Case Study: Rinnai Australia streamlines finance reporting and lays the groundwork for AI adoption with IBM Planning Analytics

Rinnai Australia lays the groundwork for AI adoption with IBM Planning Analytics

Rinnai Australia, a leading manufacturer and distributor of heating, cooling and hot water systems, faced a finance function under strain as rapid growth, acquisitions, and a mix of manual processes, spreadsheets, and multiple legacy tools slowed reporting and budgeting. To modernize its finance operations and prepare for AI adoption, Rinnai partnered with IBM and IBM Business Partner Octane Software Solutions, using IBM Planning Analytics as the core platform.

IBM and Octane implemented IBM Planning Analytics in a phased rollout that created a single source of truth for finance data, streamlined month-end reporting, product profitability analysis, demand planning, and budgeting, and reduced manual work. The results included 40 hours saved per week, a 50% reduction in spreadsheet reliance, subsidiary reporting cut to 4 days, and a target of 10% inventory reduction, while also making Rinnai’s finance team more collaborative, strategic, and AI-ready.

Rinnai Australia

Dilend Chawda

General Manager - Finance & ICT/Company Secretary