Anaplan is a cloud-based software for performance management and business planning that assists enterprises with a variety of planning and decision-making requirements.
Anaplan offers tools for forecasting, budgeting, supply chain management, and sales performance management.
Anaplan’s user-friendly interface is designed to empower non-technical users, making it an ideal choice for those who want to design, edit, and analyze complex models without the need for extensive coding knowledge.
Anaplan is well-suited to fields like finance, supply chain management, sales operations, and workforce planning, where detailed planning and dynamic modeling are essential.
What is Anaplan Used for?
Anaplan is used for business modeling, planning, HR and workforce optimization, employee onboarding, compensation planning, and performance management in a single and centralized hub.
The key areas where Anaplan is used are as follows:
- Consumer Goods
- Energy
- Financial & Business Services
- Government & Public Sector
- Healthcare
- Higher Education
- Manufacturing
- Retail
- Technology, Media & Telecommunications
Anaplan Key Features
- User Interface – Anaplan offers a friendly user interface that can be easily accessible to those who don’t have technical knowledge.
- Flexible Modeling – Anaplan allows users to build and customize models using the drag-and-drop features as per the business process
- Integration – Anaplan offers seamless integration with various enterprise systems such as CRM, ERP, and HR systems.
- Security – Anaplan allows control over user access and also includes encryption and two-factor authentication in order to protect sensitive data.
- Customizable dashboards and reporting – Users can create customized dashboards to display data visualizations, key metrics, and performance insights.
Which Types of Businesses Use Anaplan?
- Consumer Goods – Retailers and consumer goods, such as fashion, electronics, food & beverage, and e-commerce, use Anaplan for demand planning, inventory optimization, pricing strategies, and sales forecasting.
- Energy – Anaplan helps energy companies, such as oil and gas, water utilities, and power generation, with capital project management, financial forecasting, risk management, and demand planning.
- Financial & Business Services – Financial and Business services, such as insurance companies, banks, and asset management firms, use Anaplan for real-time financial forecasting, regulatory compliance, risk management, and budgeting.
- Healthcare – Healthcare companies such as biotech firms and medical device companies use Anaplan for workforce optimization, supply chain management, sales forecasting, and regulatory compliance.
- Manufacturing – Manufacturers such as industrial products and automotive use Anaplan for production planning, inventory management, demand forecasting, and financial management.
- Technology, Media & Telecommunications – Technology, Media, and Telecommunication firms use Anaplan for financial planning, subscription revenue management, workforce planning, and sales performance management.
Use Cases for Anaplan
Anaplan Pros and Cons
Pros of Anaplan:
- Scalability: Anaplan supports the planning needs of large enterprises with complex planning processes, making it suitable for businesses of all sizes.
- Real-Time Data and Collaboration: Anaplan’s cloud-based platform allows for real-time updates, ensuring that decisions are made with the latest data.
- Customizable Dashboards and Reporting: Anaplan offers user-friendly, customizable dashboards and reports that allow users to track key performance indicators (KPIs) and visualize data.
Cons of Anaplan:
- Complexity for New Users: Anaplan can be challenging for new users, especially for those who are unfamiliar with multidimensional modeling and data analysis.
- Cost: Anaplan’s pricing can be on the higher side, making it less accessible to smaller companies with limited budgets. It’s often seen as more cost-effective for medium to large enterprises.
- Limited Flexibility for Small Businesses: For smaller companies with simpler planning needs, using Anaplan’s advanced features and complexity may not be necessary.
What Features Does Anaplan Offer in Mobile Devices ?
- Real-Time Data Access – Users can access and interact with real-time data from their Anaplan models, ensuring they always have up-to-date information for decision-making.
- Interactive Dashboards – Users can view and interact with customized Anaplan dashboards on their mobile devices, providing real-time access to key business metrics and model results.
- Planning and Forecasting – Users can explore various scenarios and adjust forecasts based on changing data or assumptions while on the go.
- Push Notifications – Users will receive push notifications for important updates, approvals, or workflow tasks, ensuring they stay informed even when not actively using the app.
- Security Features – Anaplan’s mobile application maintains the same enterprise-grade security as the desktop version, including role-based access control and encryption, ensuring the protection of sensitive business data.
Anaplan Benefits
- Data-driven decisions: Data-driven Users get access to real-time data and predictive analytics so they can make more accurate predictions, leading to better sales forecasting, budgeting, and resource planning.
- Less manual work: Users can automate their work processes such as calculations, data entry, and reporting, which minimizes manual work of the users.
- Real-time collaboration: Users can divide the work between different departments such as HR, sales, supply chain, finances, and other teams to collaborate on a single platform, which leads to better alignment and more informed decision-making.
- Role-Based Access Control: Anaplan ensures the security of sensitive data by allowing businesses to regulate access to specific data and models, maintaining data integrity, and complying with industry standards such as GDPR and SOC 2.
Does Anaplan integrate with Excel?
Yes, Anaplan integrates with Excel through its add-ins, allowing users to work with Anaplan models directly in Excel. The business data gets easily synced, maintaining real-time accuracy.
Alternatives of Anaplan
- Cube – Cube is a cloud-based FP&A platform created to integrate seamlessly with spreadsheets like Excel and Google Sheets. It focuses on streamlining financial planning and reporting for growing companies.
- Planful – Planful is a cloud-based FP&A platform that enables finance teams to streamline budgeting, forecasting, and reporting. It offers a user-friendly interface and strong financial planning features.
- Workday Adaptive Planning – Workday Adaptive Planning is a cloud-based business planning solution within the Workday suite, offering robust tools for budgeting, forecasting, and reporting across various business functions.
- Vena Solutions – Vena Solutions is a cloud-based FP&A software that integrates with Excel for budgeting, planning, and forecasting while leveraging automation and real-time collaboration features.
- IBM Planning Analytics – IBM Planning Analytics is an enterprise-grade planning and forecasting tool powered by the TM1 engine, known for handling complex multi-dimensional data models.
