Understanding the TM1 database technology that takes spreadsheet capability to the enterprise

Despite its flexibility, spreadsheets alone cannot solve complex, forward-looking business modelling problems associated with budgeting, forecasting and financial reporting on large data sets or when collaboration among many people is needed.

TM1 takes the concept of spreadsheets and applies it at a robust database level – leveraging Manny Perez’s technological advancement known as the functional database.

An easy way to think about a Functional Database is to imagine it as millions and millions of neatly ordered, compact spreadsheets.

The functional model goes beyond conventional databases by using a cell orientation like spreadsheets do, complete with instant recalculations in memory. This approach is much more intuitive to business users.

IBM’s TM1 is the most robust and mature Functional Database that uniquely allows interactive budgeting, forecasting and financial reporting. The TM1 Functional Database provides the same cell-oriented concepts as Excel, but allows thousands of users, terabytes of data, and deeply complex modelling to match business needs – enabling the concept of “cubes” in TM1 models.

In the same way that any cell in a spreadsheet workbook can be a function of any other cell in any spreadsheet workbook, any cell in any TM1 cube can be a function of any other cell in any TM1 cube. It is this fundamental property that makes them such intuitive and powerful business modelling tools together.