Some people are simply the backbone of a company, and Hans Coster is one of them. As one of KOKAI’s veterans, he’s been with us from the very beginning - and with many of our team members for what feels like a lifetime!

In today’s business landscape, data-driven decision-making is not just an advantage - it’s a necessity. Business Intelligence (BI) and Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) are at the core of this transformation, enabling organisations to streamline operations, improve forecasting, and stay ahead of the competition.

Let’s be honest—navigating the world of data analytics, AI, and reporting can sometimes feel like assembling IKEA furniture without the manual.

But what if you had step-by-step guides to take you from raw data to actionable insights—all in one platform? That’s exactly what Microsoft Fabric’s 𝗘𝗻𝗱-𝘁𝗼-𝗘𝗻𝗱 𝗧𝘂𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿!

At KOKAI, we believe great teams are built by great people. This week, we want to recognize Espen P. Kringstad - not just for his expertise, but for the way he brings people together.

Espen is an outstanding team player and a true role model. With his deep knowledge in IT and finance, combined with his warm and inclusive presence, he makes everyone feel welcome and valued.

At KOKAI, we are always looking for new ways to bridge academic knowledge with real-world business challenges. This fall, we had the opportunity to collaborate with two talented students from BI Norwegian Business School as part of their STR3605 Strategy course. The project was designed to provide the students with hands-on experience while offering us fresh insights into strategic analysis and business development.

We’re Hiring in Norway & Sweden: FP&A Consultant with Power BI Expertise

Are you passionate about turning data into actionable insights? Do you thrive in financial planning and analytics and have Power BI expertise? Then we want YOU to join our growing team in Norway or Sweden!

Key FP&A shifts expected by 2025 are driven by technological advancements like AI and cloud computing. This will lead to AI-powered automation of forecasting for better accuracy, the primacy of real-time data for quicker decisions, and integrated planning to break down silos.

Big things are happening in Microsoft Fabric, and these updates are game-changers for finance, data, and analytics teams! If you’re looking to automate workflows, boost efficiency, and take control of your data like never before, here’s what you need to know:

The path from data to decision-making isn’t always straightforward—unexpected turns, dead ends, and hidden pathways can slow you down. Without the right tools, it’s easy to get lost.

At KOKAI, we specialise in guiding companies through this complexity with Aimplan, Bizview, and Microsoft Fabric - helping FP&A professionals find the fastest, smartest route to data-driven decisions. Whether it's automating reporting, improving forecasting, or integrating Power BI insights, we make sure you see the whole picture, not just the next turn.

𝗟𝗲𝘁’𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻-𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿, 𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲-𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗳. 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝘇𝗲? 𝗟𝗲𝘁’𝘀 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗸.

Please say hello to Ola Ruud Elvestad – the newest member of the KOKAI family and our new Director of Business Development! We’re excited to welcome Ola to the team! With a strong background in analytics, stakeholder management, problem-solving, and process optimization, his expertise aligns perfectly with our mission to drive innovation and growth.

We’ve heard rumours on LinkedIn suggesting that it’s not possible to create budgets and forecasts directly in Power BI.
Instead, they say Excel is the most common option. But did you know that with Aimplan, you can actually input your budgets directly through Power BI?

We’re happy to introduce Jonas Häggström, who is joining the KOKAI family with 18 years of valuable experience in the industry. Jonas began his career working with Qlik's portfolio and progressed into senior development roles, gaining expertise in both back-end and front-end development. Over the years, Jonas has taken on significant client responsibilities, contributing to projects at every stage and building strong, long-term relationships.

In this episode, we dive into how Aimplan is transforming financial planning and analysis (FP&A) for organisations, especially those already using Power BI. Discover why Aimplan stands out as a modern solution compared to traditional systems.

For organisations that already use Power BI, Aimplan offers several advantages over traditional FP&A tools. These advantages stem from Aimplan's tight integration with Power BI, as well as its user-friendliness and collaborative features.

As the year draws to a close, we find ourselves in its final month, with the holidays just around the corner. For many in the IT industry, the peace of Christmas feels far away, as the fall and the weeks leading up to the holidays are often the busiest time of the year. At KOKAI, we’re working tirelessly to complete all our planned tasks before taking a well-deserved break. Yet December also offers a valuable opportunity for reflection on the year that’s coming to an end.

In today's fast-paced corporate climate, data is more important than ever. Companies demand technologies that not only ease the process of data collection, analysis, and reporting but also enable teams to make data-driven choices more quickly. KOKAI understands this developing demand, which is why we deliver holistic solutions centred on Microsoft Fabric.

In this week’s episode of KOKAI Insights, now available on Spotify, we dive into the transformative capabilities of Microsoft Fabric, the all-in-one, unified data platform designed to revolutionize how businesses manage, analyze, and leverage their data assets.

If you're navigating the complexities of data management, analytics, or reporting, this episode is your gateway to understanding how Microsoft Fabric can streamline your processes, enhance collaboration, and unlock your organisation's full potential.

We’re excited to announce the launch of our new podcast, KOKAI Insights! This podcast is part of our broader mission to share actionable knowledge and insights in the world of business intelligence and FP&A. Whether you’re an experienced Power BI user or just starting, we’ve got something valuable for you.

For now, the KOKAI Insights podcast is available exclusively on Spotify. Each episode dives deep into essential topics, offering practical tips and expert commentary to help you make the most of your tools.

We are thrilled to announce the launch of the BETA version of the KOKAI Partner Portal, and we’re inviting all our Aimplan partners to be among the first to experience it! This is your exclusive opportunity to explore a platform designed with your needs in mind and provide feedback to help us refine it further.

FP&A in Microsoft Fabric—Now in Public Preview
Aimplan is thrilled to announce the public preview of the Aimplan Financial Planning and Analysis solution, now supporting the new Fabric SQL database.

Thank you to Paul Barnhurst and Khaled Chowdhury for creating this planning guide for Power BI!

We are especially excited about Aimplan’s recognition, as KOKAI is both a distributor and a major shareholder. Aimplan’s innovative cloud-based FP&A solution, with user-friendly custom visuals, seamless Power BI integration, and robust master data management, empowers businesses to streamline planning and decision-making.

At KOKAI, we’re more than just implementation specialists. We’re strategic partners dedicated to helping you optimise your financial planning and analysis processes from end to end. Our focus is on transforming FP&A into a highly responsive, insight-driven function that adds value to the business. Let us show you how our expertise in Microsoft Fabric, Aimplan, and Bizview, combined with our industry know-how, can help you unlock the full potential of your FP&A capabilities.

Geir brings over 25 years of consulting expertise in Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), Enterprise Performance Management (EPM), and Business Intelligence (BI), along with 15 years of experience as a business owner. His vast background includes work across industries from retail to healthcare, hospitality to non-profit.

We’re excited to share the latest developments at KOKAI, where we continue to refine and expand our expertise to help businesses like yours thrive. As an official partner for Aimplan and Bizview with insightsoftware, as well as an expert in Microsoft Fabric, we are committed to providing cutting-edge solutions that simplify and optimise your business operations. To that end, we’ve launched two new pages on our website to give you a clearer picture of what we offer—and how we can support your strategic goals.

Hanna is the newest member of the KOKAI team, bringing valuable experience in digitalization and IT as an application consultant. Hanna's career has been defined by ambition, determination, and a strong sense of responsibility, attributes that have earned her the trust and appreciation of both customers and colleagues.

We believe AI's influence on FP&A is more than just a technological evolution; it is a strategic revolution. Artificial intelligence's sophisticated forecasting techniques facilitate proactive decision-making based on data-driven insights. Are you ready for what comes next?

On December 1, 2001, I started what would become Bizview. This was made possible by a "management buyout" from the publicly traded company Hands ASA. Bizview was a huge success for everyone involved with the company. We chose to sell Bizview to the US-based IT company Insightsoftware in September 2019, primarily because we realised that Insightsoftware had considerably greater resources to make Bizview a global product, which they have successfully accomplished in recent years.

New Year, New Opportunities - a phrase we all know well and often use, especially when things may not have gone quite as planned. Let's take a moment to reflect on this at KOKAI. We have recently conducted an evaluation of the past year - a time for summarising, reflecting, and learning from our experiences.