Item: Anaplan
Rating: 9
Author: Verified User

Overall Satisfaction with Anaplan

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

Use Cases: Reserves Reporting, Forecasting, Cost Management, and planning. For all use cases, we had multiple spreadsheets that no one person fully understood. By implementing Anaplan we have removed duplicate spreadsheets, simplifying reporting processes and ensuring one version of the truth. We have also improved forecasting accuracy and processes leveraging inbuilt version control as well as general controls [functions] such as access controls and model deployment via application lifecycle management.

Pros and Cons

Pros

Multidimensional modelling
Forecasting and Planning
Realtime calculations
Large datasets
Flexible solution, can be adapted
Outer year modelling
Self documenting
Auditable
Application lifecycle management, controlled deployments

Cons

Sparcity- Anaplan should be able to discount unused cells from storage usage
Licence type management - currently difficult to keep tabs of this
More flexible pricing model

Most Important Features

Powerful in calculation engine
Multi dimensionality
Ability to project and plan into future financial years
Scalability
Flexibility

Return on Investment

Process improvement
Time savings
Forecast Accuracy
Removal of pain points
Improved controls

Alternatives Considered

Microsoft Power BI

Anaplan is a lot more powerful. Power BI is great for 2D visualisations. Anaplan is great for handling big data in a multi-dimensional controlled environment. Anaplan also now has great visualisation capability in an Application environment, however; you still need an Anaplan licence to access these visualisations.

Key Insights

Do you think Anaplan delivers good value for the price?

Not sure

Are you happy with Anaplan's feature set?

Yes

Did Anaplan live up to sales and marketing promises?

Yes

Did implementation of Anaplan go as expected?

Yes

Would you buy Anaplan again?

Yes

Other Software Used

Microsoft Power BI, Microsoft Visio

Likelihood to Recommend

Any Financial planning and analysis model is suitable for Anaplan, therefore; most excel models can be captured in Anaplan. That said, excel is still best for any ad hoc analysis. If you are looking for a controlled and powerful rapid calculation environment then Anaplan is the way forward.

Anaplan Feature Ratings

Using Anaplan

Users and Roles

140 - Finance

Support Headcount Required

3 - Master Anaplanner/Solution Architect

Business Processes Supported

Expense planning
Reserves Reporting
Expense Allocations

Innovative Uses

Scenario snapshots
FTE planning
Scenario bridging and Control and workflow in relation to Forecast Group submissions

Future Planned Uses

More connecting infrastructure across the group

Likelihood to Renew

This is confidential

Evaluating Anaplan and Competitors

Products Replaced

Key Differentiators

Cloud Solutions
Scalability
Ease of Use

Scalability and flexibility of the solution. Knowing that even if it's not perfect there are multiple use-case and ample opportunity to use the platform and maximise the return on the investment.

Evaluation Lessons Learned

Perhaps insist on a more flexible costing model

Anaplan Implementation

Implementation Rating

Very easy. It does not feel to the user materially different from engaging with an excel spreadsheet, although infinitely more powerful.

Implementation Details / Implementation Partner

Implemented in-house

Implementation Phases

Yes - Minimal viable product - first phase
Nice to haves - second phase
Enhancements - third phase
Hypercare, Support and BAU - ongoing

Change Management Lessons

Change management was minimal - Don't underestimate the time needing to embed the solution

Implementation Issues

Resource availability for testing
BAU tasks taking priority

Anaplan Training

Training Types Used

Online Training
In-Person Training

In-Person Training

Not much different to the online content

Online Training

I found this a very good grounding in Anaplan

Configuring Anaplan

Product Configurability

Just right

Anaplan Support

Support Rating

Responsive to all calls raised

Anaplan Customer Support Pros and Cons

Pros	Cons
Quick Resolution Good followup Knowledgeable team Problems get solved Kept well informed No escalation required Immediate help available Support understands my problem Support cares about my success Quick Initial Response	None

Premium Support

Yes - it was part of the negotiated deal

Bug Resolution

Yes - Yes

Exceptional Examples of Anaplan Support

The product is very good and to be fair I have note had to raise many issues. However, one such occasion was a knowledge-gap that I had in that I did not know if you could copy a model from one workspace to another. The support team advised that I could indeed do so that gave me a step by step guide as to how to successfully do so. Job done.