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Lessons learned in 2024: Trust the process
Author: Taryn Townsend is a Certified Master Anaplanner and Senior Manager at Deloitte Consulting.
It is always an honor for me to be able to share perspectives with you, the Anaplan Community, as I strive to learn and grow as a part of this ecosystem. As 2024 draws to a close to give way to crafting New Year’s resolutions and setting goals for 2025, it’s a great time to reflect over the experiences of the year. We have adopted new feature functionality, learned updated model building best practices from platform experts, and collectively evolved in our understanding of connected planning! But, of course, there have been challenges along the way, leading to a lesson learned I would love to share with you.
One of my team leads often says “a fancy system on top of a broken process is just an expensive broken process.” He’s not wrong! And a familiar baseline principle we try to hold top of mind for a successful implementation is that technology alone will not drive the business changes that typically led to the desire to seek a planning platform in the first place. The tool might help or be an energizing first step but the triumvirate of people, process and technology in harmony is the guide to success. Keeping this edict in mind can become challenging however, as more system features become available that start to blur the sides of the triangle. After all, for example, if we enable Workflow in Anaplan… doesn’t that replace the process work? Two birds, one stone!
This leads to my story from a previous implementation experience. A client team had enabled Anaplan for their FP&A use case. The model had been live for a few planning cycles, but the client was not realizing the synergies and value that they had hoped to see. Handoffs were not happening correctly, cycle times were being missed, and end users were started to leverage off-line workarounds more and more. They were considering options included transitioning to a different solution when Workflow went live. “Perfect timing!” they thought. Flows were overlaid task by task on top of the existing solution. A few more forecast cycles passed before I was engaged with my team to try and understand what this client needed to succeed. We started hearing some common themes: “The solution is ok, but…” and “I really wish the system could do…” and “It’s almost there but to make it work for me, I have to do…”
In breaking down the problem statement, it became clear, there was not a gap in Anaplan’s capabilities… a robust core process was not defined. We were missing the procedural structure for the platform to be able to grow from. While the push for forward progress typically repels a pause to prioritize and preform a process review and re-alignment, those were our next steps. This work generated our action plan showing us that there was not a need to change platforms or even a call for a full model retrofit! We could prioritize enhancements that were not only welcomed but could be firmly grounded in our mutually aligned and socialized process flow. The technology alone couldn’t magically solve the underlying issues users were concerned about. Only through ensuring we were building a solution on top of a solid foundational strategy were we able to achieve our connected planning goals together.
The research scientist in me will always seek to learn the next-generation solutions and how they might be leveraged for my clients. That’s the exciting part of working in a field driven by innovation! But experiences like this remind me that while it can be advantageous to chase the leading edge, heavy importance must remain placed on the fundamentals if your application is meant to stand the test of time. This will become more and more important as we bolster our solutions with advancements like PlanIQ, ADO, and then the next set of platform enhancements waiting for us on the horizon. We can’t forget: a fancy system on top of a broken process is just an expensive broken process.
So, if you are evaluating your goals for 2025, consider setting yourself up for success and adding a reminder to prioritize the process to your list! I have absolutely added it to mine.
What were your big lessons this year? Leave a comment!
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Check out other end-of-year articles:
* Year in review: My 5 favorite 2024 Anaplan releases
* Register for our January 28 platform release webinar!
* Ending the year with our Community Bosses — Journey | Anaplan Community Podcast
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How can I Reference a Line Item from a module with time dimension in a module without time dimension
Mod 1 - System Module
Line item (Subsidary view) applies to Time(Year)
Mod 2 - Reporting Module (Timeless)
How to refer Mod 1 line item in Mod 2?
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How I Built It: Creating functional P&Ls using line item subsets without COLLECT formula
Author: Austin van der Linden is a Certified Master Anaplanner and Senior Model Builder at Hubspot.
Hello Anaplan Community!
In this 'How I Built It' Tutorial, I show how you can build functional P&Ls using line item subsets as a mapping tool. One of the cool functionalities provided with line item subsets is that you can leverage them as a list for mappings. What is even more useful is that you can use a SUM formula to aggregate based on those mappings in the same module you used to create the line item subset. By doing this, you create a simple, dynamic, and flexible method of aggregating from base level data to a line item.
Key features:
* Dynamic properties mapping.
* Model cleanliness and efficiency by using SUM on a mapping.
* Best of both worlds: structure and mapping ability of a list AND flexibility and formatting of a line item.
* Solution does not need COLLECT() formula to work.
Check it out and let me know if you have questions!
https://play.vidyard.com/FEPf6mDiLebqicZtPpwwwd
Check out all the 'How I Built It' tutorials here.
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Is there anyway to provide a notification to the user
Hi team,
I want to create an automatic notification system. as you can see in below screen, there is a module with week time dimension and delta line item (difference of actual data vs forecast data). so, I want to notify the user via email whenever the delta Boolean is true ?
How to create this in anaplan?
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Essential Anaplan topics
The best way to hone your expertise is practical experience. We recommend one or more years of hands-on experience using Anaplan to uncover all you can do with the platform. Training can also help you advance your technical skills and learn best practices for working with Anaplan.In addition to our required training, the following materials can help you get a well-rounded understanding of the platform. Learn how you can grow your knowledge in the areas below:
Center of Excellence Topics
Data Hubs
* Data Hubs: Purpose and Peak Performance
Governance & Structure
* Building a Center of Excellence
* Introduction to Centers of Excellence
* Selecting Center of Excellence Governance Structures
* Center of Excellence Roles and Responsibilities
* Why Do I Need a Center of Excellence?
Data Integration Topics
Importing and Exporting Data
* Data Related Training Classes
* Get Started with Imports
* Export from Anaplan
* Overview of Private and Default Files
* Import Data Sources
Integration Platform and Connectors
* Data Integration
* Anaplan Connect
* Guide to Data Integration using Anaplan REST API
* Anaplan API Guide and Reference
* Excel Add-in Version 4.0
* Third-party Data Integration
* Anaplan Connector Guide for Dell Boomi
* Anaplan HyperConnect Powered by Informatica
Model Building Topics
Model Building Best Practices
* Best Practices for Module Design
* Formula Optimization in Anaplan Knowledge
* Time Range Application
* Reduce Calculations for Better Performance
* PLANS–This Is How We Model Shared Best Practice
* Add Notes
Formulas and Functions
* Calculation Functions
* YEARTODATE Function
* Formula Structure for Performance
* SELECT Function
* RANK Function
Dynamic Cell Access
* Dynamic Cell Access
* Dynamic Cell OR Selective Access
* Dynamic Cell Access Learning App
Selective Access
* Selective Access (Anapedia)
* Selective Access (Academy)
Time Ranges
* Time Ranges
* Introduction to Time Ranges
* Time Ranges–The Basics
Dashboard Filtering
* Filter (Anapedia)
* Filter Best Practice
Application Lifecycle Management (ALM)
* ALM Overview
* Revision Tag Best Practices
* Save Incomplete Changes when Synchronizing in ALM
* Production Lists Overview
* Structural Information Reference
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December 2024 Community Member Spotlight: Seyma Tas
As we wrap up 2024, we’re excited to feature @seymatas1 as our final Community Member Spotlight of the year! Seyma has been part of the Anaplan ecosystem since 2020 and has contributed over 120 comments in the Community in the past two years. She became a Certified Master Anaplanner in the last year, and is an active participant in the forums, Community Challenges, and Community events. Seyma’s commitment and contributions have made her an invaluable member of the Community, and we’re thrilled to share more about her journey and work with Anaplan!
About Seyma
We asked Seyma about her background and history with Anaplan. Here's what we learned!
I discovered Anaplan in 2020 through the Anaplan for All program, which provides free training to underrepresented groups. Since then, I’ve worked as a model builder in consulting and moved into my current role as a product owner. I’m currently building a Center of Excellence (CoE) for Caliber Collision, a new Anaplan customer. My work includes further development, training model builders, setting up meeting cadences, and defining Service Level Expectations (SLEs), among other things.
I’m passionate about democratizing tech training, empowering women, and promoting sustainability.
We asked Seyma a few questions to get to know her.
Please share an Anaplan success story you're proud of.
In one of my consulting projects, I worked with a frustrated customer who was about to stop using Anaplan. My role as a solution architect was to turn things around, and I did. The model they were using wasn’t performing well, but more importantly, their team wasn’t trained to use it effectively.
I hosted customized training sessions for their in-house model builders and documented their key processes to build their confidence. They learned how to use dashboards, make enhancements, and try new features without affecting live models. At the same time, I optimized the backend: reducing model open times and simplifying complex structures. By the end, the customer felt confident and saw the value in Anaplan again. Turning that frustration into trust was a great experience.
Please share something you can teach about Anaplan — any tips and tricks you'd like to highlight?
Phil Karlton once said, “There are only two hard things in computer science: cache invalidation and naming things.” The same applies to Anaplan: proper naming can make or break a model.
When building models, it’s important to ask subject matter experts for clear definitions of terms. For example when we say "demand," "forecasted demand," or "adjusted demand" etc., everyone should agree on what they mean.
Consistency is important, not just in Anaplan, but across your whole company. Use the same names for the same concepts in your models, meetings, and documentation. It might seem like a small detail, but getting naming right can save hours of confusion later on.
What do you enjoy about the Anaplan Community?
The Anaplan Community is amazing because people really want to help, even answering questions with few details provided! I love that collaborative spirit.
One thing I’ve learned is how much the quality of your question impacts the answers you get. Here are a few quick tips I’d like to share:
* Search first — your question might already have an answer.
* Explain the issue clearly and share what result you want.
* Use sandbox models and share useful module or line item names.
* Add screenshots of both grid and blueprint views for context.
* Check and format your question to make it simple to read (bold, bullet points, etc.).
And don’t forget to like answers and mark them as solutions, it helps others too!
What’s a hobby or interest of yours that most people might not know about?
I upcycle old T-shirts into home decor items like potholders, rugs, and plant hangers using my (slightly imperfect) crocheting skills. It all started with my kids’ stained, worn-out shirts. I made yarn out of them, crocheted them, and gave the items to friends and family.
Now, I partner with a Texas-based nonprofit that provides affordable housing. They distribute these upcycled items as “welcome home” gifts to new residents.
Did you know that over 85% of discarded clothing ends up in landfills? It’s a small step, but I love knowing that I’m contributing to sustainability in my own way.
…..
We hope you enjoyed learning more about Seyma in this month’s Community Member Spotlight. Thank you, Seyma, for being an outstanding Community contributor and advocate!
Check out a few of Seyma's contributions to Community:
* August 2024 Builder Community Challenge response
* Seyma's guest speaker participation in the Builder Challenge event
* September 2024 Best Practices Challenge around modeling tips & tricks response
Want to learn more about our Community Member Spotlight series? Check out this post.
Do you know someone in the Community who you think should be featured in a Community Member Spotlight? We want to hear about it — please nominate them here.
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ADO Access
Hi Everyone,
Can anyone will help me how can i get the access for Anaplan Data Orchestrator(ADO).
Regards
Rakesh ****
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3.4.4 Activity: Create Stock Exceptions Review UX Page
Hello, I am working on this exercise, and I am stuck.
This is the view I have and I am trying to do the following.
The UX page should include:
* Region, Product Family, and Time context selectors.
* Stock Exception count by Country and Region at monthly, half-year, and year time periods.
* Stock Exception count by Product Family and for All Products at monthly, half-year, and year time periods.
* Stock Exception count by product SKU and total for the parent Product at monthly, half-year, and year time periods.
* Apply conditional formatting to highlight the Stock Exception count greater than zero.
I know I am missing the Stock Exception count by product SKU and to remove the Stock exception count as a row.
Also, I am struggling to get the monthly, half-year, and year time periods on my view.
Could anyone help on figuring this out?
Thanks!
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Send an Email Notification if a Line Item Doesn't Equal 0
Is there a way to send a notification to specific users if a variance/line item is not equal to zero?
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Calling all model builders: Share your feedback and impact our future plans!
The product and UX team at Anaplan is looking for your feedback on your current modeling experience, specifically focused on building an appreciation for the challenges you face as a model builder in Anaplan.
This survey is designed to capture this detail, so that we can explore how to simplify and accelerate the modeling process for you:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/modelinginternaltest
The feedback you share will be reviewed by the team and help to determine our future plans in the modeling space!
Please complete the survey by Friday 13th December
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Did You Know: Mastering Anaplan color matching
Author: Brent Orr is a Certified Master Anaplanner and Global Data Architect at Accenture.
Hello Anaplan Community!
The objective of this ‘Did You Know’ tutorial is to guide users on how to match the background colors of Anaplan management reports to maintain consistency with other pages in Anaplan.
The video is below, but here are the key steps:
* Right-click anywhere on the background of the page you want to match the color.
* Select "Inspect" at the bottom of the menu that appears.
* Look for the "background" attribute under the "style" section in the HTML elements.
* Identify the specific color by scrolling through the code or using the search function.
* Copy the color code.
* Go back to the report you want to edit, enter the edit mode, and navigate to the background settings.
* Replace the default color code with the copied color code.
* Save and publish the changes to apply the new background color.
Cautionary notes:
* Be careful not to modify other elements of the code while searching for the background color to avoid unintended changes.
* Ensure that the color code copied is accurate to achieve the desired color match.
Tips for efficiency:
* Use the color sample provided in the code to narrow down the search for the specific background color.
* Experiment with different color codes to find the perfect match for consistency across pages and slides.
* Utilize corporate colors or specific color schemes to maintain branding consistency within Anaplan reports and presentations.
https://play.vidyard.com/wUxz4u6pCrg8MpCZk38SFJ
Questions? Leave a comment!
P.S. Check out my other tutorial — How I Built It: Optimizer for work and play. In the video, I give a live demonstration of how to use Optimizer. I show an example of creating the modules necessary to set up a successful Optimizer run, and then use the tool to solve a fun golf problem that I recently experienced.
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My journey on Workflow implementation — Part 1: the buildout
Author: Kevin Beltz has been a Certified Master Anaplanner since 2018 and is writing this blog on behalf of Wildflower Aspect.
Hello Anaplan Community!
Today I’m happy to share Part 1 of my Workflow journey. I segmented the blog into three sections: the state of Anaplan at my client, live build thoughts, and a summary section. These sections encapsulate my experiences and insights gained while understanding the technical aspects of Workflow. In the live build thoughts section, I documented my journey of setting up Workflow for the first time in April 2024. This journey is punctuated with enhancements, challenges, and moments of excitement.
Looking ahead, Part 2 is slated for a few months from now, by which time I anticipate having navigated through numerous workflow iterations with two distinct teams. Then I will present a comprehensive set of best practices, comparative metrics, and pre and post-release of Workflow to users. Stay tuned for that! Let’s get started…
The state of Anaplan at my client
The primary audience at 'my client' has been engaged with Anaplan for over two years. However, we have encountered resistance to the platform, and transitioning the team from Excel to Anaplan had proven to be a challenge at times. Recognizing this, our Anaplan Center of Excellence (CoE) identified Workflow as a cost-effective strategy to encourage users to adopt the Anaplan platform. We anticipate that Workflow — by providing a structured set of instructions — would facilitate a more complex business process. This, in turn, will encourage more users to review calculations and approve them, ultimately enhancing the Anaplan model and user experience.
Live build thoughts
Distribution v1 represented my initial foray into Workflow creation, characterized by its simplicity. I assigned myself as both the Assignee and Approver and found the process of receiving email notifications for each completed step enjoyable. I quickly realized that group tasks offered more flexibility than page tasks, providing backup coverage in case an employee is unavailable. The setup process for the Workflow was straightforward, intuitive, and quick for a linear workflow.
To gain further insights, I revisited the video #3 here: Lesson 3: Workflow Owner platform how-to and practice, a resource for Certified Anaplanners.
In Distribution v2, I experimented with the 'Assign to users from a line item in a module' feature to leverage boolean driven line items for submission and approval processes, aiming to drive Dynamic Cell Access in the model. However, I encountered a challenge when I realized that the workflow might not be synced to the Application Lifecycle Management (ALM) in the same way as models, which was a cause for concern.
The first step of the planning process required users to select the L1 in page selectors, fill out a form (via grid card type), and click a process button to create the L2. I created the User Workflow Module on the L1 dimension, which is the same dimension as the form. In the Workflow settings, I referenced the same item that drives Step 2 “Create ... ” in the screenshot below.
I set myself as the Amount to Allocate and Approve (two distinct Workflow steps) user and initiated the template, and quickly realized that I did something wrong. The Workflow started for all list members of L1 instead of just one member! I’m trying to create a process for events “forecasts” that are ad-hoc and are all on different schedules for each L1 member. Unfortunately, I am not able to use the more powerful “Assign users from a line item in a module” and I will go back to Distribution V1. Good thing I used the “Duplicate Template” button!
Thank goodness for the ‘cancel Workflow’ button!
I went back into the Workflow assignment on the task and discovered the “context setting.” I picked one list member.
This would be a great spot for my purposes if I could choose this context setting when kicking off the template, instead of buried down in a task. If I have 20 tasks with the same context setting, I as the Workflow owner need to update each task. You are able to do it for the time dimension but not any other lists. Anaplan needs to stop building special functionality for native time!
Update: In mid-May 2024, I discovered this in Workflow — you can sync the dimension to the Workflow. When you start the Workflow, you can check this. It would be great if you could do this for all twenty tasks at once, instead of five clicks into each task!
Distribution V3: In this version, the goal is to create a highly detailed Workflow. The process has numerous non-mandatory tasks, leading to variability in task execution. Sometimes task X is performed, while at other times, the process jumps straight to task Y. The starting point for this version is the ideal Step 1 of the process, which begins with different users, model, and app.
The notify step was tested to understand its functionality. Initial thoughts raised questions about the need for a pre-selected user and message. While pre-selecting a user seemed logical, the inability to customize the message was seen as a limitation. Further consideration led to questioning the purpose of this step, as a change in assignee between Step 2 and Step 3 would result in the new assignee receiving a notification upon completion of Step 3.
In Distribution V3, one Page’s process has been streamlined into six sequential steps in the Workflow, mirroring the instructions on the page. The first step involves loading the most recent distribution from Model AB to Model AC. This process, which runs overnight, captures any changes from the Workflow steps "Review Process A" and "Review Process B". The machine task workflow step was utilized for this process, proving to be intuitive.
For page steps 2A and 2B, utilizing boolean driven line items to drive page step 3 could be beneficial. However, a challenge arises when the same user accomplishes all steps simultaneously, eliminating the back-and-forth interaction between User 1 and User 2. This suggests that if only one user is responsible for the entire process, it may not be the most effective solution. Further investigation is needed to understand where approvals fit into the process. Despite these challenges, the original 8 steps on the page were successfully condensed into seven workflow steps.
Upon initiating the Workflow, I discovered that it's possible to edit the users and due dates for each task, even after the workflow has started. This flexibility in editing the template post-launch is quite beneficial.
Running the detailed Workflow
Right away, I noticed is that my images are not downloading automatically in Outlook. Work with IT to get emails to automatically download from no-reply@anaplan.com, otherwise the email is ****! The second piece I noticed immediately, was that I made a typo in the Workflow name, and I am unable to change the name once the workflow is running! This is quite unfortunate, but I will carry on.
As a training exercise, I found keeping the Workflow task menu open by clicking “Go to Task Inbox” is a better experience than clicking emails that open up new tabs.
I am dazzled by the machine task. It automatically triggers when the step before it is completed. I have a UX choice — should I separate all of the pages to apply to each Workflow step and remove the blue action buttons from them? I almost triggered Step 3 process instead of hitting the “complete task”.
Early lessons learned
* It is more effective to rewatch the Workflow trainings and follow along while building live, rather than just watching the videos and their prompts.
* Group tasks are preferred over page tasks, as they allow for writeback into the Anaplan model and facilitate easier task user setup in a module.
* Users can complete the Workflow using the app/pages instead of the Workflow dropdown. This was observed during a test workflow where users insisted that the capital event was complete and data was extracted to load to our accounting system, even though the team was only at Workflow step 2 of 10.
* It may be necessary to work with IT to enable automatic email downloads from no-reply@anaplan.com, or adjust settings to automatically download if permissions allow.
* Creating Workflow-friendly pages is beneficial, especially when the page has one or more process buttons that are part of that page's workflow. Machine tasks can be used to run the process instead of a user clicking the process.
* Users should be trained to keep the Workflow menu open in their browser and navigate to the next steps from there.
* It is recommended to run through the entire workflow individually, then with power users, before opening it up to the team.
* Create a page that displays the Workflow steps and the current progress in the process is helpful.
Great things about Workflow
* Setting up Workflow in Anaplan was straightforward, with a 21-step process created in about an hour.
* Reviewing the entire planning process for a model/app is beneficial. It helped identify pain points in the processes and app that were not previously expressed by users or caught by me. At the very least, this is a great review exercise.
* The ability to export the Workflow steps after completion was appreciated, as it will be useful for audit purposes.
* Machine tasks were found to be highly effective, as they can eliminate all the buttons on pages that users often forget to hit.
* The flexibility to edit users and due dates mid-process was a valuable feature.
My thoughts on future enhancements for the Workflow team at Anaplan
* Page selectors within Workflow should sync from one workflow step to another, similar to how they do in apps.
* When initiating a Workflow based on a template, it would be beneficial to input a due date for when the Workflow needs to be completed.
* In addition to linear Workflow, branching Workflow should be considered.
* It would be advantageous to have dynamic text capability in the title and instructions to match a list selection or a key input when duplicating or initiating a template.
* The ability to edit Workflow steps in the middle of the Workflow would be helpful, as most Workflow steps are quite similar and recreating them for changes can be tedious.
* Workflow templates should be ALM enabled and synced.
* The ability to change Workflow names and descriptions after they have been created would be beneficial. This would prevent the need to restart the entire process due to minor errors like typos.
* Integrating Cloudworks processes into Workflow should be considered.
* Decision tasks should be able to reference a module, similar to group tasks.
* The name and description of a Workflow template should be written into a module, ideally the same module where users are selected and their progress is tracked.
* When using a module with dimensionality, all tasks should be set to "sync to Workflow" instead of individually.
Stay tuned for part two later this year — I’ll cover best practices, comparative metrics, and the pre and post release of Workflow to users. Thanks for reading and let me know if you have questions!
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Appendix
: This is what I am calling “Workflow steps”:
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Formula based on List top level
I have a module with one of the dimension as a list 'Prod Type', with items HW1, HW2 and this list has a top level 'All'.
In one of the line items in this module i want to apply a formula like below :-
If<top level of Prod Type> then <Task1> else <Task2>.
At first i thought of using parent(item(list)) as for top level this will return blank, but the module is having other hierarchical lists as well for dimensions due to which this formulation is not working for me.
Is there any work around for this?
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"Unable to Find Workspace Model Data - Check your connection and try again" Issue in Anaplan
Hello Anaplan Community,
I am encountering an error message in Anaplan: "Unable to find your workspace Model Data. Check your connection and try again." This issue seems to be related to the connection, but I’m unsure of the exact cause.
Has anyone experienced this before? What could be the potential reasons for this error, and how can I resolve it? Any help or troubleshooting steps would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you!
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2024 Recertification Requirement Announcement: Using Workflow in Anaplan!
We're thrilled to announce our 2024 recertification process for Certified Model Builder, Certified Solution Architect, and Certified Master Anaplanner.
Being a Certified Model Builder, Certified Solution Architect, or Certified Master Anaplanner means that you’re a highly qualified and valued part of the Anaplan ecosystem! As stewards of Anaplan, our goal is to ensure your expertise stays relevant, regardless of when you were certified. Staying current with the latest Anaplan product releases and best practices will maintain your certification and enhance your expertise.
This year, the certification maintenance requirements for 2024 details that a course — Using Workflow in Anaplan — is required to be completed prior to January 31, 2024 by all Anaplan Certified Model Builders, Certified Solution Architects, and Certified Master Anaplanners. If you are not certified but still wish to complete the Workflow course, it is available here.
Certified Model Builder and Certified Solution Architect
The requirements to maintain certification are the same for both a Certified Model Builder and a Certified Solution Architect.
2024 Maintenance Requirements (valid through December 31, 2024):
* Complete Using Workflow in Anaplan (approx. 2 hours and 30 minutes)
* Completion of the Workflow training course will re-certify you for 2024
Certified Master Anaplanner
The requirements for Certified Master Anaplanners (CMAs) to maintain certification include maintaining your certification as a Certified Solution Architect and completing the CMA contribution activity requirement. CMAs may read more about the contribution maintenance requirements here.
2024 Maintenance Requirements (valid through December 31, 2024):
* Complete Using Workflow in Anaplan (approx. 2 hours and 30 minutes)
* Collect the required contribution activity points prior to the end of the year* Need points still? Please email masteranaplanners@anaplan.com
* Completion of both the Workflow training course and your required contribution activity points will recertify you for 2024
* Questions on your status as a CMA should be directed to masteranaplanners@anaplan.com
For general questions, please reach out to academy@anaplan.com, or leave a comment!
Please note: We are excited to announce that the Japanese version of the course will be available soon! 🇯🇵
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2025 Recertification update
We're working on enhancements to the certification program, focused on further elevating the quality and credibility of our certified professionals. These improvements will highlight the expertise of our super users to provide a distinct advantage in the competitive market. We expect to share more details in the spring of next year.
Certified Model Builders and Solution Architects
While we work on these enhancements, all existing certifications for Certified Model Builders and Solution Architects will remain valid through 2025.
Certified Master Anaplanners
No changes will be made to the annual contribution activity requirement. However, the technical requirement is waived for the 2024 program year certification maintenance as a result of the updates to the certification program.
Please refer to 2024 Certification Maintenance Requirements to review the list of applicable contribution activities if you still need to complete your activity requirement prior to the December 15th, 2024 deadline.
For Certified Master Anaplanners certification maintenance inquiries, please reach out to masteranaplanners@anaplan.com.
For general questions or clarifications, please reach out to academy@anaplan.com.
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Driving business transformation with Alessio Pagliano — Journey | Anaplan Community Podcast
Tune in today for a conversation on driving business transformation as a CoE Leader! We welcome Alessio Pagliano (@Alessio_Pagliano) to Journey, an Anaplan Community podcast along with host Dennis Lemoine (@DennisL), Director of Customer Engagement & Experience.
Alessio has been in the Anaplan ecosystem for seven years, wearing various hats for major multinationals. His journey spans both end user and consulting roles, covering a wide range of use cases. He is a Certified Master Anaplanner, Anaplan Community Boss, and currently works as a solution architect at Puig. Alessio super active in the Community; he was spotlighted as a featured member in February and has a really useful blog post on UX design tips and references.
Learn about how Alessio came to work with the Anaplan platform, how he built a Center of Excellence, why the Certified Master Anaplanner designation is important, what he is excited about, and more.
“Getting up to the Certified Master Anaplanner certification forces you to study and acquire knowledge that you wouldn’t otherwise have because maybe you are specializing in a project that doesn’t integrate in a certain way. Whereas if you studied for the certification, you would know all the possible ways of integrating, so you are forced to cover the entire ecosystem one way or another.“- Alessio Pagliano
https://play.vidyard.com/6wa5pkun2Z3MYJCWShg538
Thanks for tuning it, and let us know what people and topics you would like to see in future episodes.
View all past podcast episodes here.
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How I Built It: Integrating Hierarchy Cards, Anaplan Connect, and Outlook
Author: Kamal Verma is a Certified Master Anaplanner and Solution Lead at Accordion.
Hello Anaplanner Community!
I am excited to participate in my second ‘How I Built It’ tutorial. Many clients want to be informed via an email notification when changes occur in their models.
This video will present one method to extend the functionality of Hierarchy Cards and Anaplan Connect to integrate with Outlook to automate approval notifications. This ‘How I Built It’ tutorial provides the high-level steps for a model builder to configure Anaplan to export a CSV file which can be used by a VBS script to email approval changes to relevant end-users.
Key features:
* Display employee attributes and approval status within a hierarchy card.
* Utilize a job scheduler to run an Anaplan Connect job, create an export file, and run a VBS script.
* Utilize Anaplan Connect to export a CSV containing the email recipient, email subject, and email body to be transmitted when changes occur.
* Utilize a VBS file to call a local Outlook instance to generate an email notification with the appropriate details.
https://play.vidyard.com/dLCAaVCRsKh6jfXWzni62i
Leave a comment if you have questions!
P.S. Check out my other ‘How I Built It’ here on Extending LISS capabilities.
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Certified Master Anaplanner Exam
Certifications offer a way to prove your skills. When you want to be recognized for achieving the highest level of skill, that of a Certified Master Anaplanner, you want to be sure the testing process is secure and that all applicants are treated fairly. To achieve that end, we have partnered with Kryterion Global Testing Solutions to administer the Certified Master Anaplanner Certification Exam.
Once you are qualified, you can sign up to take the 90-minute exam. It can be taken online as a proctored exam or at any Kryterion Testing Center. The exam is made up of 60 multiple choice questions that focus on the areas of modeling, data integration, and Center of Excellence principles.
There is a fee of $550 + local tax rate for each attempt.Frequently Asked Questions
How do I qualify for the Certified Master Anaplanner Certification Exam?
Please visit the eligibility page to review the qualifications for the Certified Master Anaplanner Certification Exam.
All Anaplan Certified Solution Architects automatically qualify for the Certified Master Anaplanner Certification Exam.
How do I access the Certified Master Anaplanner Certification Exam?
If you are an Anaplan Certified Solution Architect, you will be able eligible to sign up for the exam. Please follow the steps on the Certified Master Anaplanners Introduction page.
The first step is to create an account on Kryterion’s testing platform, Webassessor. Follow the links on the page to get this set up, using the same email as your Learning Center account. After creating your Webassessor account, the Certification Program Manager reviews your eligibility and approves your account. These approvals occur every Friday. After you are approved, you can register for either a proctored online exam or an in person exam at a Kryterion test site.
Why can’t I see anything past Step 1 on the Certified Master Anaplanners Introduction page ?
To be able to see the full list of steps outlined, you must meet the eligibility criteria by becoming an Anaplan Certified Solution Architect.
If you have completed this under a different email or company, please email Academy@anaplan.com to transfer over your learning records account.
Is there a fee for the Certified Master Anaplanner Certification Exam?
To cover the cost of the proctored examination, there is a fee of $550 plus regional taxes per scheduled exam.
How do I take the Exam?
You can find a list of testing centers here or take a proctored online exam. If you are taking the online proctored exam, please review Kyterion’s Online Testing Requirements. One of the requirements for the online exam is to download and install Kryterion’s Sentinel software, which may require Administrator privileges on your computer.
After your account is approved in Webassessor, you can register for either a proctored online exam or an in-person exam at a Kryterion testing center. The exam is timed and will take 90 minutes to complete. Please plan for testing of the proctoring system at the beginning of the online exam. This may take up to 15 minutes.
What happens if I applied before and didn't qualify?
All applicants will follow the same application-to-certification process regardless of the original application date.
Does this impact Current Certified Master Anaplanners?
No. Current Certified Master Anaplanners do not have to take the updated exam or pay any fees as long as their certification has not expired.
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