Anaplan (Supply Chain)
by Anaplan · Demand & Supply Planning
Connected supply chain planning for demand, supply, and S&OP across the enterprise
- Works with
- SAP, Oracle, NetSuite, Microsoft Dynamics 365, Workday, Any (REST API)
- Deployment
- Cloud
- Company size
- Mid-market, Enterprise
- Pricing
- Subscription, quote-based (contact sales)
- Founded
- 2006
- Headquarters
- Miami, Florida, USA
Overview
Anaplan is a cloud-native connected planning platform whose supply chain applications span demand planning, supply planning, sales and operations planning (S&OP) / integrated business planning (IBP), production planning, retail planning, and sourcing and procurement. It is ERP-agnostic by design: rather than replacing the system of record, it sits alongside ERP, CRM, and external data sources to build a shared, real-time planning model that supply chain, finance, sales, and operations teams work in together.
The platform is built on Anaplan's proprietary Hyperblock in-memory calculation engine, which combines spreadsheet-style cell flexibility with the scale of a multidimensional OLAP database. This lets large numbers of users collaborate on a single model and see the downstream impact of a change — a demand spike, a supplier delay, a capacity constraint — recalculated in real time rather than waiting for an overnight batch. Forecasting is handled through an integrated AI/ML forecasting workbench with statistical baselines, best-fit algorithm selection, outlier correction, and demand sensing that monitors near-term signals.
Anaplan positions its supply chain footprint around scenario planning and what-if modeling: planners can model alternative plans, compare them, and pivot from periodic reviews to continuous response. The vendor ships packaged supply chain applications (for example a Demand Planning app and a Supply Planning app) with embedded best-practice process flows, alongside the flexibility for organizations to extend or build their own models. Anaplan was acquired by private equity firm Thoma Bravo in 2022.
Screenshots & demo
Demo video from the vendor's YouTube channel. Screenshots sourced from Anaplan.
Features & capabilities
Demand planning & forecasting
AI/ML-driven demand forecasting and consensus planning.
- Integrated AI/ML forecasting workbench
- Statistical baseline forecasting with best-fit algorithm selection
- Demand sensing on near-term demand signals
- Outlier detection and correction
- Bottom-up and top-down forecast reconciliation
- Consensus demand planning across sales, marketing, and finance
- New product introduction and end-of-life management
Supply & inventory planning
Balancing supply, materials, and inventory against demand.
- Distribution requirements planning (DRP)
- Material requirements planning (MRP)
- Inventory optimization and inventory policy management
- Rough-cut capacity planning
- Allocation and replenishment planning
- Supplier collaboration and supplier scorecards
- Network and fulfillment optimization
S&OP / Integrated Business Planning
Cross-functional process to align demand, supply, and financial plans.
- Demand and supply consensus reconciliation
- Capacity planning and constraint review
- Workflow and action-item tracking across the S&OP cycle
- Executive reporting and final plan selection
- Financial alignment of the operating plan
- Disruption and scenario alignment
Scenario modeling & analytics
Real-time what-if planning powered by the Hyperblock engine.
- Real-time scenario modeling and comparison
- What-if analysis on supplier delays and demand shifts
- Multidimensional analytics across products, locations, and time
- Configurable dashboards and role-based views
- Alerts and exception management
- Embedded AI agents (e.g. Supply Chain Analyst) for risk and impact analysis
Retail, production & procurement planning
Adjacent supply chain processes on the same platform.
- Merchandise financial planning
- Assortment and allocation planning
- Production planning, scheduling, and sequencing
- Spend analysis and direct material sourcing
- Trade promotion management
- Revenue growth management modeling
Common use cases
- Generating AI/ML demand forecasts and a consensus demand plan
- Running monthly S&OP / IBP cycles across demand, supply, and finance
- Modeling supplier-delay and demand-spike scenarios before committing a plan
- Optimizing inventory levels and replenishment across a distribution network
- Capacity and production planning for manufacturing operations
- Merchandise, assortment, and allocation planning for retail
- Aligning operational supply chain plans with financial targets
Strengths & considerations
Strengths
- Hyperblock in-memory engine recalculates downstream impacts in real time for many concurrent users
- ERP-agnostic 'connected planning' model that unifies demand, supply, S&OP, finance, and retail in one platform
- Packaged supply chain applications with embedded best practices, plus flexibility to build custom models
- Recognized as a Leader in the IDC MarketScape for supply chain planning
- Scenario and what-if planning is native rather than bolted on, supporting continuous re-planning
Considerations
- Enterprise-oriented and typically requires implementation partners and modeling expertise to build out
- Pricing is quote-based and not publicly listed, making cost hard to estimate up front
- As a planning layer it relies on integration to ERP/source systems rather than acting as the system of record
- Breadth of the modeling platform can mean a steeper learning curve than a single-purpose forecasting tool
ERP integrations
Connected via Anaplan HyperConnect (Informatica) or third-party ETL/iPaaS (MuleSoft, Boomi, SnapLogic).
Integrated through HyperConnect/Informatica or Anaplan Connect; also Oracle databases via ETL connectors.
Connected via HyperConnect / Informatica and partner iPaaS connectors (e.g. Celigo, Workato).
Integrated via third-party iPaaS connectors and Anaplan's REST API.
Anaplan Connect (free Java utility) and the Anaplan REST/Transactional API support imports and exports to any system; flat-file/EDI also supported.
Pricing
Anaplan does not publish list pricing; cost depends on workspace/model size, number of users, and applications licensed. Get an independent shortlist with pricing guidance below.
Technical & security
- Hosting
- Cloud-only SaaS hosted on public cloud infrastructure (AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud) with multi-tenant isolation.
- Compliance
- SOC 1 Type 2, SOC 2 Type 2, ISO 27001, ISO 27017, ISO 27018, ISO 27701, CSA STAR Level 1, Cyber Essentials, EU-US Data Privacy Framework, Swiss-US Data Privacy Framework, TX-RAMP
- Mobile app
- Yes
About the vendor
- Founded
- 2006
- Headquarters
- Miami, Florida, USA
- Ownership
- Private (acquired by Thoma Bravo in 2022)
- Notable customers
- CVH Spirits, Bayer, JLR (Jaguar Land Rover)
Alternatives to Anaplan (Supply Chain) in Demand & Supply Planning
Anaplan (Supply Chain) — frequently asked questions
Does Anaplan replace my ERP?
No. Anaplan is an ERP-agnostic planning layer that sits alongside your ERP, CRM, and other source systems. It integrates with them to pull actuals and push plans, but the ERP remains the system of record.
Which supply chain processes does Anaplan cover?
Demand planning and forecasting, supply and inventory planning, S&OP / integrated business planning, production planning, retail planning (merchandise, assortment, allocation), and sourcing and procurement.
How does Anaplan integrate with ERP systems like SAP, Oracle, or NetSuite?
Through Anaplan HyperConnect (powered by Informatica), the free Anaplan Connect Java utility, the Anaplan REST API, and third-party iPaaS tools such as MuleSoft, Boomi, SnapLogic, Celigo, and Workato. Integrations are typically bi-directional and support file/EDI as well.
Is Anaplan available on mobile?
Yes. Anaplan offers iOS and Android mobile apps for reviewing dashboards and acting on plans away from the desktop.
What security certifications does Anaplan hold?
Anaplan undergoes SOC 1 Type 2 and SOC 2 Type 2 audits and holds ISO 27001, 27017, 27018, and 27701 certifications, along with CSA STAR Level 1, Cyber Essentials, and EU-US/Swiss-US Data Privacy Framework participation. See trust.anaplan.com for the current assurance profile.
Evaluating Demand & Supply Planning?
Tell us your ERP and requirements and we'll send an independent shortlist — including Anaplan (Supply Chain) and the best-fit alternatives — with honest pros and cons.