin's agentic orchestration platform and marketplace prebuilt content with Column5's implementation expertise, enabling clients to maximize ROI, scalability, and competitive advantage from their EPM ecosystems.
• SAPcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSAP Partner with Gold Level status and SAP Recognized Expertise in Enterprise Performance Management. Column5 is the premier SAP partner in the EPM space, providing implementation, consulting, and support services for SAP BPC, SAP Analytics Cloud, SAP HANA, and related SAP EPM technologies.
• EPM International (EPMi)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with EPM International for EPM benchmarking studies and research. Collaboration on corporate headquarters performance management studies and EPM process benchmarking surveys that provide quantitative measurement standards for EPM best practices.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Performance Architects: A boutique SAP EPM/analytics consulting firm focused on BPC, SAC, and OneStream implementations. Directly comparable in size, offering, and customer profile to Column5.
• MindStream Analytics (ANIMOK): A consulting firm specializing in SAP EPM, BPC, and SAC implementations and managed services for mid-market and enterprise customers. Closest direct head-to-head competitor to Column5 in the SAP EPM specialist niche.
• TopQore: Smaller SAP-focused consultancy specializing in BPC, Group Reporting, and SAC implementations. Direct specialist competitor serving similar mid-market and enterprise EPM customers.

Broad incumbents

• Protiviti: Risk and technology consulting firm that delivers SAP and EPM transformation projects for finance organizations. Overlaps with Column5's enterprise FP&A and consolidation work, though with a wider advisory remit.
• Accenture: Global systems integrator with one of the largest SAP S/4HANA and EPM practices. Competes for the same large-enterprise transformation work that Column5 targets, with broader scale and delivery footprint.
• Deloitte: Big Four firm with a large SAP practice delivering EPM and finance transformation engagements globally. Competes with Column5 on enterprise EPM/xP&A RFPs but as part of a much broader consulting portfolio.
• Capgemini: Global SI with a substantial SAP practice delivering EPM, S/4HANA, and finance transformation programs. Frequently bids against specialist partners on large multi-workstream ERP/EPM deals.
• EY (Ernst & Young): Big Four firm combining finance transformation advisory with SAP delivery. Frequently competes with specialist EPM partners on large consolidation and FP&A transformation programs.
• Syntax (Stratos Consulting / Syntax): Large SAP-focused managed services and hosting provider that also delivers EPM and S/4HANA implementation work. Competes with Column5 in the SAP EPM managed-services and hosting segment.

Emerging players

• OneStream: CPM/EPM software vendor competing with SAP BPC and SAP Analytics Cloud at the platform layer. Competes with Column5 indirectly — customers choosing OneStream bypass SAP EPM, reducing the addressable project pipeline for specialist SAP partners.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/column5-consulting
• Xx.com/column5
• Facebookfacebook.com/column5

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Column5 Consulting