A quick cheat sheet to help you understand how budgeting really works inside finance teams — and why Synoptix is often the solution they’ve been searching for.
Budgeting is the backbone of a finance office. Every year — and increasingly every quarter — organizations must plan revenue, expenses, staffing, enrollment, production volumes, and dozens of financial assumptions that affect every department. But here’s the reality: most budgeting processes today are slow, manual, spreadsheet-driven, and exhausting.
Even in systems like Banner, Colleague, and other mid-market ERPs, budgeting tools are often rigid, siloed, or require heavy IT involvement. Because these ERPs weren’t built for true collaborative planning, finance teams stitch together budgets using large, fragile networks of spreadsheets. Department heads email versions back and forth, formulas break, and finance spends weeks reconciling changes just to get to a “first draft.”
As organizations grow, the process gets worse — more departments, more versions, more fixes, more confusion. And because the budget is the foundation for reporting and forecasting, any errors or delays in budgeting ripple through the entire financial cycle.
Reporting struggles tend to flow from this same problem. Finance teams still rely on Excel to pull numbers out of the ERP, massage data, create analyses, and build board reports. What starts as flexibility becomes a maze of manual work, inconsistent versions, and a lack of confidence in the final numbers.
Finance teams step into conversations with ERP reps saying things like:
These aren’t unusual complaints — they’re the standard experience.
This is where Synoptix changes the game.
Synoptix gives finance teams a modern budgeting and forecasting system that actually mirrors how they work — collaborative worksheets, people planning, revenue modeling, department-level input, multi-version budgeting, and powerful what-if scenarios. Teams can adjust assumptions on the fly, model enrollment or production changes instantly, and move from “spreadsheet chaos” to structured financial clarity.
And because the budgeting foundation is clean, reporting becomes dramatically easier. Synoptix pulls live data from the ERP, lets teams build flexible reports on their own, and eliminates dependency on IT or massive FP&A platforms. Implementations take about six weeks — not months or years — and users can be productive with minimal training.
For you as a partner rep, the takeaway is simple:
When a customer is overwhelmed by budgeting, drowning in spreadsheets, or struggling to keep financial data consistent, they don’t need an expensive enterprise FP&A overhaul — they need a fast, affordable solution that solves budgeting first and improves reporting naturally along the way.
That’s exactly where Synoptix fits.
Synoptix helps organizations modernize budgeting and forecasting without replacing their ERP or taking on a massive FP&A system. We give finance teams a collaborative, spreadsheet-free way to plan, model scenarios, and manage budgets—directly connected to live ERP data.
Because the budget foundation is clean and structured, reporting becomes faster and more reliable too. Teams can build and update reports themselves, without IT support or manual Excel work. Implementations go live in weeks, not months, and customers typically save dozens of hours every month.
If your customer is overwhelmed by budgeting, buried in spreadsheets, or frustrated by slow, inflexible reporting, Synoptix is the fastest, easiest, and most cost-effective way to fix it.
If your customer says any of these, it’s time to bring up Synoptix.
“Budget season is chaos every year.”
“We’re emailing spreadsheets back and forth.”
“It takes months to finalize the budget.”
“Every department budgets differently.”
Synoptix flags:
Centralized budgeting, structured workflows, spreadsheet-free collaboration, faster approvals.
“Leadership keeps asking for new scenarios.”
“What-if modeling takes too long.”
“We can’t reforecast quickly when things change.”
“We’re always reacting instead of planning.”
Synoptix flags:
What-if scenarios, versioned forecasts, rapid reforecasting, flexible planning models.
“Everything ends up in Excel anyway.”
“We rely on a few spreadsheet power users.”
“If one file breaks, everything breaks.”
“No one knows which version is final.”
Synoptix flags:
Spreadsheet replacement, version control, centralized data, finance-owned processes.
“Our ERP just isn’t built for budgeting.”
“Reporting works, but planning doesn’t.”
“We export everything to make it usable.”
“The ERP gives us data, not insight.”
Synoptix flags:
ERP enhancement, live data connection, purpose-built planning and analysis.
“Departments don’t take ownership of their budgets.”
“Finance has to fix everyone’s numbers.”
“Approvals take forever.”
“We spend more time chasing people than analyzing data.”
Synoptix flags:
Departmental input, approval workflows, accountability, controlled access.
“Reports take too long to prepare.”
“We don’t trust budget vs actuals.”
“We’re constantly reconciling numbers.”
“Every report tells a different story.”
Synoptix flags:
Clean budget foundation, trusted variance reporting, single source of truth.
“We looked at FP&A tools, but they’re too heavy.”
“Implementation timelines scared us.”
“We don’t want a year-long rollout.”
“We don’t have IT resources for that.”
Synoptix flags:
Mid-market FP&A alternative, fast implementation, minimal IT involvement.
“Each department plans differently.”
“Rolling things up takes too long.”
“Consolidation is painful.”
“Our structure doesn’t fit rigid tools.”
Synoptix flags:
Flexible modeling, multi-entity planning, rollups without rework.
“We need a better planning process.”
“Leadership wants cleaner forecasts.”
“We need planning that actually reflects how we operate.”
“We want budgeting to stop being the bottleneck.”
These are PERFECT Synoptix entry points.
If the customer is too complex for Excel but not ready for a massive FP&A platform, Synoptix is exactly where they fit.
For customers stuck between rigid ERP tools and bloated FP&A platforms.
Use these questions to quickly determine whether Synoptix is the right level of solution.
If budgeting takes months, requires dozens of spreadsheets, or stalls waiting on inputs, Synoptix is a strong fit.
If reforecasting feels painful—or gets avoided altogether—Synoptix enables fast, low-friction scenario planning.
If Finance is collecting spreadsheets, rekeying numbers, or chasing approvals, Synoptix removes the bottleneck.
If Excel is doing the heavy lifting between ERP and leadership, Synoptix is designed to replace that gap.
This is a key positioning question. If the answer is “yes,” Synoptix often fits perfectly.
Weak confidence usually means fragmented tools and manual reconciliation, both of which Synoptix eliminates.
If it takes days or weeks instead of hours, Synoptix adds immediate value.
If teams have to “work around” their tools, Synoptix’s flexible modeling is a strong differentiator.
If Finance depends on IT for changes, Synoptix’s self-service model is a clear upgrade.
Hesitation here is often the strongest buying signal.
If the customer is:
➡️ Synoptix is likely the right recommendation.
Practical definitions for real conversations with finance teams.
The real, historical numbers a company has already posted in their ERP — not estimates or future plans.
A financial plan for the upcoming year, usually broken down by department, categories, and expected spending.
A regularly updated prediction of future financial results based on what is happening right now (enrollment changes, revenue shifts, new costs, etc.).
Testing different financial situations — e.g., “What if enrollment drops 5%?” or “What if material costs increase?”
This shows the impact before the change actually happens.
The difference between two numbers (budget vs. actual, forecast vs. actual).
Finance teams use variances to identify problems or surprises early.
Combining financial results from multiple departments, divisions, locations, campuses, or companies into one unified report.
The main accounting system in the ERP where all financial transactions are stored.
The structured list of categories — like revenue accounts, expense accounts, assets, liabilities — that the organization uses to track financial activity.
Groups within the organization (Admissions, Athletics, Manufacturing Line 2, Clinics, etc.) that have their own budgets and spending responsibilities.
The ability to click into a number on a report and see exactly what makes it up — down to the transactions or invoices behind it.
How current the reporting data is. Real-time means the report updates instantly when the ERP data updates.
When teams rely on Excel to assemble reports or budgets because their ERP tools aren’t flexible enough.
This is a major pain point for many prospects.
The path a budget, form, or report takes as different people review and approve it.
The drivers or inputs used in forecasts — e.g., headcount, tuition rate, production volume, or cost per unit.
Where the information is coming from. Could be the ERP, payroll, CRM, student information, manufacturing systems, etc.
Permissions that control who can see which reports or budgets. Important in finance for privacy reasons.
A report or financial statement that follows accounting rules and ties out correctly to the ERP (e.g., debits = credits).
Adjustments needed when multiple related entities do business with each other so financials aren’t overstated.
(Useful when talking to multi-campus, multi-location, or multi-company organizations.)
The process of finalizing financial data for the previous month — often a stressful, time-sensitive period where good reporting tools matter a lot.
How much the team trusts their numbers. Low data confidence usually means spreadsheets, manual work, or inconsistent systems.
Browser-Based Access
Use Synoptix entirely in the browser—no desktop installs, no version mismatch, no IT push.
Single, Central URL
Users just bookmark a URL and log in; IT controls access behind the scenes.
Customizable Tile Launchpad
Clickable tiles take each user straight to key dashboards, reports, or worksheets they care about most.
Favorites & Recents Panel
Users see their favorite reports and most recent activity immediately, instead of hunting through folders.
Flexible Layout & Navigation
Resize or collapse side menus to focus on what matters—reports, dashboards, or setup.
Advanced Budgeting Module
Create detailed budgets with structured workflows, department contributions, and multiple versions (approved, forecast, best/worst case).
Departmental Expense Worksheets
Give each department head a tailored worksheet to update just their portion of the budget.
People Planning & Salary Allocation
Model salaries, benefits, and allocations across multiple departments or cost centers from one place.
Revenue Planning (Tuition & Beyond)
Plan tuition plus other revenue streams like meals, grants, and endowments in one system.
What-If Scenario Modeling
Adjust key drivers—like enrollment or staffing levels—and instantly see impact on revenue and expenses.
Multi-Version Budgeting
Keep separate versions (approved budgets, Q1–Q4 forecasts, best/worst case) and report on any of them.
Self-Service Report Creation
Build brand-new reports directly in the web, using an interface that feels like a spreadsheet.
Edit Existing Reports in the Web
Update or tweak current reports without going back to a desktop designer or calling IT.
Multi-Level Drill-Down
Click a number to see the accounts behind it, then click again for line-level detail, then GL transactions.
Audit-Level Detail View
Run an “audit report” that shows every single account (including zeros) that makes up a report for reconciliation or auditors.
Template-Based Reporting
Use one report template and run it for different funds, departments, managers, or campuses with filters.
Interactive Dashboards & KPIs
Visualize key metrics with charts and gauges you can rearrange, adjust, and drill into.
Pre-Built Filters (Chart of Accounts Aware)
Filter reports by fund, department, cost center, or other segments instantly, without rebuilding anything.
Cell-Level Conversations (Collab)
Attach a conversation directly to a specific number in a report, with due dates and context.
Email Notifications with Context
When someone is tagged in a conversation, they get an email with the details and link back to the report.
Attach Supporting Files
Upload PDFs, spreadsheets, or other supporting docs directly into a conversation tied to a specific value.
Historic Context by Report Date
Conversations are tied to the report’s run date, so you can look back next year and remember why numbers looked odd.
Built-In Scheduler
Schedule any report, dashboard, or packet to run automatically on your chosen cadence.
Flexible Frequency Options
Set schedules to run once, daily, weekly on specific days, monthly, or quarterly—whatever matches the business rhythm.
Multi-Format Delivery
Each scheduled report can be delivered as a PDF, Excel file, and an HTML link back into Synoptix.
Early-Morning Delivery
Common higher-ed pattern: schedule reports for early morning so they’re in inboxes when users log in.
Role-Based Permissions
Control who can run, modify, or drill down into each report.
Department-Level Data Restrictions
Use filters to ensure users only see the departments or funds they’re allowed to view.
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
Optionally require a one-time code emailed to the user for extra login security.
Single Sign-On Alignment
Supports directory-based login (like LDAP/Active Directory), with more modern SSO options under development.
Familiar Spreadsheet-Like Designer
Rows, columns, formulas, and formatting work much like Excel—just focused on financial statements.
Unified Accounting Cell
Define which accounts belong in each line once; reuse across actuals, budgets, and forecasts.
Dynamic Columns & Layout Tools
Easily switch between actuals, budgets, year-to-date, variances, and percentages without rebuilding the report.
Lookup Tools for Labels & Structure
Pull account descriptions, labels, or hierarchies straight into reports without manual retyping.
Highly Customizable Dashboards & Tiles
Link tiles to any report, dashboard, worksheet, or view—tailored for Higher Ed or Manufacturing audiences.
Overview: Synoptix is an Ellucian partner solution that works alongside Banner and Colleague, enhancing their financial reporting and budgeting capabilities without replacing core ERP functions. The matrix below highlights key differences in functionality, user experience, data agility, and business impact – showing how Synoptix complements Ellucian’s native tools to solve reporting and planning challenges.
Budgeting Process
Native ERP budgeting tools are often minimal, so many institutions resort to error-prone spreadsheets and manual consolidation. This makes budget cycles time-consuming and difficult to manage across departments.
Integrated Budgeting
Synoptix streamlines the entire budgeting process, with built-in collaboration and live ERP data. Teams spend less time gathering numbers and more time analyzing results . The platform simplifies budgeting, produces accurate forecasts, and manages financial performance efficiently.
Financial Reporting
Standard ERP reports offer basic, static formats and limited drill-down. Complex analyses often require exporting data to spreadsheets, making it harder to get detailed insights.
Advanced Reporting
Synoptix provides real-time, customizable financial reports with a familiar spreadsheet-like interface. Users can drill down into transactions for deeper insight, creating on-demand reports without manual data wrangling .
Scenario Planning
Performing what-if analysis or multi-year forecasts in the native ERP is cumbersome (or not supported), often forcing reliance on offline models. This limits proactive financial planning.
What-If Analysis
Synoptix enables robust planning with features like rolling forecasts and what-if scenario modeling. Finance teams can quickly evaluate multiple financial scenarios (e.g. enrollment changes or funding cuts) and plan accordingly, all within the system.
Collaboration & Sharing
ERP tools lack modern collaboration features – sharing reports usually means emailing PDFs or spreadsheets. Getting department heads to contribute data or commentary can be slow and siloed.
Collaborative Reporting
Synoptix has in-built collaboration that lets users share live reports, attach notes and documents, and converse right inside the report. Decision-makers get secured access to the info they need, enabling transparent, campus-wide collaboration on budgets and reports.
Ease of Use
Banner and Colleague’s native reporting interfaces can be technical and unintuitive, often requiring significant training or IT expertise. Many finance users find it hard to tailor reports without help.
User-Friendly Interface
Synoptix offers an intuitive, Excel-like interface designed for finance professionals. The familiar look and feel greatly reduce learning curves. Financial staff can easily build or modify reports and budgets themselves, without coding or IT intervention.
Data Access & Agility
Accessing data across modules or multiple sources in native tools can be slow. Often data is available only in periodic reports or requires separate data warehouses, limiting real-time insight. Combining data from various departments (or campuses) is manual and time-intensive.
Real-Time Data Integration
Synoptix connects directly to the live Banner/Colleague databases, pulling any data point (any record, department, date, or line item) on demand. It can aggregate multiple data sources into one report, providing a single real-time view of information. A seamless connection to all your data means updates are instantaneous – change a single number, and all related figures update automatically.
Data Accuracy & Trust
When reporting and planning rely on spreadsheet exports and re-keying data, errors and version control issues creep in. In fact, studies find ~88% of audited spreadsheets contain errors, undermining confidence in the numbers.
Single Source of Truth
Synoptix draws directly from the ERP system of record, eliminating risky manual data transfers. This ensures data consistency and accuracy in reports and budgets. By automating data flow, Synoptix minimizes human errors (improving data quality and trust) while maximizing efficiency.
Implementation Speed
Rolling out new ERP reporting tools or custom reports can take weeks or months, between IT development and user training. Institutions often wait long for meaningful improvements.
Rapid Deployment
Synoptix is quick to implement and start delivering value. The Synoptix team handles setup and connects to your Ellucian ERP in hours – not weeks – with minimal IT effort. In fact, first-time users often have a set of custom reports ready from day one of using Synoptix, accelerating time-to-value.
IT Dependency
Finance teams largely depend on IT or consultants to create and modify ERP reports. This dependence can cause backlogs and slow response to information requests, since “native” reporting is too difficult for end-users.
Self-Service Empowerment
With Synoptix, finance and budget staff are empowered to build and adjust their own reports and forecasts without technical help. The no-code, self-service approach frees up IT resources and allows faster answers to business questions. Users get the data they need, when they need it – independently.
Business Impact
Basic ERP tools fulfill transactional needs but offer limited support for strategic decision-making. Institutions may struggle to get timely insights for leadership, impacting agility in budgeting and forecasting.
Data-Driven Decisions
Synoptix extends the ERP’s impact by delivering timely, insightful information for better decisions. Automated reporting and interactive dashboards mean less time on manual tasks and more on analysis, giving leaders confidence to act on up-to-date data. By enhancing transparency and foresight, Synoptix helps drive strategic planning and improved financial outcomes.
Bottom Line: ERPs provide a solid foundation for managing campus finances, and Synoptix supercharges these ERPs in areas of reporting, budgeting, and analysis. The combination empowers institutions with agile planning, reliable data, and collaborative tools – maximizing the value of the ERP and enabling higher ed finance teams to make informed decisions with speed and confidence.
The real budgeting and reporting problems your customers are trying to solve.
Time Drain on Reporting
“It takes us days to prepare month-end reports.”
Automates reporting with live ERP connections; cuts prep from days to minutes.
ERP Limitations
“We can’t get the data we need out of our system.”“The ERP report builder is clunky.”
Seamlessly enhances ERP reporting—no new ERP needed, no disruption.
Overreliance on Excel
“We dump data into Excel and try to make it work.”
Centralizes reporting with real-time, validated data—no spreadsheets needed.
Lack of Confidence in Data
“I don’t trust our numbers.”“We have version control issues.”
Provides a single source of truth with drillable, up-to-date financial views.
Budgeting Bottlenecks
“Getting departments to contribute is like herding cats.”“Budgeting takes months.”
Enables department-level input with live, distributed budgeting workflows.
Inflexible Forecasting
“We can’t easily do what-if planning.”“Changing assumptions mid-cycle is a pain.”
Built-in forecasting and modeling tools, editable by business users.
IT or Consultant Dependence
“We have to wait on IT or consultants for report changes.”
Built for Finance—drag-and-drop interface empowers users to own their reporting.
Cost-Prohibitive Alternatives
“We looked at [FP&A tool], but it’s too expensive.”
Delivers 80–90% of the value of big platforms at a fraction of the cost.
Missed Insights
“By the time I get the numbers, it’s too late to act on them.”
Live, drillable dashboards and reports drive timely, data-driven decision-making.
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Quick list of common customer complaints that signal a perfect Synoptix reporting opportunity.
Short video showing exactly what Synoptix solves and why customers choose it.
Fast, simple explanation reps can confidently use when introducing Synoptix to customers.
Clear visual showing ERP reporting limitations and how Synoptix bridges those critical gaps.
Five quick questions helping reps evaluate whether the customer matches our ideal profile.
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Essential questions revealing customer pain levels and validating real FP&A struggles.
Match each customer complaint to corresponding Synoptix benefit to guide clear positioning.
Simple definitions of finance terms so reps feel knowledgeable without needing expert background.
Clear snapshot of our value, solved pain points, key questions, and essential buzzwords.
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Short, skimmable notes highlighting Synoptix advantages over Excel, ERP tools, and costly FP&A systems.
Quick visual overview demonstrating core Synoptix capabilities customers care most about initially.
Deeper walkthrough for prospects needing more detail before scheduling a personalized demonstration.
Clean, graphic overview of key Synoptix features without dense technical explanations or jargon.
Centralized access to all security documents and procedures for complete customer confidence.
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Use Calendly to pick a demo time that fits your schedule—we’ll handle the rest.
Priority access to our experts for prospect support, questions, and quick sales guidance.
Answers to common questions about data sources, integrations, budgeting workflows, and reporting capabilities.
Minimum hardware, software, and environment setup needed for smooth, reliable Synoptix performance.
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With average go-lives in just six weeks, Synoptix helps you close opportunities and get paid far sooner than traditional FP&A tools.
Our team handles every demo, every question, and all the technical heavy lifting — all you need to do is make the introduction, send the quote, and get paid.
Our straightforward deployment, predictable pricing, and proven ERP integrations make Synoptix one of the safest recommendations you can make.
Customers love Synoptix because it’s easy to adopt, easy to use, and quickly delivers the reporting and budgeting improvements they’ve been asking for.
