Last week I had the opportunity of attending Anaplan’s Annual Kickoff (AKO), and it was clear from the get-go — this wasn’t just about new functionality, but about a fundamental shift in how Anaplan delivers value. The Leadership team highlighted a strategic shift that Anaplan is evolving from a pure planning platform to a decision excellence platform. This transformation is backed by a now $1 billion in Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR), and a $500 million multi-year product investment aimed at enhancing platform capabilities, applications, and AI-driven decision-making. 

Path to a Category Leader: Providing a Scalable App Framework 

A central theme at AKO was the important role Anaplan’s application framework will play in solidifying its designation as a decision platform. Anaplan apps focus on scalability, efficiency, and accelerated ROI. Here’s a summary of some of the highlights: 

  • Current and Future Availability – Anaplan currently offers 10 apps across 4 focus areas (Finance/Supply Chain/Sales/HR), with plans to expand to 25 on the roadmap by the end of this year 
  • Standardization with Flexibility – Apps via the configurator provide a structured foundation that allows businesses to start with out-of-the-box solutions and modify them as needed. 
  • How is this different from other platforms?  
    • Speed: Anaplan shared that a customer was able to iterate their app 10 times in 1 week using the configurator – setting a new benchmark for speed in application design. 
    • Customizable: Anaplan’s modeling platform is still at the fingertips of customers, allowing customized builds to work side-by-side with standard apps.
  • Ecosystem Expansion – Future third-party apps created by Partners will provide additional options within Anaplan’s marketplace. 

Accelerate Decisions and Time-to-Value

Sprinkled throughout presentations, Jaguar Land Rover’s (JLR) roadmap was highlighted as a key example of how enterprises are leveraging Connected Planning to drive efficiency across multiple business functions. Over the past few years, JLR has integrated Anaplan across its supply chain, sales, marketing, workforce, and finance. As a result, JLR was able to achieve measurable results, including 90%+ short-term forecast accuracy. 

While JLR’s journey served as a benchmark, Anaplan recognized the need to accelerate time-to-value for future customers. With the introduction of its new app strategy, Anaplan anticipates cutting implementation time by more than half across similar use cases, allowing businesses to realize benefits much faster, thus aiding in decision timeliness.  

Charter Revision – Professional Services 

Anaplan also announced updates to its Professional Services strategy, shifting its focus toward enablement rather than just implementation. Shifting to enablement helps customers use the software effectively, ensuring long-term success, and faster ROI.
The new charter prioritizes: 

  • Comprehensive Enablement – Equipping customers and partners with the knowledge needed to maximize Anaplan’s capabilities. 
  • More Efficient Implementations – Ensuring deployments align with business objectives via additional offerings called delivery and value assurances 
  • Ongoing Support – Providing continuous guidance to help businesses scale and adapt their models over time 

Anaplan’s Next Phase 

In conclusion, Anaplan’s Annual Kickoff showcased a transformative shift towards becoming a decision excellence platform. This shift is backed by significant investment and a strong application framework. The company is not only enhancing its platform capabilities but also redefining how businesses leverage data to make smarter, faster decisions. As the app ecosystem expands and professional services evolve to prioritize enablement, Anaplan is setting a new standard for empowering businesses to succeed in a rapidly changing landscape. The future is not just about planning, it’s about making every decision count. 

Written By: Jason Sangworn