Reclaiming FP&A: Can Fabric, Power BI & Aimplan Define the Future of Financial Planning and Analysis?
At KOKAI, we don’t just follow industry acronyms — we evolve them.
In the world of finance, FP&A has long stood for Financial Planning & Analysis. And while that definition remains foundational, it’s no longer sufficient. Today’s finance teams are expected to do more than budget and forecast. They’re expected to drive strategy, deliver insight, and unify operational and financial data in real time.
That’s why KOKAI is giving new meaning to FP&A: Fabric, Power BI & Aimplan. This is the modern finance tech stack — and we’re building it with our clients at the centre.
Why Reimagine FP&A Now?
Finance leaders are under increasing pressure to accelerate reporting cycles, reduce risk, and respond to unpredictable market dynamics with agility. Unfortunately, most traditional FP&A solutions weren’t built for this reality.
“Spreadsheets and disconnected legacy tools slow companies down. Finance teams don’t just need better dashboards — they need a unified platform that helps them collaborate, simulate, and decide with confidence,” says Espen P. Kringstad, CEO of KOKAI Norway and seasoned FP&A advisor.
That’s where Microsoft Fabric, Power BI and Aimplan come in. Together, they form the foundation of a new operating model for finance — one that is scalable, automated, governed, and fully integrated.
The New FP&A, Defined by Technology
Let’s break it down:
Microsoft Fabric
A unified data platform that brings together data engineering, data warehousing, real-time analytics and business intelligence — all in one secure and governed environment. With Fabric, finance teams can finally eliminate silos and base decisions on a single source of truth.
Power BI
Microsoft’s leading data visualisation platform, trusted by analysts and CFOs alike. At KOKAI, Power BI isn’t just a reporting tool — it’s how we design scalable, interactive and real-time dashboards for CFOs, controllers and department leaders.
“When Power BI is connected to Fabric and combined with planning logic in Aimplan, we create a true control tower for finance,” explains Fredrick Halvorsen, Project Lead and certified PL-300 Data Analyst at KOKAI.
Aimplan
The next-generation FP&A platform — co-founded by KOKAI — that brings planning, budgeting and forecasting directly into Power BI. With support for driver-based modelling, scenario planning, and real-time collaboration, Aimplan empowers finance teams to move beyond Excel and into the future.
“Aimplan gives our clients a platform that feels like Excel, but with all the power and governance of the Microsoft ecosystem,” says Emilia Pettersson, Partner Manager and Aimplan expert at KOKAI Sweden.
Meet KOKAI’s FP&A Experts
KOKAI isn’t just a consulting firm — we’re a specialised team of financial and analytical minds with deep technical know-how. Our consultants are certified in Microsoft technologies like PL-300, DP-600 and AZ-104, and we’re constantly pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in the Microsoft ecosystem.
Our dedicated FP&A team includes:
Fredrick Halvorsen – Certified PL-300 expert and FP&A solution architect
Emilia Petersson – Aimplan consultant and partner support lead in Sweden
Robert Dahlquist – AZ-104 certified and expert on hybrid Power BI + Fabric + Aimplan implementations
Hanna Trulsson – DP-600 certified and focused on scalable data models in Fabric
Alf, Tåle, Rune, Hans, Jonas, and Ben – Trusted advisors for Bizview, Fabric and Aimplan integrations
Espen P. Kringstad – CEO of KOKAI Norway, strategic advisor and FP&A transformation leader
“We’ve supported everything from rapid budgeting rollouts to full-stack enterprise planning integrations using Aimplan, Power BI, and Fabric. The value comes not from tools alone — but from how they’re implemented,” says Robert Dahlquist.
From Acronym to Action: What KOKAI’s FP&A Delivers
Reclaiming the term FP&A isn’t a branding exercise — it’s a blueprint for action. By combining these three platforms with our domain expertise, KOKAI helps companies:
Replace outdated Excel-based models with automated and governed solutions
Align planning and analytics across departments
Gain real-time insight into financial and operational performance
Enable scenario-based decision-making at every level
Reduce reporting cycles and manual effort by up to 70%
“The moment we show a CFO how they can simulate a forecast change and see the impact instantly — with proper governance — the whole mindset around planning shifts,” adds Espen P. Kringstad.
Ready to Modernise Your FP&A?
Whether you're a CFO looking to improve control, a BI team seeking better integration, or a controller tired of copy-pasting between spreadsheets — we’re ready to help.
Let’s build your FP&A stack together: Fabric. Power BI. Aimplan. With KOKAI as your partner, you get expert guidance, implementation support, and long-term care through our unique customer model: KOKAI Care.
👉 Book a free 30-minute strategy session with one of our FP&A experts today. We’ll walk you through how your organisation can take the first steps toward automated planning, real-time insight, and data-driven control.
