Solver
Cloud-based CPM and business intelligence platform.
About Solver
Solver pulls live data from your ERP and surfaces it through pre-built financial report templates, budgets, and forecasts without requiring a BI developer or custom SQL work. You connect to Dynamics 365, NetSuite, SAP, or Oracle, pick a template for your P&L, balance sheet, or rolling forecast, and the report populates automatically. Mid-market finance teams — typically 10 to 200 employees with a dedicated FP&A function — get the most value here because the template library is tuned for standard corporate reporting rather than project-based or fund accounting. Day-to-day, Solver handles monthly close packages, department-level budget vs. actual comparisons, and board dashboards without pulling data into Excel manually. The self-service layer lets non-technical controllers and CFOs build their own views without waiting on IT. The ceiling is clear though: this is a cloud wrapper around structured ERP data with templated outputs. There is no generative AI, no anomaly detection, and no narrative generation. If your ERP reports already satisfy stakeholders, Solver adds polish and automation but not analytical depth. Firms running Adaptive Insights, Vena, or Planful should do a direct feature comparison before committing, because the overlap is significant and switching costs are high once report libraries are built inside the platform.
Best for
Finance teams wanting pre-built reporting and planning tools that plug directly into their ERP
Key Features
- Pre-built financial reports and templates
- ERP-connected budgeting and forecasting
- Real-time dashboard creation from ERP data
- Self-service business intelligence analytics
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Pre-built templates for P&L, balance sheet, cash flow, and consolidations cut initial report setup from weeks to days for standard chart-of-accounts structures
- Live ERP connectivity to Dynamics 365, NetSuite, SAP, and Oracle means close packages pull current data without manual CSV exports
- Budget input forms push back to the ERP data model, keeping actuals and forecasts in one system rather than reconciling separate spreadsheet versions
- Department managers can filter and drill into their own cost center reports without controller involvement once the template is published
- Rolling forecast updates automatically when new actuals post, removing the manual refresh step that breaks most Excel-based forecast models
- Board-ready dashboard layouts are included out of the box, saving design time for teams that present monthly to non-finance stakeholders
Cons
- No free trial or self-serve evaluation tier — you have to go through a sales demo before seeing real functionality, which makes comparison shopping slow
- Pricing is quote-only and scales with user count, so a mid-market team adding departmental budget owners can see licensing costs jump quickly
- Template customization beyond the pre-built library requires learning Solver's proprietary formula language, which has a steeper curve than Excel and thin third-party documentation
- No AI-driven features: no anomaly flagging, no variance explanation, no forecast intelligence — you get structured data presentation, not analytical assistance
- Competes directly with Adaptive Insights, Vena, and Planful, all of which have larger user communities and more third-party integrators, meaning fewer available consultants if implementation stalls
- Report logic and template libraries built inside Solver are not easily portable if you switch platforms, creating meaningful lock-in after the first year
Ledger Brief Take
This is a traditional CPM platform that's been around longer than most AI-native tools, focusing on pre-built financial templates rather than generative insights. The ERP connectivity is solid for mid-market finance teams who want to skip custom report building, but you're essentially getting dressed-up Excel pivot tables with cloud hosting rather than transformative AI capabilities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions accountants ask about Solver.
How much does Solver cost?
Solver does not publish pricing. It is quote-only and scales by user count and ERP connection. Expect a mid-market team of 20-50 users to be in the range typical of enterprise CPM platforms — generally starting above $20,000 annually. Request a formal quote and ask specifically how budget contributor seats are priced, as that is where costs often escalate.
Does Solver integrate with QuickBooks or Xero?
Solver's core integrations target mid-market and enterprise ERPs: Microsoft Dynamics 365, NetSuite, SAP, and Oracle. QuickBooks and Xero are not listed as native connectors. Firms running QuickBooks or Xero should ask Solver directly about connector availability before evaluating further, as the platform's template library assumes a more structured ERP data model.
How does Solver compare to Adaptive Insights?
Both cover ERP-connected budgeting, forecasting, and financial reporting for mid-market finance teams. Adaptive Insights has a larger implementation partner network and more established AI roadmap. Solver positions on pre-built template depth and direct ERP write-back for budget inputs. If consultant availability and long-term vendor stability matter to your firm, Adaptive Insights carries less risk. If template speed-to-value is the priority, Solver is competitive.
Is Solver secure enough for financial data?
Solver is a cloud-hosted platform and publishes SOC 2 compliance documentation. Data is encrypted in transit and at rest. For firms with strict data residency requirements, confirm the hosting region before signing — Solver primarily runs on Azure infrastructure, which supports regional data boundaries but requires configuration confirmation from their team.
What size finance team is Solver actually built for?
Solver fits best in mid-market companies with 50 to 500 employees that have at least one dedicated FP&A or controller-level role and a real ERP (not just QuickBooks). Smaller firms without structured chart-of-accounts discipline will find the templates rigid. Larger enterprises with complex consolidations often outgrow it and move to OneStream or Cognos.
Does Solver require IT involvement to maintain?
Initial ERP connection setup requires IT or a Solver implementation partner. After go-live, finance teams can manage templates, publish reports, and update dashboards without IT for routine work. Adding new ERP data sources or significant template restructuring typically pulls IT back in. Plan for a 6-to-12-week implementation before self-sufficiency.