Author: Mikhil Agarwal, Certified Master Anaplanner and Delivery Manager at VISEO USA Inc.
As we dive into the holiday season, a time for family, reflection, and maybe just one more slice of pie, I’ve found myself thinking about a different kind of table I sit at throughout the year. Not the one in the dining room, but the one we all gather around in the Anaplan Community. It’s the people who share knowledge freely, the quiet tips that make huge impacts, and the culture of continuous learning. Here’s my recipe for gratitude this Thanksgiving, one meaningful moment at a time.
Building better on purpose
This year, between all the model sprints and production pushes, I’ve found myself circling back to something simple: why we build the way we do.
Whether it's going back to DISCO basics, reevaluating sparsity, or just naming things in a way future-me (or my teammates) will understand, I’ve found myself leaning on the principles we talk about often but don’t always prioritize. And more often than not, it’s been conversations in the Community or lessons shared by others that brought those best practices back into focus. (And honestly? I wouldn’t have been reminded of half those best practices without the Community. It’s the blog posts from other builders, the “ah-ha” moments in forum replies, and those quiet LinkedIn posts with shared best practices that pushed me to rethink things — not because I had to, but because it felt right.)
There's something really refreshing about being part of a platform where it's not just "get it done fast," but "get it done thoughtfully and help someone else do it better next time."
Thoughtful features that make life easier
Of course, building better on purpose gets a whole lot easier when the platform evolves right alongside you. It’s easy to forget how far Anaplan has come until you catch yourself doing something the old way — and realize there’s now a smoother, smarter path.
It’s easy to forget how far the platform has come until you look back at old build habits. Personally, I’m especially thankful this year for:
- Network and hierarchy charts: Visualizing model architecture just got a whole lot easier. With network and hierarchy charts now built into the platform, we can quickly understand relationships between lists, modules, and dimensions — no more hunting through blueprints or mapping on whiteboards. It’s become a powerful tool for onboarding, troubleshooting, and communicating model design at a glance.
- Transformation Blueprint view in Anaplan Data Orchestrator: Integration admins now have a clearer view into the structure of their data pipelines. The new Transformation Blueprint view in ADO displays every step of a transformation, including the formulas used, column-level data types, and the precise sequence of operations. It’s transparency and control in one place, helping teams debug and enhance integrations faster.
- Calc Effort % in Classic: Performance tuning just got smarter. Anaplan Classic now shows the calculation effort percentage for each line item, giving model builders an immediate sense of which parts of the model consume the most compute resources. Pairing this insight with best practices (hello, Planual!) opens up new opportunities to optimize and future-proof your builds.
Every feature tells a story of collaboration, of customer feedback, and of the dedication Anaplan puts into improving our planning experience.
People who keep raising the bar
Of course, none of this happens in a vacuum. The most meaningful part of being in the Anaplan ecosystem is the people who make it all better; through their insights, their generosity, and their willingness to keep learning (and sharing).
It’s the quiet wisdom in a community forum reply that solves your week-long problem. The article someone wrote on a topic you didn’t know you needed. The late-night message exchange with a fellow builder wrestling with the same challenge. It’s the people who don’t just share what works — they explain why it works, and how to make it better.
Across roles, industries, and time zones, this Community keeps raising the bar not through competition, but collaboration. And that’s something truly worth celebrating.
Ways to give back this season
If you’re looking for a way to pay it forward (besides sharing leftover pie), here are a few simple ways to give back:
- Answer a question in the forums — even if you’re not 100% sure, your insight might help someone else think differently.
- Write about a problem you recently solved. If it helped you, it’ll help someone else.
- Offer a quick coffee chat to a newer model builder. Just 15 minutes of your time can go a long way.
- Share your favorite section of the Planual with someone who’s still getting their bearings.
- Just say “thank you” — on a post, in a comment, or in a DM. Community is built on those moments.
So, what are you thankful for?
This year, I’m thankful for the platform, yes — but even more so for the people, the principles, and the quiet wins that add overtime. If you’re reading this, take a moment to reflect.
I'll start — A huge thank-you to:
- Rob Marshall (@rob_marshall), whose Data Hub Peak Performance article helped me refine the way I approach architecture. These tips went far beyond “best practices” — they were packed with real-world nuance and practical value.
- Ginger Anderson (@GingerAnderson), whose dedication ensures that our articles and content are published seamlessly. Her commitment keeps our community vibrant, relevant, and engaged in real time, always bringing valuable insights to life. Thank you for all your incredible efforts in fostering collaboration, learning, and innovation within the Anaplan Community!
Now it's your turn! Tag someone in the comments who has helped you on your Anaplan journey: whether they mentored you, answered a tough question, or simply inspired you. Let’s give thanks where it’s due!
Finally, thanks for reading, and thanks for being part of this incredible, ever-evolving, always-sharing Anaplan community.
Here’s to more planning, more pie, and more people helping people.
Until we meet next, happy Anaplanning!
