Anaplan
Anaplan LimitedExternal reviews
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A great value add tool to any business process where decisions rely on solid and accurate data.
What do you like best about the product?
It's flexibility as a tool and it's potential in many different areas of the business. It combines good data analytics with great user interface for planning. If built correctly it's fast, easy to use and reliable.
The flexibility also extends to implementation scope and speed. If the criteria of implementation changes mid way through the project Anaplan has the features and flexibility to deal with almost every change thrown at it.
They have a great learning platform that help speed up the understanding of Anaplan for both business users and future model builders, which greatly empowers the business users to keep the tool up to date.
Anaplan is a type of system which, if implemented successfully, sells itself inside the company, the more functions you get on the platform the larger the benefit of having such a platform can be achieved. It is very simple to integrate and synchronize different areas of Anaplan models between each other, like make your supply chain application deliver data automatically to jour finance application, doing away with long e-mail chains of finding the correct version of the plan to use. It also extends to 3rd party sources, Anaplan supports easy integration possibility with dedicated analytics tools or allows for a simple integration with source systems. It's fast and reliable and does not ask a lot of IT resources to set up.
Once implemented Anaplan becomes a daily source of truth for the functions using it.
The flexibility also extends to implementation scope and speed. If the criteria of implementation changes mid way through the project Anaplan has the features and flexibility to deal with almost every change thrown at it.
They have a great learning platform that help speed up the understanding of Anaplan for both business users and future model builders, which greatly empowers the business users to keep the tool up to date.
Anaplan is a type of system which, if implemented successfully, sells itself inside the company, the more functions you get on the platform the larger the benefit of having such a platform can be achieved. It is very simple to integrate and synchronize different areas of Anaplan models between each other, like make your supply chain application deliver data automatically to jour finance application, doing away with long e-mail chains of finding the correct version of the plan to use. It also extends to 3rd party sources, Anaplan supports easy integration possibility with dedicated analytics tools or allows for a simple integration with source systems. It's fast and reliable and does not ask a lot of IT resources to set up.
Once implemented Anaplan becomes a daily source of truth for the functions using it.
What do you dislike about the product?
Their user management, specifically when it comes to licensing, can sometimes be a bit difficult to follow and properly track in the system. Although there have been good improvements lately with enhancements to global User Management views it still lacks an easy overview of contracted licenses vs used.
What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?
Anaplan standartizes the planning process, it makes data (especially results) transparent for the management team. Due to primarily replacing Excel-based planning processes it unlocks the possibility to work with more data and larger granularity of data faster. And not only that it allows that within a cross functional model where you might have multiple departments and business functions working in a seamless live model.
With it's ML Timeseries forecasting capabilities and Linear Optimizer Anaplan can solve very complex business problems quickly across multiple functions although these two primarily have a direct impact on Demand Planning and Supply Chain, that then is passed down to finance or other parts of the business using the system.
You can also see buggs and user errors in the planning cycle dramatically decrease after implementing Anaplan. It's flexible enough so that the platform can be built around your business process, but the user interface can be made strict enough to ensure correct entries and reduction of user errors.
With it's ML Timeseries forecasting capabilities and Linear Optimizer Anaplan can solve very complex business problems quickly across multiple functions although these two primarily have a direct impact on Demand Planning and Supply Chain, that then is passed down to finance or other parts of the business using the system.
You can also see buggs and user errors in the planning cycle dramatically decrease after implementing Anaplan. It's flexible enough so that the platform can be built around your business process, but the user interface can be made strict enough to ensure correct entries and reduction of user errors.
Kickstart your planning transformation with Anaplan
What do you like best about the product?
The ability to handle disconnected datasets and source information from systems that speak different "languages". And to use this functionality to improve the data quality of forward-looking views and the decision quality of leaders using that information.
Flexibility to tailor dashboards and data views based on user personas and roles. The security model is infinitly flexible here and yet not difficult to configure.
Scalability. You can (and should) use Anaplan to improve a small, less risky business process but then branch out and broaden the scope to other areas that are not feasible with existing systems. This really allows you to practice an agile approach to the improvement journey.
Flexibility to tailor dashboards and data views based on user personas and roles. The security model is infinitly flexible here and yet not difficult to configure.
Scalability. You can (and should) use Anaplan to improve a small, less risky business process but then branch out and broaden the scope to other areas that are not feasible with existing systems. This really allows you to practice an agile approach to the improvement journey.
What do you dislike about the product?
Some of the front-end dashboard functionalities could be improved. Specfically, the lack of a multi-tab view of dashboards that you've viewed (or list of recently viewed) means you bounce around a bit. The original (aka "classic") dashboard in Anaplan allowed this tabular view and users really liked that. It would also help if you could do a "wrap text" like Excel and have the grid views auto-size the row heights.
What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?
We've used the product across about 20 use cases spanning each of our major businesses globally. So, while each use case has its own business case and story, some general themes apply to all:
How it benefits...
- Anaplan has helped us integrate and streamline planning processes...particularly processes that span departments and teams spread globally but rely heavily on disconnected data sources like excel files and manual reconciliations of these sources with enterprise systems.
- Anaplan has enabled a true "single source of truth" in a real-time environment catering to various user personas. So, now we avoid the confusion over what "the number" is during peak planning periods with many iterations.
- Anaplan has helped us to overcome poor data quality from source systems by leveraging the flexible (and auditable) functionalities to normalize data and make the best use of it with stakeholders....vs. waiting until we "clean up" all of our source data challenges.
How it benefits...
- Anaplan has helped us integrate and streamline planning processes...particularly processes that span departments and teams spread globally but rely heavily on disconnected data sources like excel files and manual reconciliations of these sources with enterprise systems.
- Anaplan has enabled a true "single source of truth" in a real-time environment catering to various user personas. So, now we avoid the confusion over what "the number" is during peak planning periods with many iterations.
- Anaplan has helped us to overcome poor data quality from source systems by leveraging the flexible (and auditable) functionalities to normalize data and make the best use of it with stakeholders....vs. waiting until we "clean up" all of our source data challenges.
Anaplan Leader for Sales Planning
What do you like best about the product?
Flexibility, very customizable and supports any business process.
What do you dislike about the product?
Code deployment is single threaded - cannot handle simultaneous development.
What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?
Getting Territory and Quota Planning out of Excel
Anaplan is a flexible tool that is great for complex organisations!
What do you like best about the product?
Anaplan is a strong tool for finance as it can be built for a variety of business processes. Its flexibility allows us to customise the tool for each unique aspect of the business. While it is extremely flexible, it is important to have the right people in place to help manage the tool long term. Implementations for Anaplan are quick and you can easily deliver an MVP and then continue to add on additional features throughout the year in releases. Users enjoy working with the tool because of the UX - if dashboards are built with a strong user journey in mind. Anaplan continues to release updates to the UX to meet the ever changing needs of clients.
In addition, Anaplan has an extensive roadmap that I believe is focusing on the right areas: Data Integration and improvements there, creating out of the box solutions that folks can use or add customisations as needed, centralising security & consolidations to name a few.
In addition, Anaplan has an extensive roadmap that I believe is focusing on the right areas: Data Integration and improvements there, creating out of the box solutions that folks can use or add customisations as needed, centralising security & consolidations to name a few.
What do you dislike about the product?
The auditing feature is not very user friendly. The export of history must be exported. parsed and displayed on a separately built dashboard to be useful.
There continues to be issues with Data Management & Security Management; however, Anaplan focuses on the key areas where it recieves feedback and acts -- which is great!
Consolidations features are missing -- thus missing the full end to end journey of planning.
There continues to be issues with Data Management & Security Management; however, Anaplan focuses on the key areas where it recieves feedback and acts -- which is great!
Consolidations features are missing -- thus missing the full end to end journey of planning.
What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?
Anaplan is centralising the planning processes and helping with version control and collaboration. There is more visibility into the numbers behind calculations and stronger processes are being formed internally to help systemitise budgeting and forecasting processes.
Anaplan Architect with 100+ implementations and expertise in sales and commercial plannin
What do you like best about the product?
Anaplan's flexibility to change and grow with the business. With a proper COE and strong model builders, Anaplan can drive results in the present while planning for the future.
What do you dislike about the product?
Anaplan's flexibility can result in an over-engineered planning process that loses sight of the key business drivers.
What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?
Anaplan solves consistency and visibility issues that are present within every organization. Leadership can feel confident in the planning process and outputs by centralizing planning and moving away from Excel.
Great flexible cloud based platform
What do you like best about the product?
Cloud based platform
Application Lifecycle Management
UX Dashboards
Flexible formula based logic
Application Lifecycle Management
UX Dashboards
Flexible formula based logic
What do you dislike about the product?
Limited new functionality releases
Anaplan support not as good as it used to be
Anaplan support not as good as it used to be
What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?
The reduction of time to create reports / useful analytics to actually spend time on making decisions
The Anaplan practice evolving all over the years
What do you like best about the product?
Anaplan is a easy-to-use service, but still very powerful and robust at the same time. There is a quite low level of entrance to the platform in order to be able to create complex models. If you are good in excel and VBA, you will be definitely good in model building. You can cover any business case by Anaplan, it's proved by my 7-years platform's experience. An UX is great, you don't have to get used to that. It is very native and user friendly. Anaplan doesn't stay in an one place. It releases new features very often.
What do you dislike about the product?
Unfortunately, Anaplan doesn't support any scripts modelling. Therefore, sometimes you have to pass a very long building way in order to reach your goal. The greatest disadvantage of the platform is a price. It is quite high, your company need to have a really good profit to afford it. On the other hand, Anaplan brings a real value. That amount can be calculated. In many cases the savings cover an Anaplan's TCO.
What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?
As a consultancy company, we've managed a lot of Anaplan implementations in different domains and business cases. It's been FMCG, Pharma, Banking, Mining, and Tech industries. All of them found their benefits in the Anaplan's implementation. Some clients cut twice their time for budget campaign, others increased transparency and efficiency in C&B process for their Sales Reps. Many clients provide a great feedback about an ability to create and compare different scenarios in very rapid way. In my opinion, the greatest benefit in the Anaplan implementation is that clients, finally, get verified and enhanced buisness process, that have really clear definition. In addition to that, they can change the process, even by their internal champion. Nowadays, when the things are changed unpredictably fast, this is extremely important.
A great "connected" planning tool that can scale with your business
What do you like best about the product?
* Encourages collaboration across business units to break down silos
* Can easily add more granularity to existing planning models
* Relatively fast implementation timeframe
* Numerous integration options including Anaplan APIs, Anaplan Connect, HyperConnect and iPaas connectors
* Drilldown feature which enables a user to trace calculations back to source inputs/data
* Dynamic reporting through the use of dynamic text where values (e.g. Sales or Net Profit) dynamically change as the user selects different reporting periods
* Workflow feature although this currently costs a small license fee
* Customer focussed support
* Can easily add more granularity to existing planning models
* Relatively fast implementation timeframe
* Numerous integration options including Anaplan APIs, Anaplan Connect, HyperConnect and iPaas connectors
* Drilldown feature which enables a user to trace calculations back to source inputs/data
* Dynamic reporting through the use of dynamic text where values (e.g. Sales or Net Profit) dynamically change as the user selects different reporting periods
* Workflow feature although this currently costs a small license fee
* Customer focussed support
What do you dislike about the product?
* Certain aspects of model building are more complicated that it needs to be... although has improved recently and continues to evolve
* Some new features (e.g. Workflow) require additional licence fees to be paid
* Uses a different platform to handle very large models
* Some new features (e.g. Workflow) require additional licence fees to be paid
* Uses a different platform to handle very large models
What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?
Our clients who have implemented Anaplan were primarily wanting to:
- remove/limit the use of MS Excel in managing and driving the performance of their business to eliminate inherent spreadsheet mistakes and provide transparency in assumptions/drivers used in planning models
- encourage collaboration among their business units
- significantly reduce the time it took to report their results and prepare updated forecasts
- introduce a faster way of creating scenario analyses to enable them to react to fast changing market conditions and plan for unforeseen challenges
- remove/limit the use of MS Excel in managing and driving the performance of their business to eliminate inherent spreadsheet mistakes and provide transparency in assumptions/drivers used in planning models
- encourage collaboration among their business units
- significantly reduce the time it took to report their results and prepare updated forecasts
- introduce a faster way of creating scenario analyses to enable them to react to fast changing market conditions and plan for unforeseen challenges
Anaplan platform
What do you like best about the product?
Highly configurable, ease of use for business
What do you dislike about the product?
Dashboarding capabilities can be restricted, predictive analytics can be integrated further into scenario modelling.
What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?
Build forecasting models across various use cases
Anaplan can be configured to hand the most unique business processes.
What do you like best about the product?
Anaplan is very user friendly and is owned by the business, not IT. The business owners are empowered to make changes/updates and can configure pages in such a way that meets the unique needs of each department/area within the business while still connecting all of the planning activities.
What do you dislike about the product?
While Anaplan does offer ML/AI functionality, it does not offere insights to the indicators for this functionality.
What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?
Anaplan allows us to track the stage of sales opportunities and rate the probablility of closure, which then informs our sales forecast. This information is also used to then plan our resources that need to be assigned to each opportunity.
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