Oracle Crystal Ball

Crystal Ball is a spreadsheet-based application from Oracle for forecasting, predictive modelling, simulation and optimisation. It is aimed at people who already build their models in spreadsheets and need to understand how uncertain inputs affect results.

What Crystal Ball offers

• Monte Carlo simulation — runs thousands of what-if cases automatically and records the outcomes.
• What-if analysis — shows the range of possible outcomes, how likely each is, and which inputs move the model most.
• Decision Optimizer — an optional add-on that adds optimisation to simulation, accounting for variation and constraints. It needs a Crystal Ball licence.
• Time-series forecasting — forecasting tools, reports and capability metrics for Six Sigma work.
• Reporting — graphs, charts and reports for presenting findings to others.

Who it works with

Strategic planners, financial analysts, engineers, scientists, accountants, marketing managers, consultants, investors, Six Sigma practitioners and others who forecast uncertain results in spreadsheets.

Key facts

• Format: works inside existing spreadsheet software
• Editions: Crystal Ball, Decision Optimizer and the combined Crystal Ball Suite
• Collaboration: teams can share models and data