In recent months, Anaplan has started offering Business Applications fully‑configured models tailored to key use cases, yet highly customizable. Whether it’s integrated financial planning, demand forecasting, sales quota management, or workforce planning, these Applications aim to embed best‑practice methodologies, reduce implementation time and cost, and speed up adoption.
But how can these Applications truly be relevant across vastly different business environments? And can they effectively address often complex, unique, and interconnected challenges?
The Promise: Standardization, Speed & ROI
Organizations in finance, supply chain, HR, and sales are expected to “do more with less.” Pre‑built, structured Anaplan models are inherently appealing. Built from recurring use cases refined through hundreds of global deployments, they offer:
- Configurable, ready‑to‑deploy model frameworks
- Proven business logic
- Rich reporting capabilities
For Anaplan and its customers, the goal is crystal clear: accelerate time‑to‑value, minimize design costs, and boost adoption.
The Limitation: Skipping a Deep Needs Analysis
But no matter how powerful it may be, an Application can never replace a thorough, in-depth analysis of business needs.
Every company has its own structure, constraints, planning culture, management logic, data, rhythms, and silos. All of these must be clearly identified and accounted for then integrated into the Anaplan Application using its configuration engine.
Take this example: the Integrated Financial Planning (IFP) Application can likely address 80% of a finance department’s needs—providing rigor, collaboration, and consolidated visibility. But what if the company operates multiple business units with diverse financial scopes, differing planning models, or specific integration constraints with its ERP or BI tools?
The IFP Application delivers a solid foundation: long-term planning, revenue forecasting, opex, capex, cash flow, headcount planning enriched with the CoPlanner AI engine and a native Excel add-in. It’s a robust starting point to transform financial planning.
However, for this foundation to become a true driver of integrated performance management, it must be adapted to the company’s processes, culture, and systems. In other words: value comes just as much from smart configuration as from the core model itself.
And that’s the real challenge knowing how to calibrate the preconfigured to reflect reality. Put differently: starting from the model and implementing it without distorting the organization.
Our Belief: Combining Anaplan Applications with Tailored Customization
At Beyond Plans, we see Anaplan Applications as intelligent, modular models not rigid Starter Kits or plug‑and‑play MVPs.
As expert, multi‑certified integrators, our role begins with a deep understanding of the available Anaplan Applications to guide our clients toward the right solutions. Then, we identify each company’s functional and technical specificities, comparing them to the standard models and extending, simplifying, or hybridizing them as needed to integrate seamlessly into the existing performance ecosystem.
Finally, true to our DNA, we place strong emphasis on end‑user adoption. That’s the only real guarantee of fast ROI. Because even the best‑designed model delivers no value if it isn’t fully understood.
In short, Anaplan Applications represent a real opportunity to move faster but only if you’re clear about where you’re headed and what you want to transform.
That’s where we come in: making the standard smarter, and turning preconfigured models into a springboard for truly high‑impact performance management.
FAQ – Everything You Need to Know About Anaplan Applications
What is an Anaplan Application?
An Anaplan Application is a preconfigured model developed by Anaplan to address common business use cases (financial, sales, supply chain, HR planning, etc.). It includes best practices, a structured model framework, and ready‑to‑use reporting to accelerate deployment. The risk of misalignment or incomplete configuration is significantly reduced.
Are these Applications truly ready to use?
Yes… and no! While highly configurable, Anaplan Applications are designed to cover the majority of standard functional needs. However, they often need to be adjusted to reflect industry specifics, existing systems, and each organization’s business rules.
What’s the difference compared to a model built from scratch?
An Application significantly reduces time-to-value by providing a strong foundation built on proven best practices. A fully custom model offers total flexibility but requires more time and design effort. A hybrid approach—starting with an Application and customizing it—is often the most effective.
What sets Beyond Plans apart?
We’ve been an Anaplan partner since 2018, with 100 % of our activity dedicated to the platform. We don’t just understand the Applications—we ensure they’re perfectly aligned with your unique business challenges. And thanks to our partnership with Lemon Learning, we help drive successful user adoption too.
