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Models

What are Models?

Models define how Yarken structures financial, operational, and planning data across the platform.

They provide the foundation for reporting, budgeting, forecasting, chargeback, workforce planning, and analytics workflows. Each model controls how data is organized, interpreted, and analyzed within Yarken.

Use Models to align platform reporting with your TBM 5.0, FinOps, and enterprise financial management structure.

Access Models

To open Models:

  1. Navigate to Admin

  2. Select Settings

  3. Open Models

The Models page displays all configured models available in the environment.

The model list includes a Taxonomy Version column showing the taxonomy assigned to each model.

From this page, administrators can:

  • Create models

  • Edit model configuration

  • Define model types

  • Maintain reporting structures

  • Support planning and allocation workflows

  • Extend financial reporting requirements

Understand model types

Yarken supports multiple model types based on operational and financial use cases.

Spend models

Spend models organize and analyze actual cost and consumption data.

These models are commonly used to:

  • Track cloud and SaaS spend

  • Analyze infrastructure costs

  • Monitor vendor spend

  • Support TBM reporting

  • Improve financial visibility

  • Enable FinOps workflows

Spend models are typically connected to:

  • Analytics

  • Chargeback

  • Dashboards

  • Forecasting

  • Business reporting

Budget models

Budget models support financial planning and budget management processes.

Use budget models to:

  • Define planned costs

  • Compare actual vs budget

  • Monitor variance

  • Support planning cycles

  • Allocate budgets across entities or departments

Budget models help finance and technology teams maintain alignment between operational demand and financial targets.

Forecast models

Forecast models support projected financial analysis and future planning.

Use forecast models to:

  • Estimate future spend

  • Predict budget trends

  • Support scenario analysis

  • Improve forecast accuracy

  • Align operational and financial planning

Forecast models are often used alongside Spend and Budget models for variance analysis and executive reporting.

Create a model

To create a new model:

  1. Go to Admin > Settings > Models.

  2. Select + ADD NEW.

  3. Enter the required Model Code, Model Name, and Type.

  4. Optionally enter a Description.

  5. Under Taxonomy Version, select the taxonomy structure to assign to the model.

  6. Select Save.

Supported taxonomy options include v4.0, v5.0.1, v4.0 and v5.0.1, and AWM v0.5.

For detailed instructions, see Create and manage custom models.

Configure model structure

Each model should follow a structure that supports accurate financial and operational reporting.

Each model has its own Taxonomy Version. Different models can use different taxonomy structures, rather than sharing a single platform-level setting.

During migration, existing models receive the previously configured default taxonomy.

Depending on the use case, models may include:

  • Cost dimensions

  • Allocation structures

  • Organizational hierarchy

  • Entity mappings

  • Budget categories

  • Forecast structures

  • Operational attributes

Well-structured models improve reporting consistency and downstream analytics quality.

Understand model-specific taxonomy

Each model can have a different Taxonomy Version.

The selected version determines the Cost Pool and Tower structures Yarken Designer uses for that model.

When you select a model in Designer, Yarken applies the taxonomy associated with that model rather than relying on a single taxonomy configuration across the platform.

The Models list includes a Taxonomy Version column so you can review the taxonomy assigned to each model.

During migration, existing models are assigned the default taxonomy to retain their configuration.

Manage custom models

Custom models allow organizations to extend platform reporting beyond the default system models.

Use custom models when you need:

  • Department-specific reporting

  • Alternative allocation structures

  • Specialized planning workflows

  • Additional operational segmentation

  • Business-specific reporting logic

Custom models help organizations adapt Yarken to internal financial and operational requirements without changing the underlying platform architecture.

Edit a model

To update an existing model:

  1. Open the Models page

  2. Locate the required model

  3. Select the edit icon

  4. Update the required fields

  5. Save the changes

Changes to models can impact:

  • Dashboards

  • Reports

  • Budget analysis

  • Forecast calculations

  • Chargeback workflows

  • Analytics outputs

Review model changes carefully before applying them in production environments.

Delete a model

To remove a model:

  1. Open the Models page

  2. Select the delete icon

  3. Confirm the deletion

Deleting a model may affect:

  • Historical reporting

  • Data mappings

  • Forecasts

  • Dashboards

  • Planning workflows

  • Downstream analytics

Only remove models that are no longer required.

Use the following practices when managing models:

  • Maintain clear naming conventions

  • Align models with TBM taxonomy

  • Avoid duplicate reporting structures

  • Document ownership and purpose

  • Review models regularly

  • Standardize planning structures across teams

Strong model governance improves:

  • Financial consistency

  • Reporting accuracy

  • Allocation transparency

  • Cross-functional alignment

  • Executive decision-making

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