Connected Planning
Imagine being able to ask someone for a plan, and instead of just numbers, they reveal the driving forces behind it. That’s where you step in with your role in FP&A.
At its heart, FP&A isn’t just about finance, it’s about connected planning. It’s about ensuring that across the entire organization, everyone is aligned—knowing exactly what drives their plan and how it impacts the company’s financial health.
When everyone has access to real-time, reliable data, decision-making becomes powerful and strategic.
The technology that powers this connected planning needs to be rock-solid, giving your business the freedom to pivot, adapt, and innovate.
That’s when transformation happens, when planning isn’t just a task, but a force that shapes the future of the company.
Anaplan has a proven track record of driving connected planning transformations.
Are you one of Anaplan customers already?
Read further and learn how to successfully implement and maintain your Anaplan solution through its lifecycle.
Implementing Anaplan?
Focus on Four cornerstones
Process
For a successful Anaplan project, it's absolutely critical to nail down your processes before kicking things off. Think of it like trying to bake a cake—you don't want to realize halfway through that you're missing the flour. Without a solid process, user stories (those handy little instructions on how the system should work) won't be accurately defined, and you’ll end up prioritizing chaos over clarity. Plus, forgetting about upstream and downstream dependencies? That's like building a bridge and forgetting to check if it connects to anything! Since most Anaplan projects aim to fix broken systems or processes, it’s essential to optimize them as you go. After all, no one wants to be the person trying to fix the engine while the plane’s already in the air.
Data
Handling data during an initial Anaplan implementation requires significant time and effort, but it’s worth it to avoid bringing the project to a halt. Like the other cornerstones, well-managed data keeps things running smoothly. However, if the project team doesn’t plan ahead or allocate the right resources, data issues can derail everything. As companies grow, their systems often end up in silos—CRM, HR, ERP, etc.—each with its own data. Over time, shared metadata, like customer names, becomes disconnected, leading to confusion. For example, the same customer might be called “Acme” in one system and “Acme Co.” in another, creating mismatches. Anaplan models help unify this data to give a complete business view. To avoid data chaos, plan carefully, allocate resources for data clean-up, and never assume your customer’s data quality is perfect—it rarely is!
Model
For a successful Anaplan implementation, model building education, training, and experience are essential. The Model cornerstone involves not just designing, building, and testing the Anaplan model but also ensuring the customer’s team is trained in model building. Why? Because understanding Anaplan’s capabilities helps the team define business requirements clearly and make informed decisions during the build. When stakeholders know what’s possible, they can actively participate and make better decisions, instead of sitting on the sidelines. That’s why Anaplan recommends having at least two trained model builders on staff to assist with the build and maintain the model post-implementation. The model design itself should integrate with business processes, not stand alone. An experienced project team, backed by certified Anaplan resources, ensures the model is built effectively and supports ongoing success.
Deployment
Deployment in an Anaplan project goes far beyond just launching the application—it’s all about change management and communication. If you don’t win over your end users early on, you risk losing their buy-in and, ultimately, their adoption of Anaplan, which undermines the project’s ROI. Involve key users early, ideally by the second sprint, and make them Anaplan champions. Getting influential end users and even skeptics involved in design decisions will build early confidence and lead to a smoother rollout. Regular engagement, like sneak-peeks and user testing, helps keep users invested and onboard. Involving subject matter experts (SMEs) from the start and re-engaging them toward the end ensures their expertise shapes the solution. To position Anaplan effectively, put yourself in the shoes of end users and address their concerns—why the change, how it improves their work, and what support they’ll have. Use tools like introductory videos, webinars, and simulations to ease the transition. Finally, create and follow a detailed training and communication plan throughout the project, ensuring all end users are prepared for the change. A well-managed deployment leads to higher adoption and often sparks further expansion of Anaplan across the organization. On the other hand, a poor deployment leaves users wondering why they invested in the first place.
After Go-Live?
Master Anaplan Maintenance Cycle
Clean Up
Think of your Anaplan model as a cluttered closet—over time, it accumulates unused data, redundant modules, and confusing formulas, making it harder to find what you need. Cleaning up your model is essential to improve performance, enhance efficiency, and make it easier to manage. Why clean up? A streamlined model not only reduces complexity and improves processing speed but also enhances clarity for users, makes ongoing development simpler, and minimizes security risks by ensuring appropriate user access. How to clean up? Start by organizing your modules with clear, consistent naming conventions. Remove outdated data, duplicate entries, and redundant elements. Optimize formulas to ensure faster performance, and automate repetitive tasks to save time. Review user access to ensure permissions are assigned properly, and create system modules to centralize properties, filters, and selections. By tidying up your Anaplan model, you’ll create a faster, more efficient, and user-friendly system. A well-organized model leads to smoother workflows, better decision-making, and long-term success.
Update
Updating your Anaplan model to keep up with evolving business needs is like giving it a regular tune-up—essential for staying efficient and effective. As user requests pour in, it’s tempting to accommodate every demand, but here’s the catch: stick to the 80-20 rule. Focus on the key updates that benefit most users and avoid getting bogged down by exceptions. First, you need to clearly understand the business case behind each request. It’s important to know whether a change is as simple as tweaking an app or something that requires deeper adjustments to the model. Once you know that, dive into the details and weigh your options. Some changes are easy, with minimal risk—like adjusting a module. Others, like changing a hierarchy, can have a bigger impact and require careful risk assessment. Choosing the right option is crucial. You want a solution that fits seamlessly into your model without losing data, wasting time, or blowing the budget. Once the best choice is clear, it’s time to implement it, but you need to consider who should handle it. Should you do it yourself, or is this the moment to call in a senior expert? Timing and communication with your team are key, especially if you need to minimize disruptions and protect your data in case things don’t go as planned. Finally, you need to keep an eye on your model’s size and performance. Just like planning a meal, you’ll want to trim the excess without sacrificing the key elements that keep your model running smoothly. The goal is to keep your model lean, efficient, and perfectly aligned with your business needs. By taking a strategic approach, you’ll ensure your Anaplan model stays agile and ready for whatever comes next, without getting bogged down by unnecessary changes or performance issues.
Educate
Constantly educating users on Anaplan is like giving them the keys to a high-performance car—without training, they’ll never fully appreciate its power. For Anaplan to truly succeed in your organization, users need to understand its capabilities, and that means education is critical for both adoption and advocacy. This isn't just about teaching them how the platform works but also making sure they're kept up to date on any changes or updates that could affect them. Clear and timely communication is key. Every time you update the model or introduce new functionalities, users need to know how these changes impact their workflow. Regularly sharing updates about new features in the Anaplan user interface ensures they stay engaged and see the benefits firsthand. If you have a substantial Center of Excellence (CoE), building a solid knowledge base and fostering a culture of knowledge sharing becomes even more essential. This not only helps with onboarding new users but also ensures everyone stays on the same page. When new functionalities are introduced, encourage users to contribute ideas about how they could be leveraged. An "idea box" is a great way to collect insights from the people who know the system best. Quite often, users will see opportunities for improvement or new ways to enhance usability that might not be immediately obvious. By showing them the "art of the possible," you’re not just keeping them informed—you’re inspiring them to innovate and make the most of Anaplan’s capabilities. In short, education, communication, and collaboration are the driving forces behind successful Anaplan adoption and advocacy. The more users know, the more they’ll appreciate the platform, and the more they’ll push its potential.
Why involve Anaplan Solution Architect ?
Involving a Solution Architect in your Anaplan project is like having a seasoned pilot at the controls—experience is everything. Solution Architects are required to have at least three years of hands-on experience in Anaplan, having built models from scratch and managed complex projects. Their deep expertise makes them invaluable during both implementation and post-go-live support.
Project
Implementation
Anaplan’s flexibility means that every solution is custom-built to fit the unique needs of the business.
This is where Solution Architects shine, blending the four Anaplan cornerstones—process, data, user experience, and model architecture—into a seamless whole.
They take the business requirements, evaluate available data (including its quality), and design the best model architecture to meet those needs, all while ensuring the user experience is optimized to drive adoption.
Solution
Maintenance
During implementation, the Solution Architect orchestrates the entire process, guiding the project toward success. Post-go-live, their role doesn’t end.
Solution Architects are crucial for long-term Anaplan CoE success, as they help maintain the model through regular cleanup, optimize change requests, and coach teams to get the best out of their Anaplan solution.
They are also a key player in brainstorming ways to enhance user experience and implement best practices.
Weather you need a Solution Architect for implementation or ongoing maintenance
Let me help you
on your
Anaplan journey
Empowering Businesses
Empowering your Anaplan users and Model Builders through training isn’t as simple as handing them a manual and hoping for the best—it’s a two-way street. Successful training happens when expectations, preferences, availability, and motivation are all in sync.
In my training approach, we always start with the real-world FP&A needs and then translate them into Anaplan-speak.
The key to success is finding the right level of involvement. Sometimes, users just need senior-level expertise on standby to answer their questions, like a lifeline when they’re knee-deep in a model. Other times, it's best to do the work for them first, then walk them through it step by step.
That’s why my offering for you includes three flavors:
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DIY (Do It Yourself),
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DWY (Done With You),
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and DFY (Done For You).
And, of course, there’s an online learning option to support all three. Because let’s face it, sometimes it’s easier to learn with a little guidance, and sometimes you just need someone else to take the lead first!
DIY
Do It Yourself
DIY training with a Solution Architect is like bringing in a pro coach for a few days every month or two. They swoop in to unstick your model builders, spark new ideas, and share the latest Anaplan innovations that could boost your specific use case. We plan these coaching sessions in advance, but if urgent questions pop up, we can tackle those too. This setup works best when your model builders are already skilled in Anaplan, because the execution and change management remain their responsibility. The Solution Architect is there to guide, inspire, and share insights, but your team takes the lead on getting things done. It’s all about giving your team that extra boost of expertise while keeping the momentum in their hands.
DWY
Do
with You
For DWY the frequency of meetings isn't necessarily more than DIY—it all depends on how much support and improvement your team needs. However, the approach is different. The Solution Architect first dives deep into your model, and together with you creates a detailed plan for the required changes. Then, we plan a session to both explain the changes and execute them alongside your model builders. During this session, your team handles the execution while the Solution Architect is present to guide them, offering training and best practices in real-time. This method takes more time for the Solution Architect, from preparing the plan to attending the session, meaning fewer tasks are completed compared to DFY (Done For You). But the benefit is clear: your model builders gain practical experience, boosting their skills and preparing them for a more independent DIY approach in the future.
DFY
Do
For You
DFY is the go-to option when speed and cost-effectiveness are the top priorities. In this approach, the Solution Architect takes full control, executing the task independently. Once completed, it will be explain how everything was done and what you’ll need to keep it running smoothly moving forward. This method is the most hands-off for your team, with less focus on learning and more on simply getting things done quickly and efficiently. It’s a one-way street in terms of involvement, but sometimes that’s exactly what you need—a fast, reliable solution without the extra steps.
Anaplan Coaching
The Training Your Model Builders Will Love
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Let's Kick Things Off and Establish Trust
First up, we start with an intake day—think of it as a deep dive into your business, software, and data landscape. I’ll assess where you’re at and put together a roadmap to help you reach your Anaplan goals. Whether you're aiming to build a CoE, expand your model builders team, or simply cut back on external support, we’ll figure out the best way forward. Maybe we even tackle Anaplan adoption like a fitness coach trying to get end users off the couch.
03
Execution: Communication is Key
Then, it's go time! Once we’re in execution mode, the name of the game is communication. Timely feedback keeps things from going off track. If something’s not clicking, we talk about it—because, let’s face it, if we’re not on the same page, the project could end up like a jigsaw puzzle with missing pieces. It’s all about making sure expectations meet reality.
02
Commitment: Time to Make It Official
Next, we make it a commitment! We’ll align on budget, time allocation, and get management on board. The key question is: Are we going DIY, DWY, DFY—or mixing it up? Your team's needs will determine the formula. It’s a bit like choosing between cooking a meal yourself, cooking together, or just ordering takeout. Each has its perks.
04
The Finish Line: What’s Next?
Finally, when we reach the end of the road, we’ll sit down for a wrap-up. We’ll celebrate the wins and take stock of what’s next. Whether it’s fine-tuning your Anaplan model or prepping your team for the next big thing, we’ll pave the way for future success. Because, really, who doesn’t love planning the next adventure?
Build your best model in Anaplan with Online Learning
Anaplan Model Craft
Practical FP&A Technics
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Hands-On Training with Real-Life Production Models
No demo-models, no learning templates, just exactly how it is done in real life. Gain practical experience by working through 9 use cases and 20+ detailed FP&A modelling techniques, designed to reflect real-world scenarios and challenges.
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Confidence to Manage and Optimize Models
Develop the skills to independently manage and optimize your Anaplan models without fear of breaking anything, ensuring maximum value from your Anaplan investment.
This part of knowledge, I believe, is the least accessible to Model Builders and usually lacks a structured approach—making it even more crucial to master.
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Master Best Practices and Advanced Techniques
While there’s plenty of material available on Anaplan Community, it’s easy to get lost in it—that’s where expert guidance can make all the difference. Learn the latest best practices for building, maintaining, and enhancing Anaplan models from a seasoned Master Anaplanner.
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Who is this training designed for?
Anaplan Client Model Builders: especially those who are expected to maintain and upgrade their models after project implementation.
FP&A Professionals: Looking to leverage Anaplan for financial planning and analysis.
Anaplan Partner Model Builders: of all levels wanting to deepen their practical FP&A techniques.
