Anaplan

Anaplan is transforming how companies approach business planning, enabling organizations to combine financial foresight with agile responses to changing market demands. By integrating advanced analytics into corporate performance management, Anaplan helps organizations make informed decisions that resonate throughout their entire operations.

What is Anaplan?

Anaplan is a cloud-based platform designed to enhance organizational planning and forecasting across various business functions. The platform integrates diverse data sources and enables teams to collaborate in real-time, fostering an environment where decision-making is data-driven and insights can be shared effortlessly.

Overview of Anaplan’s functionality

Powered by an in-memory database and the advanced Polaris calculation engine, Anaplan offers a dynamic environment for managing and analyzing business data. This capability supports various sectors and is particularly effective in:

• Finance: Facilitating financial consolidation, budgeting, and tax management.
• Sales: Improving sales forecasting and incentive compensation planning.
• Supply chain management: Providing predictive analytics and optimizing trade promotions.

Historical context and company acquisition

Anaplan became part of the private equity landscape in June 2022 when Thoma Bravo acquired the company for $10.7 billion. This acquisition aimed to bolster Anaplan’s competitive edge against major players like SAP and Oracle, as well as specialized firms such as Kinaxis and Blue Yonder in the supply chain space.

Uses of Anaplan

Anaplan serves a broad range of industries by allowing enterprise clients to structure and analyze their data effectively. Below are key applications:

Sales applications

• Quota planning: Define and track sales targets against performance metrics.
• Sales forecasting: Leverage historical data to predict future sales trends.
• Incentive compensation: Manage and calculate sales incentives efficiently.

Financial management

• CAPEX planning: Optimize capital expenditure allocations.
• Financial consolidation: Integrate financial data from multiple sources for detailed reporting.
• Tax and treasury functions: Enhance operations concerning tax compliance and treasury management.

Supply chain enhancements

• Predictive analytics: Analyze historical data to forecast supply needs accurately.
• Trade promotions planning: Develop effective strategies for promotional activities.
• Distribution requirements planning: Ensure optimal inventory levels while minimizing surplus stock.

Features of Anaplan

With numerous modules and tools, Anaplan supports various aspects of planning and forecasting:

Planning and forecasting capabilities

• Budgeting tools: Create and manage budgets effortlessly.
• Demand planning: Adjust product offerings based on anticipated customer demand.

Advanced functionality

• Commission calculation: Simplify how sales commissions are computed.
• Profitability modeling: Assess profitability across different channels and products.

Tiered service structure

Anaplan is available in three primary tiers, catering to different organizational needs:

1. Basic tier: Includes core features like interactive dashboards and self-service data management.
2. Professional tier: Offers advanced functions such as application lifecycle management.
3. Enterprise tier: Provides comprehensive features, including enhanced security options and extensive support.

Advantages and disadvantages of using Anaplan

When considering Anaplan, organizations should weigh its benefits against potential drawbacks:

Advantages

• Industry recognition: Anaplan ranks as a leader in Gartner’s Magic Quadrant for Supply Chain Planning.
• User-friendly interface: The platform’s design mirrors familiar tools, promoting user acceptance.
• Real-time collaboration: Improves visibility and fosters collaborative planning efforts.

Disadvantages

• Technical support challenges: Some users report delays in obtaining necessary assistance.
• Performance issues: Large data transactions may impact system efficiency.

Pricing model

Anaplan utilizes a license-based pricing structure, which is influenced by factors such as the number of users and data requirements. Organizations should consider the tier that aligns best with their needs, noting that Anaplan does not provide free plans or trials, although product demos are available.

Competitors of Anaplan

In the competitive landscape of corporate planning tools, Anaplan faces significant competition from several established firms. Notable competitors include:

• SAP: Renowned for its comprehensive enterprise resource planning solutions.
• Oracle: Offers a wide array of tools focused on financial services.
• Kinaxis: Specializes in supply chain management.
• Blue Yonder: Focuses on retail and supply chain analytics.

These companies are evaluated based on various factors, including integration capabilities, deployment flexibility, and customer support services.