Implementation

With Alight you get more than planning and reporting software. You get a great consulting team at your side to make sure the implementation is done right and on schedule.

Our internal consultants have thousands of hours of experience with Alight Planning building financial models across scores of industries. The benefit is that we can fast track the process bringing to bear our in-depth product knowledge and customer experience on your specific implementation. Our data integration specialists have worked with most general ledger and ERP packages. They will help you design a fast and efficient monthly update process that will take minutes instead of hours.

You will also work with a team that will be sensitive to your budget constraints. We're not interested in stacking up consulting n hours. Our job is to get in, get you involved and owning the planning model, then get out.

Jump Start Program
The Alight Implementation Framework

Jump Start Program

Clients frequently begin working with the Alight implementation team through the Jump Start Program. This is a fixed fee package for $3,000 that covers setting of Goals & Objectives and defining Basic Architectures as described in Phases 1 and 2 of the Alight Implementation Framework below. The package also includes an additional three hours of continuing support.

Thereafter where additional assistance is need, we charge on an hourly basis. A modest consulting budget after Jump Start where you, the client, handle most of the implementation tasks is 10 hours. Heavy followup support by the Alight team after Jump Start might run 50 hours.

In any case, the beginning to end implementation lapsed time is measured in weeks, not months. Your team's availability, your budget for Alight consulting assistance, and your deadlines are the drivers.

The Alight Implementation Framework

The Alight Implementation Framework is our proven methodology for working with clients for a successful implementation of Alight Planning. The framework incorporates five steps:

1. Goals & Objectives —You complete an in-depth questionnaire. We also review your current planning templates. Together we then develop your planning/reporting goals and objectives plus a timeline for implementation. In the process, we document a detailed list of tasks to perform with time estimates identifying Alight's contributions and your team's involvements.
   
   
2. Basic Architectures —We define with you and develop prototypes of the architectural elements of your financial model. These include: timeframes for actuals and plan; financial statement rollup structures; dimension structures and attributes; plan and actuals reporting levels; and multi-user input and consolidation processes.
   
   
3. Import Structures & Data —With basic architectures now defined, we work with you to create and test import templates including the automatic generation of baseline actuals and plan line items. This step includes development of procedures for routine monthly import updates and customized recorded training materials that document import processes.
   
   
4. Modeling Structures—We identify with you the most important modeling structures to be incorporated into the financial plan and how, using Alight's modeling tabs and dimension assignments, each sub-set model should be organized. We then build and test templates of the model structures and define procedures for replication across your financial model. Again, deliverables include customized recorded training materials that guide you in replicating model structures.
   
   
5. Other Support —As required, we provide the follow additional support elements:
   
   
   • One on one custom training to supplement the Alight Bootcamp and Implementation Manual materials.
     
     
   • Trouble shooting for modeling, reporting building and security setup. We use the 'the ten minute rule', a fast turnaround online and telephone support method for getting you back on the track for complicated issues.
     
     
   • End user training materials — we develop recorded videos based on your financial model which your users view to get productive on a fast track.