How I built it : Centralizing complex calculations

fabien.junod

Author: Fabien Junod is a Certified Master Anaplanner and Senior Solution Architect at Autodesk.

Hello Anaplan Community,

Let me ask you a question: do you have the same complex calculation in multiple models (maybe with different dimensions) and wish you could centralize them?

In this “How I built it” tutorial, I shared exactly how to do that.

Background

In my company, we had multiple forecasting models for multiple teams. And each one had the exact same complex revenue recognition calculation. The only difference was the dimensionality.

As a result, every time we updated the revenue recognition logic, we had to change the formulas in many Anaplan models with the risk of introducing an error and having inconsistent calculations across the Anaplan ecosystem.

In this tutorial, I explain how I was able to remove the revenue calculation from the individual spoke models and centralize it in a “central engine” (another Anaplan model)

And this central engine can be leveraged by any spoke model regardless of the dimensionality. Moreover, any new model that requires the revenue recognition calculation can be connected to the central engine (with minimal effort) and immediately have it.

Key features

1. Transforming the data from a dimensioned module to a flat module
2. Leveraging one calculation module for multiple spoke models
3. Immediately benefit from any logic change in all spoke models

Questions? Leave a comment!

seb_mcmillan

Nice,

SAs should always consider what element of the business process need to be 'real time' and what can be regularly updated.

The temptation is always to have one big model, but breaking elements done into smaller process/functional blocks linked with integrations can result in a more controlled and scalable end to end solution