For a company to be financially agile, financial planning and analysis (FP&A) must extend beyond the finance team, making consolidation of financial data, automation of planning cycles, and detailed variance analysis essential to maximizing the value of ERP data. While ERP systems generate vast amounts of financial and operational data, most businesses still rely heavily on finance teams, spreadsheets, and manual processes for forecasting and reporting—resulting in bottlenecks and limited agility. In today's competitive markets, the ability to harness ERP data for forecasting, scenario modeling, and resource optimization provides a critical advantage, especially for mid-market businesses where ERP-compatible FP&A tools can transform raw data into actionable insights. By integrating FP&A solutions directly with industry-specific ERPs, companies gain a holistic view of financial health, streamline planning processes, and enable secure, collaborative access to the right information, fostering smarter and more strategic decisions. Recognizing the growing demand for automation and efficiency, many business owners are turning to specialized FP&A software, though the abundance of platform choices can be daunting. To support this selection process, Phocas has developed a detailed buyer's guide that explains platform types, outlines evaluation criteria, and highlights how FP&A tools work, ensuring businesses avoid missteps and adopt solutions that drive long-term financial success.