Certified Master Anaplanners

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Certified Master Anaplanner Exam Study Guide: Essential Anaplan Topics
Certified Master Anaplanner Exam Study Guide: Essential Anaplan Topics The best way to hone your expertise is practical experience. Being a certified solution architect is the first step, but 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 within this study guide for the Certified Master Anaplanner Exam. The exam format is a combination of multiple-choice and multiple selection questions. There are 60 questions in the exam that need to be completed within 90 minutes (1.5 hours). The passing score is 45. There are knowledge-based questions which reference the review topics and application-based questions that check the learner’s experience using the Anaplan. To reiterate, it advisable that those planning to take the exam have sufficient model building and project implementation experience. Other helpful links regarding the exam: * Requirements to register for Certified Master Anaplanner Exam * Exam FAQs CMA Exam Topics Data Hubs * Data Hubs: Purpose and Peak Performance Center of Excellence * 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 * Data Related Training Classes * Get Started with Imports * Exports from Anaplan * Overview of Private and Default Files * Import Data Sources * Data Integration * Anaplan Connect * Guide to Data Integration using Anaplan REST API * Anaplan API Guide and Reference Anaplan Extensions * Excel Add-in Version 4.0 * Third-party Data Integration Application Lifecycle Management (ALM) * ALM Overview * Revision Tag Best Practices * Save Incomplete Changes when Synchronizing in ALM * Production Lists Overview * Structural Information Reference 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 The Anaplan Way * The Anaplan Way - OnDemand (Learning Center)
Five new Anaplan features you may not be using
Author: Misbah Ansari is a Certified Master Anaplanner, Anaplan Community Moderator & Community Boss, and CEO/Founder at Miz Logix. Anaplan has come a long way as part of its product development. We have seen so many features being released over the past few years which has not only helped Anaplan carve a place for itself in the market among its competitors, but is being called out as a leader by most of the third-party surveys. But did you know that there are some features which are priceless and still go unnoticed? Here are some of the latest features that Anaplan released in the past few months which has made a difference in how we approach our model development. * Move Pages across Apps We all have been there when we complained about having to duplicate the changes on the dashboard, first in the lower environments for testing and then to Prod App (only once the tag has been pushed to Prod Model). Now, you can just move the page from one app to another ideally by duplicating the page in the app of lower environment (QA/Test/Pre-Prod), make required changes on the page and push/move the page to Prod App. Note that there are other factors that need to be taken into consideration as well while working on this, like App management (single vs multiple), UX page access, removing the redundant pages etc. * Assign landing page to the roles This feature comes handy while routing users to their respective landing pages. It is simple to set up and can be used to assign landing pages to multiple roles across multiple models in a single pane. * Changing all occurrences in one go It could be model builders’ savior when there is a lengthy and complicated formula written especially when there is a repetition of modules and line items used. You need to be in the formula editor mode and click on the key word/statement that you want to change, right click on it (or Press CMD+F2 or CTRL+F2). * UX Page dependency data Remember “Used in Dashboards” column in modules view which used to be mostly blank if you are not using Classic Dashboards and using UX? Well, there is good news for all the model builders. Recently, Anaplan has released a feature which is a game changer for model builders. Now model builders can see which UX pages are linked to each module, improving visibility into dependencies so that you can make informed decision about the modules. Note : This feature is only available in beta experience of modules view. * Enforce unique naming in imports Do you know that this feature can be used if there is a unique code in our data structure but not the unique names? Most of us straightaway think about numbered list if we have such a data structure. But if the naming convention of the list items don’t matter to you, this feature can be used in such cases. Make sure that the import is set on “Code Only” while setting up the import and “Enforce unique naming” flag is checked too. This will generate the names with appended “~1,2,3 etc. “in your lists: Note: Before using this feature, please talk to your solution architect about it as this can lead to performance issues if the data volume is high. File: Anaplan: Let me know about if there is any feature that you think is priceless and went unnoticed or is not getting its due credit. Leave a comment!
2025 Certificate Maintenance for Certified Master Anaplanners
The 2025 Certified Master Anaplanner Program has begun and there's incredible opportunity for 2025 Certified Master Anaplanners (CMAs) to demonstrate their thought leadership, technical expertise, evangelism, and mentorship capabilities across the entire Anaplan Ecosystem! At their core, a Certified Master Anaplanner is someone who elevates others in the Anaplan ecosystem through the many ways they share their expertise. They do this through their mentorship, sharing their community perspective and technical architecture thought leadership, demonstrating innovative solutions, providing product feature insight, ideating and inspiring others in the Anaplan Community to define the future of the platform, leading COE development, developing innovative roadmaps to scale the platform for business decision-making, and championing for Anaplan in the competitive market. Engagement Zones The 2025 Contribution Activities list is attached to this post, accessible for CMAs to download: 2025 CMA Contribution Activities.pdf Each contribution activity is mapped to four engagement zones to understand and communicate how Certified Master Anaplanners are driving impact within the Anaplan ecosystem. As mentors, thought leaders, Connected Planning evangelists, and technical experts, Certified Master Anaplanners are critical to elevating the broad Anaplan ecosystem and driving immense value through the many ways they share their expertise! Each engagement zone is important to the Certified Master Anaplanner Community, the entire Anaplan Ecosystem, and the Anaplan Community! Our goal in highlighting these zones is to give each of you, as Certified Master Anaplanners, the opportunity to easily align your experience and personality with activities that are best suited for you to make a significant impact in a particular area of the Anaplan ecosystem. To that end, we ask that you select an engagement zone to focus on for your primary contribution activities or choose the unique blend of engagement zone activities you want to be recognized for. Will you aim to be one of the few Certified Master Anaplanners who complete activities in all four engagement zones during 2025? We will be taking an agile approach towards contributions in 2025; therefore, we will review this list at least quarterly and share new contribution activities throughout the year as we determine a need. Certification Maintenance Requirements Certified Master Anaplanners must meet two key requirements during 2025 to renew their certifications for 2025. Unsurprisingly, the 2025 requirements are reflective of similar requirements in place during 2024. * Complete Contribution Activities for 400 points (due December 15th, 2025)* Questions about the Contribution Activity Requirement or Certified Master Anaplanner recertification status should be directed to MasterAnaplanners@Anaplan.com * Complete Technical Requirement* Pass a recertification exam by December 31st, 2025 - no extensions will be approved. * The study guide and the recertification exam will become accessible on July 8th, 2025 (months earlier than the technical requirement has been accessible in prior years giving you more time to complete this requirement). * Information on the recertification exam is available here: 2025 Recertification Information * Questions about the recertification exam should be directed to certification@anaplan.com Also included again this year is the mid-year check-in requirement. The goal for this requirement is to create greater visibility into where and how Certified Master Anaplanners are contributing, as well as to assist Certified Master Anaplanners in proactively planning how they will attain contributions throughout the year. There will be a mid-year check-in requirement for Certified Master Anaplanners to complete half (200 points) of the annual points requirement by July 31st, 2025, or ensure they have activities totaling 200 points lined up and confirmed by that date. Please also read through the 2025 Certified Master Anaplanner Program Terms and Conditions. 2025_Certified_Master_Anaplanner_Terms_and_Conditions.pdf Ifyou are a Certified Master Anaplanner who has any questions about the requirements for annual certification maintenance, your status, or how to engage, please email MasterAnaplanners@Anaplan.com. If you are interested in the Certified Master Anaplanner Program and wish to learn more about how to become a Certified Master Anaplanner, please review the resources here and reach out to Certificate@Anaplan.com with any questions.
How I Built It: Method for branched development within ALM
Author: Noah Jackson is a Certified Master Anaplanner and Principal Data and Insights Architect at Anaplan. Hello Anaplan Community! Since the release of the “unlink revisions” feature, it is possible to do branched development within Anaplan ALM. This is most useful when you are beginning work on a larger change or new feature, but want to retain the ability to sync small maintenance changes or hotfixes to production without interrupting the new development work. Below I share a write-up on this topic and below that, a video overview. The method will use two Dev models; I’ll refer to them as the “Maintenance” Dev and the “New Build” Dev. Changes can be synced from Maintenance Dev to Prod, and then when the new development in the New Build Dev is ready the Prod can be switched over to it. The video below explains the method and some background to it, but for easy reference I will also detail it in text here. First it is important to understand the limitations: This method will not merge changes between the two Dev models. The structural changes from Maintenance Dev will be removed, and the Prod model will be fully synced to the New Build Dev. Any changes made in the Maintenance Dev that are needed moving forward will need to be replicated in the New Build Dev. Additionally, even if the hotfix line items are replicated identically in the New Build Dev, when you switch branches the process involved will delete and then re-create them. This has potential negative impacts: * If the hot-fix line item is non-formula and has data entered into it, that data will be cleared * The hot-fix line items may disappear from UX pages depending on how they are displayed To reduce the risk of lost data and duplicated work efforts caused by those limitations, the timing for switching to the New Build Dev should not be too long and the work in the Maintenance Dev before then should be limited to minor changes. Additionally, when you are ready to sync the New Build you should sync to a UAT model first and look for these impacts and make a plan to address them. Instructions for branched development Assuming a starting state of one Dev model, one UAT model, and one Prod model, all on revision tag R1. The exact model names and revision tag names are not critical, as long as you use clear naming to avoid confusion. This can be done without a UAT model but it is not recommended. * Make a copy of Dev named Dev MAINTENANCE, then change the name of the original model to Dev NEW BUILD. Begin development of the larger change or new feature of the model in Dev NEW BUILD. * When minor hotfixes or model maintenance needs arise, build them in Dev MAINTENANCE and sync to UAT / Prod as normal, using revision tag R2, R3, etc.. Keep track of these changes so that any relevant ones can also be built in Dev BRANCH. * When the Dev NEW BUILD new feature is ready for release, create revision tag Branch1 * Then prep UAT model to sync:* Take UAT out of Deployed mode, set into offline mode. * Use History menu to identify a point in the model after R1 revision tag and before R2. Restore back to that point, and make sure "Unlink Revisions" is checked. * Do a second History restore back to the "present" (i.e. last normal history ID), again making sure “Unlink Revisions” is checked.* After this action, the model should be identical to the state it was in Step A except that the tags for R2, R3, etc. no longer exist in Revision tags settings area. * Use "Revert to Last Revision" to set the structure back to R1, while retaining all production data that has been entered since then in the rest of the model.* If the production data in the model is easy to re-import or does not need to be preserved, you can skip Steps C and D and sync immediately after Step B. * Put UAT model back into Deployed mode, then sync Branch1 revision tag from Dev NEW BUILD into UAT * Examine the UAT model to confirm that the changes synced correctly, and identify anywhere that cell data in hotfixes may have been cleared or lines may have disappeared from the UX. Record any cell data in those corresponding lines in Prod that needs to be preserved. * Repeat Step 4 with the Prod model. Set the Prod model back online once all changes have been verified. * The Dev MAINTENANCE model will now be incompatible with UAT and Prod, so should be locked and/or archived. The Dev BRANCH should be renamed to Dev and used as the singular development model going forward. Video tutorial https://play.vidyard.com/iyFeskPpNooYAdKYhcMiqj I’d love to hear your thoughts on the method, how you might use it and/or any questions you have!
Ready for departure? What to do if your only Anaplanner is leaving!
Author: Clarissa Hassfurder is a Certified Master Anaplanner and CEO at Double10 Consulting. In many cases, when a team member departs a company, there is an ability to complete hand off with one or multiple team members. But what if your Center of Excellence (CoE) is a team of one? What if there are no other people with Anaplan technical skills to take on administrative and development activities? This article serves as a guide to support Anaplan customers in the case where there will be a gap between a sole Anaplanner leaving the company and the next Anaplanner joining. Generally, we like to say that Anaplan itself serves as the documentation. And usually it’s pretty great! But in this case where there is not a chance to pass along nuances person to person, more notes and documentation are needed than typical, and need to be stored outside the system. Access consideration Make sure someone remaining at the company is designated as the app owner with the full suite of access (page builder, tenant admin, and workspace admin for all models). This will make providing access to a new Anaplanner easier when they join. Also be sure this person has contact information for your Customer Success Manager at Anaplan. Admin ownership assignment For each use case, be sure to hand off any administrative activities for each model. This could be the person designated as the Anaplan product owner. It could be one person for each use case. While admin activities/steps should be documented already, ensure the designated person has access to the appropriate documents, modules, pages, imports, and exports in order to complete their admin activities. Documentation For the documentation below, be sure to store it in a location where the person designated as the app owner has access. * The first item that every new Anaplanner packet should have is a ReadMe file. This should be housed directly in the shared folder, and should link out to every document, model, and app for your company’s use cases. If your company uses a chat tool like Slack or Teams, you may also consider adding this file to an Anaplan channel as a backup. While there is an opportunity to house this as a ReadMe Anaplan model or app, housing it in a file in a shared drive allows a new Anaplanner to more easily get started on ramping up in their new role while any Okta or Anaplan Support ticket is being resolved for Anaplan access. It also allows the individual to start building a relationship with key stakeholders associated with each use case before access is fully enabled. * The ReadMe file should contain a section for each use case in the model. Below are items to consider adding for each use case:* The name of each model associated to the use case, with a link to the model.* This can help if the new Anaplanner has to reach out to support for access. * The name of each app associated to the use case, with a link to the app, with a note about which model(s) the app is associated to. * An indication of how models within the use case are connected (or not!) via ALM. For example, does your Sales Forecasting model have both a DEV and UAT model, while a smaller Long Range Planning model does not use ALM, but it placed in Deployed mode to prevent accidental changes? Be sure to document this nuance so the new Anaplanner isn’t wasting time hunting for a DEV model for LRP. * The main stakeholder point of contact for the model.* This will allow the new Anaplanner to reach out to someone to begin gaining a user-level business understanding of the use case. * Additional stakeholders and primary users, and their role associated to the use case. * List of key stakeholders adjacent to the use case (integration tool owners, Salesforce contacts, other system owners with background knowledge of interactions with Anaplan). * A link to an import template packet (also stored on the shared folder) for any imports in the use case.* Often times file formats for imports will not be set as public. For admins and the next Anaplanner, these templates will be useful if changes need to be made to an import, or if the file is infrequently imported and the template gets lost by those who own the import. Even better, make an export module in Anaplan which generates the import template. In the case where an integration tool is used, the file format storage on these tools may be sufficient. * List of any open issues remaining at time of departure. These may be housed in JIRA, but a list of JIRA ticket links or link to the epic would help the next person. * List of recently completed fixes with an explanation in case any subsequent issues come up. In general for stability, I recommend no major build in the last week before a sole Anaplanner departs, but from a practicality perspective sometimes this isn't achievable. Detailed documentation about updates before departure is key. It may be helpful to be more detailed in a ticketing system such as JIRA if your company uses this or other ticketing systems. * At a minimum, a description of each app's most commonly used pages. This will help the next Anaplanner answer questions quickly as they come in from users. Many customers have a document with a full description of each app's step-by-step use which could be used for this purpose. You may also consider adding detailed step-by-step instructions directly to each Anaplan page. * Links to any administration documents on processes or actions which need to be taken periodically * In-model documentation should also be updated as much as possible. Leverage "Notes" areas in the models, especially for high-importance modules or areas of the model that are slightly unclear.* Add information to the Notes in the Actions area for integration-driven actions, such as frequency or name of process in the integration tool. In the example below, I’ve added notes to a couple of actions about how they are managed, name in Boomi, and run frequency/timing. * Add Notes in the Modules area to describe how major or obscure modules are used. * On line items within modules, you may consider adding details about why logic is built a certain way if it break from Planual standards, descriptions of why certain Dynamic Cell Access rules were used, or an explanation of a recent change before your departure. In the screenshot below, I’ve copied the previous formula and added the date of the change and the associated JIRA ticket in case the new Anaplanner needs this information for troubleshooting in the future. One note on this use: the Notes field might not allow all characters needed. In this case, consider pulling a comparison report of recent changes, copying to Excel, then providing a Notes column there. You can also export all line items from the model to Excel. * Detailed model rollover documentation should be included in the packet. For some models, it can be as simple as advancing the time forward one year. For others it can be a complicated process including data deletion and interactions with outside teams. Understanding the order of operations in the more complex cases can be a huge help to a new Anaplanner. Pointing them in the direction of pre and post rollover for past years can also be helpful. Another article goes into detail about With these tips, your next Anaplanner should have a more pleasant onboarding at your company! …………… Other articles from Clarissa: * Five tips for a (mostly) painless model rollover * Five ways to give back in the Anaplan Community
Mastering Anaplan Workflow: Tips and learnings from real-world experience
Author: Shivankur Sharma is a Certified Master Anaplanner and Principal Architect at PM Square. Anaplan has long been a leader in the connected planning space, and with the introduction of Workflow functionality, it’s taken a major step toward streamlining collaboration and task accountability. If you’re a model builder, business user, or implementation consultant, understanding how to effectively leverage Workflow can drive huge gains in operational efficiency. From my experience across multiple Anaplan projects, here are some practical tips and key learnings to make the most of Anaplan Workflow. 🔍 What is Anaplan Workflow? Anaplan Workflow is a visual, role-based task management feature that lets you define processes, assign tasks, and track progress directly in your Anaplan models. It’s especially useful in planning cycles where multiple stakeholders need to review, approve, or input data in a structured sequence. Core components: Workflows/Tasks/Roles & Assignments/Status Tracking/Notifications/Dependencies 🔑 Key benefits * Visibility: Real-time status updates for each task or step. * Accountability: Assigned owners for tasks = better ownership. * Streamlining: Eliminates email trails and offline approvals. * Audit-ability: Built-in logs to track who did what, and when. 🔧 Tips for effective Workflow implementation 1. Start with process mapping Before jumping into Workflow, map out your planning or approval process outside Anaplan(best to discuss and get sign-offs from the business stakeholders). Use simple swim lane diagrams to identify: * Key tasks * Dependencies * Responsible stakeholders Clear design = Smooth execution 🔄 Learning: The more clarity you have upfront, the cleaner your Workflow will be inside Anaplan. 2. Use roles and access intelligently Leverage Anaplan Roles to control task visibility. Only show users the tasks relevant to them. 🔐 Pro tip: Always test workflows with role-specific views to ensure users see only what they need. This prevents confusion and maintains data integrity. 3. Design with reusability in mind Create generic Workflow templates for processes like forecast submissions, approvals, or data validation. You can tweak them for different use cases later. 📦 Learning: Reusable components save time across implementations and improve consistency across business units. 4. Track progress with UX dashboards Complement Workflows with custom Anaplan UX pages to show task progress, KPI impacts, or pending approvals. 📊 Learning: A visual status page can drive engagement and encourage timely completion. 5. Handle exceptions gracefully Not all processes are linear. Use conditional logic and multiple paths in workflows for exception handling (e.g., rejections). ⚠️ Learning: Always build and test for real-world unpredictability. It’ll save you support tickets later. 6. Keep it simple (initially) Start with a minimal viable workflow — just the core steps. Add complexity gradually based on user feedback. 🧪 Learning: Over-engineering early on often leads to confusion and slower adoption. 7. Communication and training Workflow is only as effective as the people using it. Build short walkthrough videos or quick-reference guides. Run pilot cycles before go-live. 📣 Learning: Change management is as important as technical build. 🧠 Advanced learning: Tips from the trenches * Audit-friendly design: Add logging modules to track timestamps, user actions, and comments. * Modular build: Use system modules for workflow flags/status instead of embedding logic in your main modules. Keep your calculation modules different from track of Workflow submissions. * Integration ready: Design Workflows that can trigger or be triggered by external systems (via APIs or integrations). 🪜 Workflow steps to deliver as a reusable template * Page task: Assigns users to input or review data directly on an Anaplan UX page. * Group task: Sends the same task to a group of users where only one completion is needed. * Hierarchical task: Assigns tasks based on a hierarchy (e.g., region, business unit), allowing users to complete tasks for their level. * Machine task: Automates system actions such as running processes or imports without human intervention. * Offline task: Used when input is collected outside Anaplan (e.g., via meetings or spreadsheets) and marked complete manually. * Decision task: Routes workflow paths based on user decisions (like Approve/Reject). * Notification step: Sends informational alerts or updates to users without requiring action. * Anaplan Data Orchestrator: Automates data movement between Anaplan models or external systems using Integration Pipelines. 👋🏼 Final thoughts Anaplan Workflow is a powerful tool, but like any technology, its success hinges on thoughtful design and adoption. Start small, keep it user-friendly, and iterate based on feedback. When done right, it transforms your planning process from reactive to proactive. Got any learnings of your own? Let’s connect and share notes — because connected planning is all about collective growth.
UX best practices for building impactful dashboards in Anaplan: Part 1
Author: Arjun Gandhi, Certified Master Anaplanner with over a decade of experience leading enterprise Anaplan implementations across industries. ———- “If your dashboard doesn’t tell users what to do within 10 seconds, it’s already failed.” 🧭 Introduction: Why UX design in Anaplan matters Anaplan’s UX is more than just the surface layer of your model — it’s the gateway to planning adoption, collaboration, and decision-making. Whether it’s a CFO reviewing revenue trends or a territory planner inputting quotas, your dashboards are the interface through which users interact with your logic, assumptions, and outcomes. Despite powerful back-end models, poor UX can cause users to: * Feel overwhelmed by too much data * Make errors due to unclear inputs * Miss insights due to poor visual structure * Abandon the tool altogether As a Master Anaplanner with over ten years of experience deploying and scaling enterprise models, I’ve seen one truth hold everywhere: “If your dashboard doesn’t tell users what to do within 10 seconds, it’s already failed.” This guide is divided into two parts, and walks through essential UX best practices in Anaplan — covering layout, inputs, interactivity, and visual clarity. You’ll get practical guidance with direct links to official documentation so you can apply changes immediately, with confidence. Look for part two later this week. I’ll share proven UX best practices from over a decade of real-world model building and enterprise enablement. Whether you’re an experienced model builder or just starting to design dashboards, these tips will help you deliver smart, scalable, and beautiful user experiences in Anaplan. In part one, I cover: * Choosing between Boards, Worksheets, and Reports * Optimizing layouts with page sections and context * Field cards, descriptions, and instructional guidance * Formatting to focus user attention Ready to build dashboards your users will love? Let’s begin. 🧱 Section 1: Choosing between Boards, Worksheets, and Reports Anaplan’s UX offers three types of pages: Boards, Worksheets, and Reports. Each serves a unique purpose and should be used intentionally depending on your audience and the type of interaction required. Page Type Best For Pros Considerations Board Executives, summary consumers Great for visual storytelling, combining charts, KPIs, and grids Not ideal for editing large data sets or lists Worksheet Analysts, operational users, planners Enables in-line editing, filtering, quick access to related data More functional than visual; needs guidance for usability Report Presentations, print-outs, formal reviews Supports formatted slides and narratives Static—no interactivity or real-time filtering 🔍 When to Use Each * Use a Board when you want to deliver insights at a glance — ideal for decision-makers. Boards let you combine KPIs, charts, and narrative to tell a story or track performance. * Use a Worksheet when your user needs to interact deeply with data — think detailed forecasting, manual overrides, or list-based planning. Worksheets offer filtering, context panes, and editable grids. * Use a Report when you need a clean, printable or presentation-friendly output — great for monthly business reviews or board decks. Additional resources in Anapedia: 📘 Learn more about Boards 📘 Explore Worksheets 📘 Create Reports 🧩 Section 2: Structuring pages with sections, context, and categories Designing a useful UX page goes beyond just placing cards. The structure and context of your page determine how easily your users can process information and complete planning tasks. To optimize user flow, you should strategically use page sections, context selectors, and application page categories. ✅ Use page sections to group content with purpose Dividing content into distinct page sections — like “Top KPIs,” “Input Forecast,” or “Review Assumptions”—creates natural breakpoints and focuses user attention. This modular structure allows you to: * Visually separate decision points * Simplify navigation across content types * Reinforce logical planning flow Best practices: * Add only what’s necessary; don’t create clutter with unused section space. * Keep each section to a single use case — don’t mix inputs, outputs, and actions. * Use clear titles to guide the user's thought process. Steps to add a section: * Enter Designer Mode on a UX page. * Hover between cards and click “Add Section”. * Label the section meaningfully and begin adding relevant cards. Additional resource in Anapedia: 📘 Create a page in the User Experience 🗂️ Leverage Application page categories When creating pages, Anaplan allows you to assign them a category to reflect the type of planning activity they support. This helps both model builders and end users quickly understand a page’s function in the broader application. Common page categories: * Planning: for day-to-day data entry and driver adjustment * Reporting: for visualization and KPI tracking * Review: for historical comparison or what-if outcomes * Workflow: for submission, approvals, or process control Categorizing pages: * Helps with sorting and navigation inside the app * Clarifies intent for the user before they open the page * Reinforces UX consistency in large applications Recommendation: Always set a category when building a page — it shows up in the app’s side navigation and improves clarity at scale. 🎯 Configure context selectors thoughtfully Context selectors filter content by dimension — like Region, Product, or Time — and appear at the top of the page. These should be configured to simplify, not overwhelm. Best practices: * Minimize selectors to those that matter for this page * Fix dimensions when possible (e.g., always show “Current Year”) * Synchronize selectors across cards so users don’t need to reselect * Clearly label selectors, especially if multiple are present Additional resource in Anapedia: 📘 Configure context selectors in apps and pages 💬 Section 3: Field cards, descriptions, and instructional guidance Even the best dashboards fail when users don’t know what to enter, where, or why it matters. That’s where field cards, descriptions, and embedded guidance become essential. This section is about turning your UX pages from passive displays into interactive, intuitive experiences. 📝 Use field cards for targeted inputs Field cards are a powerful, flexible way to surface inputs — especially when you want a single value editable directly on a board or worksheet. Use cases include: * Adjusting an assumption like “Growth %” or “Discount Rate” * Setting scenario toggles or flags * Capturing simple annotations (e.g., “Manager Comment”) Why field cards work well: * They’re compact and visually distinct * You can add data validation logic behind them * They prevent accidental grid edits by isolating the input Additional resource in Anapedia: 📘 How to use a field card 💡 Add descriptions to guide user action Field cards, KPIs, grids, and charts can all include card descriptions—short text that appears on hover or next to the card title. These can serve as inline help, task instructions, or policy references. Example: “Use this input to set Q4 price assumptions. Defaults pulled from Actuals Q3.” Best practices: * Be clear and concise (1–2 sentences max) * Use descriptions to answer “what am I supposed to do here?” * Standardize tone across all cards for professionalism Additional resource in Anapedia: 📘 How to configure a field card (includes description setup) 🧠 Bonus tip: Instructional-only sections If your page contains advanced logic, consider adding a dedicated info panel or instructional section using text or field cards. This reinforces the model’s business logic and helps with onboarding new users. You can even include: * Model assumptions * Version control notes * Hyperlinks to SOPs or external docs 🎨 Section 4: Formatting to focus user attention Great dashboards don’t just display information — they guide the eye and signal what matters. With the right formatting, users can instantly identify what needs attention, where to act, and how to interpret results without getting lost in a sea of numbers. 🟥 Apply conditional formatting to highlight decisions Conditional formatting allows model builders to visually emphasize data based on logic—like alerting users when a forecast exceeds budget or a metric is outside its tolerance range. When to use it: * Flag high/low variances (e.g., over 10%) * Color-code input status (e.g., incomplete = red) * Surface issues like missing assumptions or late submissions Best practices: * Avoid color overload: limit to 2–3 conditions per card * Use consistent logic across pages (e.g., always use red for errors) * Preview conditional logic in context with real data Additional resource in Anapedia: 📘 Apply conditional formatting 📊 Style grid rows, columns, and summaries for clarity Grids are one of the most frequently used components in Anaplan UX — make sure they’re clean and scannable. Styling options include: * Bold row headers to distinguish hierarchies (like regions or products) * Alternate row shading to improve readability * Distinct summary rows with border lines or highlight formatting This kind of styling helps users: * Differentiate parent vs child rows * Quickly find totals and key calculations * Avoid accidental edits by identifying read-only rows Additional resource in Anapedia: 📘 Set the style of grid card rows and column headers 🖍 Quick formatting wins * Use pale yellow or soft blue as background for editable cells * Style read-only data with light gray or muted formatting * Place important KPIs in their own card with bold, large font * Separate input sections from output sections visually on the page 📌 Pro tip: Always test formatting in dark mode and light mode to ensure accessibility for all users. Conclusion of part one Stay tuned for part two, in which I’ll cover: * Dynamic Cell Access (DCA) and visibility control * Scaling UX with consistency and reuse * Mobile optimization and responsive design * Polaris UX considerations and exclusive capabilities * User feedback and iterative UX improvement Questions? Leave a comment!
UX best practices for building impactful dashboards in Anaplan: Part 2
Author: Arjun Gandhi, Certified Master Anaplanner with over a decade of experience leading enterprise Anaplan implementations across industries. Anaplan’s UX is more than just the surface layer of your model — it’s the gateway to planning adoption, collaboration, and decision-making. Whether it’s a CFO reviewing revenue trends or a territory planner inputting quotas, your dashboards are the interface through which users interact with your logic, assumptions, and outcomes. This guide is divided into two parts, and walks through essential UX best practices in Anaplan — covering layout, inputs, interactivity, and visual clarity. You’ll get practical guidance with direct links to official documentation so you can apply changes immediately, with confidence. If you missed Part 1, you can find it here. It covers four ideas: 1. Choose between Boards, Worksheets, and Reports 2. Optimize layout with page sections and context 3. Field cards, descriptions, and instructional guidance 4. Formatting to focus user attention In Part 2, we’ll cover ideas five through nine: 5. Dynamic Cell Access (DCA) and Visibility Control 6. Scaling UX with Consistency and Reuse 7. Mobile Optimization and Responsive Design 8. Polaris UX Considerations and Exclusive Capabilities 9. User Feedback and Iterative UX Improvement Let’s get started. 🔐 Section 5: Dynamic Cell Access (DCA) and visibility control An intuitive UX isn’t just about what users see, it’s about what they shouldn’t see or touch. That’s where Dynamic Cell Access (DCA) plays a critical role. It allows model builders to define exactly when and where users can read, write, or hide specific data points — all based on logic within the model. 🔒 What is Dynamic Cell Access? DCA lets you control cell-level visibility and edit-ability using Boolean logic (TRUE/FALSE values). Rather than blocking access to an entire module or list, you can tailor it with surgical precision. This is vital for: * Preventing accidental edits to actuals or locked periods * Displaying override inputs only when needed * Securing sensitive values by user role or approval status Example scenarios: * A field is editable only if the current version = “Forecast” and a “Planning Open” flag is TRUE * A manager sees override fields only after the analyst completes their input * Read-only summaries are shown, but input cells are hidden from unauthorized users Additional resource in Anapedia: 📘 Dynamic Cell Access (DCA) – Anaplan Documentation 🧠 Why DCA matters for UX When applied correctly, DCA enhances the user experience by: * Reducing noise: Hiding unnecessary or irrelevant inputs * Protecting data integrity: Preventing changes to finalized values * Clarifying responsibilities: Users see only what they are expected to interact with Combined with conditional formatting and card descriptions, DCA enables intelligent UX that adapts to context, decision logic, and user roles. Best practices: * Name DCA line items clearly (e.g., Write Access - Forecast Only) * Test thoroughly across roles and versions * Pair DCA with visual cues (e.g., gray formatting for locked fields) 🚀 Section 6: Scaling UX with consistency and reuse As Anaplan implementations expand across various use cases, models, and business units, maintaining a consistent and scalable UX becomes essential. A well-designed UX not only enhances user experience but also simplifies maintenance and promotes adoption. 🧩 Standardize UX patterns Consistency across dashboards ensures that users can navigate and interact with different pages without confusion. Establishing standard UX patterns helps in: * Card layouts: Maintain uniformity in placing inputs, outputs, and KPIs. * Naming conventions: Use clear and consistent naming for pages and cards. * Context selectors: Position selectors consistently across pages. * Section titles: Use standardized titles for similar sections across different pages. * Formatting styles: Apply consistent styles for fonts, colors, and grid layouts. Implementing these patterns facilitates easier onboarding for new users and streamlines the development process for model builders. 🧠 Reuse pages and templates Leveraging existing pages as templates can significantly reduce development time and ensure consistency. You can duplicate pages to: * Create similar planning cycles (e.g., Q1, Q2, Q3 forecast input pages). * Develop role-specific views (e.g., Manager vs. Analyst dashboards). * Replicate layouts for new models that follow a similar structure. How to duplicate a page: * Navigate to the app containing the page you want to duplicate. * Hover over the desired page and select the ellipsis (...). * Choose Duplicate page from the dropdown menu. Additional resource in Anapedia: 📘 Duplicate a page 🔄 Move pages between Apps Organizing pages within appropriate apps enhances clarity and user navigation. Moving pages allows you to restructure your UX as your organizational needs evolve. How to move a page: * Open the app containing the page you wish to move. * Hover over the page and select the ellipsis (...). * Choose Move page and select the destination app. Additional resource in Anapedia: 📘 Move a page 🛠 Design for maintenance A scalable UX is one that can be easily maintained and updated. Consider the following practices: * Group cards by data source: Organize cards based on their source modules for easier updates. * Include "Last Updated" indicators: Display timestamps to inform users about the freshness of data. * Implement a UX QA checklist: Regularly review pages for consistency, functionality, and performance. 👥 Empower power users Design your UX to enable power users to: * Filter and explore data: Allow users to customize views to their needs. * Conduct what-if analyses: Provide tools for scenario planning and forecasting. * Navigate seamlessly: Ensure intuitive navigation between dashboards and detailed views. By creating a user-centric UX, you foster an environment where users can confidently interact with the platform and derive actionable insights. 📱 Section 7: Mobile optimization and responsive design As business becomes increasingly mobile, users expect their planning tools to work seamlessly on the go. Whether it's a sales executive reviewing pipeline or a regional planner entering forecast updates from the field, Anaplan's UX must adapt. While the Anaplan Mobile App provides responsive rendering, your design choices still directly affect usability across devices. 📐 Design with mobility in mind Mobile screens demand simplicity, stackable layouts, and minimal interaction friction. You should build UX pages that anticipate tap-based navigation and tighter screen real estate. Design guidelines for mobile-friendly pages: * 🧱 Use vertical layout orientation: Stack cards logically from summary KPIs → charts → inputs * 👆 Avoid wide tables: Grids with horizontal scroll are hard to use on small screens * 🔢 Minimize visual noise: Fewer sections and cards are better for scanability * ✅ Prioritize read-only views: Editing is limited on mobile — design for consumption Additional resource in Anapedia: 📘 Best practices for building UX for mobile 🧪 Test on multiple devices Before publishing a new dashboard, validate the experience across form factors: * 🧭 Use Page Designer's device preview to simulate tablet and phone * 🧍‍♂️ Ask mobile-heavy users (sales, execs) to test interactions live * 🔄 Consider creating mobile variants of key dashboards for performance and readability 🔄 Build for touch, not click * Replace dropdowns with selectors * Use charts or KPIs for quick views, rather than full grids * Increase card spacing to allow easy tapping Remember, your mobile dashboard should answer this question: Can the user get what they need in under 15 seconds, without zooming or scrolling sideways? ✨ Section 8: Polaris UX considerations and exclusive capabilities The Polaris Calculation Engine isn’t just a back-end performance upgrade — it opens up new possibilities for UX design. Polaris enables deeper, denser planning models without sacrificing speed, and offers exclusive features like zero suppression, which directly influence how users experience data. If you're designing UX for a Polaris model, you can create cleaner, more responsive, and more powerful dashboards by leaning into what Polaris does best. ⚙️ What Polaris unlocks in UX Here are some key capabilities in Polaris that enhance dashboard design: Capability UX advantage Zero suppression Hides rows/columns with no data — automatically simplifies views High-dimensional modeling Enables broader planning combinations (e.g., product x region x version) Faster sparse calculations Lets you expose more granular inputs without sacrificing performance No need for fake hierarchies Cleaner list structures = cleaner UX logic Additional resource in Anapedia: 📘 Polaris Calculation Engine overview 🧠 UX design best practices in Polaris To get the most from Polaris in the UX layer: * ✅ Use zero suppression: Automatically hide zero-value intersections to reduce scroll and noise. Additional resource in Anapedia: 📘 Suppress zeros in Polaris * 🧱 Expose more granularity: Since Polaris handles sparsity efficiently, you can show more detailed views — like SKU-by-region — without performance penalty. * 🔁 Avoid workarounds for hierarchies: Polaris lets you build natural, deep lists. This simplifies filtering and navigation in UX pages. * 🔒 Leverage DCA without overhead: Polaris processes logic more efficiently, so you can apply cell-level controls (via DCA) even in large views. ✨ Example use case In a traditional engine, exposing a 4-dimensional revenue planning grid would tank performance. In Polaris, you can build a page that shows Customer x Product x Region x Scenario, apply Zero Suppression, and still deliver real-time interaction. 🔄 Section 9: User feedback and iterative UX improvement A great UX isn't just built — it's evolved. Your first version may meet the spec, but only real-world usage reveals where your dashboards shine or fall short. The best Anaplan teams treat UX as a living product, improving it based on ongoing feedback and usage patterns. 👂 Gather feedback from real users Insightful feedback isn’t just about surveys, it’s about watching how users interact and where they hesitate or make errors. Bake feedback into your design cycle with these methods: * 🎥 Observe real usage: Sit in on planning sessions or record walkthroughs * 🧭 Ask simple questions: “What are you trying to do here?”, “What confused you?” * 🗣️ Create feedback modules: Add comment fields on dashboards for in-app suggestions * 📊 Use audit events to infer engagement: Review user activity logs to understand who’s interacting with what Additional resource in Anapedia: 📘 Tracked User Activity Events (Audit) ♻️ Iterate like a UX product manager UX is not a one-and-done activity. Use agile cycles to continuously release improvements: * 🧹 Simplify interactions with each revision — fewer clicks, clearer steps * 🆕 Label changes clearly: A “What’s New” card helps users reorient * 📅 Schedule UX review cycles quarterly or biannually * 🧪 Try A/B testing of page layouts or visual styles when usage is unclear 🛠 Use a UX QA checklist before going live To reduce user frustration and rework, validate each page before release: * Are all context selectors scoped appropriately? * Do DCA rules behave correctly across roles? * Is conditional formatting triggering as intended? * Does the page render cleanly on mobile and tablet? * Are labels, tooltips, and field descriptions present and helpful? When feedback loops are tight and users feel heard, adoption goes up, errors go down, and the UX becomes an asset, not a bottleneck. ✅ Conclusion and wrap-up A high-performing Anaplan model doesn’t succeed on logic alone — it succeeds when users engage, understand, and act. That’s the power of great UX. Whether you’re building for finance, supply chain, sales, or HR, your dashboards are the front line of planning. Throughout this guide, we’ve explored how to: * Choose the right page type (Boards, Worksheets, Reports) * Structure content using page sections and context * Make inputs intuitive with field cards and descriptions * Drive clarity with conditional formatting and grid styling * Control access and flow using DCA * Build mobile-responsive pages for on-the-go decision-making * Leverage Polaris-exclusive features like Zero Suppression * Scale your UX with reuse and consistency * Continuously improve with user feedback and audit data “If your dashboard doesn’t tell users what to do within 10 seconds, it’s already failed.” That quote captures it all: good UX isn’t optional — it’s how you turn planning models into business outcomes. 💡 Final tips from the field As a Master Anaplanner who has worked with global enterprises for over a decade, here’s what I’ve learned: * Treat UX like a product: it should evolve with user needs. * Less is more: don’t overcrowd pages with logic or visuals. * Design for how people work, not just how models calculate. * Invest in UX early: it pays dividends in adoption and trust. …………… 👤 About the author Arjun Gandhi is a certified Master Anaplanner with over 10 years of experience architecting, deploying, and enabling enterprise-wide planning solutions across industries. He specializes in large-scale UX design, connected planning strategy, and performance optimization.

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For questions about the program, recertification points requirements, or your involvement please reach out to MasterAnaplanners@anaplan.com!

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