Used Anaplan since 2014 and implemented Anaplan since 2017
January 03, 2022
Used Anaplan since 2014 and implemented Anaplan since 2017
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Overall Satisfaction with Anaplan
I have used Anaplan for the following use cases: Workforce Planning (e.g. headcount, compensation, non-compensation) Cost of Goods Sold Distribution Expense Price Mix Analytics Production Planning and Scheduling Inventory Management Statistical Volume Forecasting Anaplan is an ideal planning tool because it allows the creation of a single source of truth. For example, Anaplan's leading practice is to create a Data Hub to maintain all lists and metadata. Rather than having disparate users pull data on their own to generate their forecasts and reports in Excel, end-user can simply reference the Data Hub. Also, Anaplan allows multiple users to view and input forecast assumptions and dynamically see the results of their inputs in real-time.
- Transparency. Anaplan allows end-users to drill into individual cells to see the underlying assumptions and/or calculations. End users can also see inputs provided by other end users.
- Security. Anaplan allows administrators to set up selective access and/or dynamic cell access to control what end users are able to read and/or write throughout the model.
- Connected Planning. Anaplan allows hundreds, if not thousands, of users to interact with a model in real-time. Anaplan can also handle various use cases. For example, a company can create an FP&A model and a Workforce Planning model and be able to enhance communication and transparency between Finance and Human Resources.
- Sparsity. Anaplan presently has size constraints. Customers do have an option to purchase Hyper models. Overall, size constraints are a constant challenge in Anaplan. Typically to mitigate size constraints models have to be built using flat/concatenated logic which can result in overly complex models to implement and ultimately for end-users to adopt.
- Security. Anaplan has very robust security capabilities but is related to the sparsity issue, if models are built using flat/concatenated logic then it can lead to overly complex solutions to enable security.
- Perception. This is more so related to customers' understanding of Anaplan. There's a tendency to assume that Anaplan should replace everything, which is often not the case. There's also a tendency to underestimate the time and/or a number of resources required to successfully implement Anaplan.
- Visualization of data. Anaplan's UX is the primary interface for end-users. The UX is intuitive for end-users to create views and/or reports using grids, charts, and graphs. The UX enables end-users to view data in meaningful visualizations to drive insights.
- Real-time. Anaplan allows users to input assumptions and see the results of those inputs in real-time. Typically, forecasts are conducted in Excel and then uploaded into another platform to view the aggregate of forecasts submitted. Then if the forecast needs to be updated end-users will have to update assumptions in Excel and then re-upload into the aggregation platform. All of this can be done in real-time in Anaplan.
- Data Hub. Anaplan allows end-users to create a data hub to maintain all lists and metadata. Typically end users are running redundant extracts to perform their disparate forecast process, which results in multiple end-users pulling the same data at various and multiple times throughout a planning cycle. By using a data hub in Anaplan then end-users are using the same source data which creates white space in terms of end-users no longer having to update redundant data pulls.
- Anaplan has resulted in the creation of white space savings. For example, rather than the end-users spending time doing manual updates in Excel, many of the updates are automated in Anaplan. This allows end-users to repurpose time to more value-added work.
- Anaplan has resulted in the reduction and/or optimization of inventory levels. For example, Anaplan has created better visibility and accuracy of volume forecasts that production facilities are better able to avoid overproducing and/or staging inventory in optimal warehouse locations.
- Anaplan has resulted in the reduction and/or optimization of procurement activities. For example, Anaplan has created better visibility and accuracy of volume forecasts to enable Procurement to consolidate purchases in order to establish stronger purchasing power to leverage during pricing negotiations with vendors.
Anaplan's UX and calculation engine tend to perform better. Regarding the UX, Anaplan's is very customizable and end-user-friendly. Some of the other solutions' UX looks very dated. Regarding the calculation engine, when an input is made in Anaplan it will calculate real-time and typically with little latency to the end-user. In other solutions, end-user input will be a visible process before the end-user can view the results.
Do you think Anaplan delivers good value for the price?
Yes
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?
No
Would you buy Anaplan again?
Yes