Business
Power users:
Data input users: 
monthly
Strategic planning: who needs to be involved?| Features Included in Subscription | |
| Automation for all steps of the strategy implementation system (stakeholders, cascading, calculation of the scorecards, GRC templates, decomposition into goals, initiatives, KPIs) |  |
| Roles according to the strategic planning process (data input users, power users, administrators, unlimited view-only users) | |
| All data connectors (Excel import, Google Sheets, Zapier, RESTFull API, databases) | |
| Access to premium templates (quickly define a strategy for additional focus areas) | |
| Customization (KPI properties, reports, logo, profiles for dashboards, performance formulas) | |
 AI assistant (AI-powered strategic analysis) | |
 Customer service and training | |
| Getting started call (an introductory call to showcase the product and explain how to get started) | |
| Email support and self-service (customer support by email, pre-recorded video tutorials) | |
| Online training sessions (interactive alternative to pre-recorded video tutorials) | |
| BSC Designer Specialist certification | |
| Implementation consulting | |
 Data Governance | |
| Data localization compliance (regional droplet selection in the US, Canada, Europe, Singapore, India, or Australia) | |
| Connection to proprietary AI model (connect the AI assistant to the company’s proprietary AI model) | |
| Private cloud (deployment on Digital Ocean or similar platforms) |
Features
 KPIs: Setup |
| Multilevel KPIs. Aligning KPIs with goals. |
| Measurement units (quantitative, qualitative, natural-choice, binary) |
| Update intervals (daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, annually, etc.) |
| Aggregation types (sum, average, accumulated, etc.) |
| Different views for the KPIs table (performance, budgets, updates, initiatives, custom views) |
 KPIs: Calculation |
| Relevant/absolute weights |
| Calculation of indicator’s dynamic |
| Performance formulas (minimization, maximization, binary, etc.) |
| Aggregation by periods (months, quarters, years, etc.) |
| Inherited data for periods without specifically entered data |
| Leading/lagging indicators |
| Calculations for containers/groups of KPIs (average, sum, etc.) |
 KPIs: Data Sources |
| Formulas with values/performance of other KPIs |
| External database (MySQL, PostgreSQL, MS SQL Server, SAP Hana) |
| Import from spreadsheets |
| KPIs from other scorecards |
| Plugins (Zapier, Google Sheets add-on) |
| Generative AI |
 Strategy Cascading and Strategy Discussion |
| Cascading/alignment by perspectives (drag and drop scorecards in the strategy workspace) |
| Cascading/alignment by goals (copy and paste goals between scorecards to align) |
| Cascading/alignment by context (see the contextual connections on the Context tab) |
| Comments on the values of KPIs |
| Direct links to KPIs, dashboards, maps, initiatives |
| Capture ideas received by email to initiatives |
 Live Strategy Maps |
| Adding goals, indicators, and initiatives directly via map |
| Cause and effect connections |
| Custom objects |
| Custom canvases |
| Export for presentation/print |
| Multiple maps per scorecard |
| 1st generation Balanced Scorecard strategy map (four segments diagram) |
| Modern-format strategy map |
 Notifications |
| Assign owners for initiatives, KPIs, goals |
| Customize type of the notifications for owners |
| Notifications to external services (via webhooks) |
 Customization and Workflows |
| User-defined templates |
| User-defined properties for the KPIs |
| User-defined properties for the Initiatives |
| Customizable fiscal year |
| Adjustable columns for KPIs table |
| Adjustable reporting profiles |
| Customizable workflow for the initiatives |
| Customizable measurement units |
| Customizable performance formulas |
| Templates for dashboard layouts |
 Reporting |
| Various reporting formats (HTML, PDF, Excel) |
| Scheduled reports by email |
| User-defined report profiles |
 Initiatives |
| Align initiatives with goals/KPIs |
| Types (initiative, success factor, expected outcome, rationale, hypothesis, risk) |
| Statuses (comment, analysis, in progress, review, done) |
| Progress indicators |
| Budgets in different currencies |
| Earned Value calculation |
| Aligned documents, dependencies, timelines, owners |
| Visualization on the Gantt charts |
 Dashboards |
| Charts and diagrams for indicators |
| Tables with filters for goals and initiatives |
| Gantt charts for initiatives |
| Visualizing trends (time and bar charts) |
| Publishing dashboards (generating code to embed the dashboard into web pages or intranet) |
| Rights to view dashboards only |
| Global dashboard (data aggregated by owner from all scorecards) |
| Multiple dashboards per scorecards |
| Templates for dashboard layouts |
| Export to presentation/print |
 Analysis |
| Biggest gain/loss |
| Highest impact on performance (finding indicators with the highest absolute weight) |
| Forecast (linear prediction of the future values by using historical data) |
| Update time (finding indicators that were not updated on time) |
 Risk Management |
| Integrated risk management (risks defined following the requirements of ISO 31000) |
| Automation of risk indicators (tracking inherent, acceptable, and residual risk levels over time) |
| Risk mitigation plans |
| Risk diagrams (Likelihood/Impact diagram, Heatmap diagram) |
| Qualitative and quantitative risk measurement |
| Compound risk impact metrics |
| Multiple scales for risk impact and likelihood |
 GRC Controls and Templates |
| Templates for GRC-related functional scorecards |
| Automating GRC controls |
| Tracking evidence upload |
 Templates for Strategic Planning |
| Balanced Scorecard |
| Stakeholder Analysis |
| Compliance Management |
| OKR – Objectives and Key Results |
| PESTEL – analysis of external factors |
| VRIO – analysis of competitive advantage |
| The Ansoff Matrix – business growth strategies |
| Five Forces – competitive analysis |
| 30+ strategy and KPIs templates (quickly define a strategy for additional focus areas such as cybersecurity, procurement, or corporate governance) |
| Strategy Portability |
| Import existing strategy (import strategies from other automation platforms) |
| Export strategy (export strategy data in commonly used Excel/CSV formats) |
| Data Governance |
| Hosted securely on DigitalOcean platform (AICPA SOC 2 Type II, SOC 3 Type II, ISO 27001, PCI-DSS) |
| Formal cybersecurity program implemented |
| Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) |
| Secure storage for strategy-related documents (5 GB) |
| RESTFull API (100 calls / hour) |
| Account data backup/restore |
| Audit trail for general activity and values of KPIs (1 year) |
| The lock for historical data |
| Approvals automation |
| Access rights |
| Private scorecards |
| View only/edit rights (for groups, scorecards, and specific indicators) |
| Rights to view dashboards only |
| Public scorecards |
Payment Options
Available payment options: Credit Card, PayPal, Bank/Wire Transfer, or Invoice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are common inquiries often raised by prospective buyers before acquiring BSC Designer.
Introduction
For how long has BSC Designer been available in the market?
Here are some key facts about BSC Designer:
- We started BSC Designer in 2004.
- We are a distributed team with a presence in Europe, LATAM, and MENA regions.
- Over 8,000 engaged users worldwide use BSC Designer.
Do you update the software on a regular basis?
Yes, we regularly provide updates to improve the user experience in the software as well as in supporting materials related to the strategy planning domain.
We also invite users to share their needs and development ideas with us.
Do you have references from our country or business domain?
Here you have some public case studies that you can filter by country or business domain. Contact us to discuss more specific cases.
How does it compare to other strategic planning software?
BSC Designer is recognized as one of the leading software solutions for for strategic planning.
Our software automates the strategy description process through aligned strategy and functional scorecards. Essentially, it enables the strategy team to organize various strategy scorecards much like managing different files on your computer, each detailing various aspects of your strategy.
This approach not only facilitates independent work on sub-strategies but also enhances strategy alignment and promotes collaborative strategy development.
Learn about other challenges in procurement for strategic planning software.
What security measures are implemented?
You can find some publicly available details in the Privacy section of the Terms of Service, specifically in section “5. How we protect your information.”
Among all, the security measures include multi-factor authentication, ‘least privilege’ practice, data encryption in transit and at rest.
What slides are available for presenting BSC Designer to my team?
We have presentation slides available to introduce BSC Designer to your team. These slides cover topics such as strategy implementation, stakeholder involvement, specialized strategic planning software, and transitioning from spreadsheet-based strategies.
Purchasing
How many subscriptions does our organization require?
It depends on your approach to strategy. In this article, we discuss how to self-assess the current maturity level of the organization in strategic planning, estimate the users involved, and establish improvement goals.
What is the refund policy?
Refunds are available within 30 days of product purchase. We recommend checking out the free plan before placing an order.
How can we obtain a quote?
Please follow these steps to get an official quote:
1. Choose the number and type of subscriptions and click the “Submit Order” button.
2. Fill in the company details and select the payment method you plan to use.
3. Click the “Get Quote” button.
1. Choose the number and type of subscriptions and click the “Submit Order” button.
2. Fill in the company details and select the payment method you plan to use.
3. Click the “Get Quote” button.
If the subscription is terminated, will we still have access to our scorecards?
When you cancel your paid subscription with BSC Designer, your subscription will be converted to the free plan. Data under the free plan is retained, meanwhile the account remains active (at least one active session within 6 months period).
We recommend backing up your scorecards before account cancelation or exporting scorecard data to Excel spreadsheet.
Implementation
What is the typical implementation timeline for BSC Designer?
From technical point of view, signing-up with a new account takes just five minutes.
From business point of view, it depends on the organization. In our implementation guide we shared some typical time estimates.
Can we migrate our data from Excel or another tool to BSC Designer?
While Excel is a great tool for prototyping strategy, specialized strategic planning software is better equipped to handle the challenges of strategic planning.
The easiest way to import existing strategies is by utilizing the Excel/CSV import function.
Can we link our KPIs to the data in other tools we use?
Certainly! In BSC Designer, you have several ready-to-use data connectors, along with a RESTful API that simplifies connecting to external data sources. You can explore these options further through this diagram of data sources.
Can we onboard the strategy team and assign permissions?
The tool offers effective methods to manage users and their access rights. Learn more about:
- User onboarding
- Granting access to the scorecards
Can we cascade strategy across business units, departments, teams, and individuals?
In BSC Designer, you have strategy architecture based on aligned scorecards. Each business unit, department, team, or even individual can have their own strategy or functional scorecard, which can be interconnected with others through data or context.
You can learn more about the mechanics of alignment in this article.
Can we use Balanced Scorecard, OKR, or any other frameworks?
In the strategy workspace of BSC Designer, users can integrate various business frameworks.
- Each supported framework offers its unique approach to decomposing complex business challenges into specific goals, measurements, and initiatives.
- Within each framework template, you will find a link to a detailed guide on how to utilize it in the software.
Support
What type of customer support is provided?
All subscriptions come with email-based customer support and access to pre-recorded onboarding tutorials.
Additionally, the Enterprise subscription includes online training sessions. See the plans comparison table for details.
Do you offer “Specialist” or “Partner” certifications?
We offer:
- BSC Designer Specialist certification to formally assess skills in using BSC Designer software.
- BSC Designer Partner certification to assist strategy consultants in delivering value through strategy automation.
You can find more details on the certification page.
Do you offer consultancy services for strategy implementation?
We’ve developed our proprietary strategy implementation system. You can explore it through our free materials or contact us for a personalized consultancy offer.