cognos tm1 vs anaplan - blue...

Anaplan Product Comparison

A N A P L A NAnaplan vs IBM Cognos TM1

w w w. a n a p l a n . c o m

http://www.anaplan.comhttp://www.anaplan.com

Table of Contents

Introduction! 3

Technology! 5

Time to Value! 8

Adaptability! 14

Cost of Ownership! 15

Summary! 16

About the Author! 17

Nomenclature! 18

Technical Products Reference! 19

A n a p l a n! P r o d u c t C o m p a r i s o n

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IntroductionTraditional on-premise enterprise vendors struggle to solve the challenges of the Business Analysts today who need to perform dynamic planning and analysis in a volatile business environment. On-premise solutions are expensive, requiring costly consultants and heavy IT involvement with huge maintenance and support bills. The solutions are rigid resulting in weeks and months to make simple changes, with long IT queues, out of synch data, and constant rework. Users are constantly frustrated with disjointed, manual, and static tools that require downtime for updates and upgrades.

In parallel two additional phenomena are occurring. IT is oversubscribed: IT is struggling to keep pace with the growing demands of the

business and todays existing IT queues are strangling IT productivity and credibility. Enterprise users want easy to use, instant access, collaborative tools for the front

lines. Business users consume personal products with modern and clean user interfaces that provide a self service experience like Facebook, Dropbox, Skype, etc. They expect the same type of user experience from their enterprise software.

Enter Anaplan, the next generation of business performance management in the cloud. Anaplan is the self-service platform that connects your front lines across a broad set of use cases, liberating IT, and saving the organization both time and money.

It is the revolutionary new platform which democratizes design and process development that was previously constrained by an army of consultants and complex tools. Business Analysts manning the front lines of the enterprise are now empowered by Anaplan to design, build, and deploy business applications. The result, performance A n a p l a n! P r o d u c t C o m p a r i s o n

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improvements and top line productivity gains without putting more demands on stressed and undermanned IT organizations.

Anaplan is built using the latest innovative technology and is a disruptor to the outdated, on-premise architecture of IBM Cognos TM1. Organizations that are looking to IBM Cognos TM1 to build enterprise scale applications, running complex calculations in driver based models with thousands of contributors, will find all of those capabilities in Anaplan - only now models can be built by Business Analysts, business logic and metadata changes can be done in real-time, and models can be built in days, not months. In addition, Anaplan will contain increased mobile, predictive, and social capabilities making it the leading comprehensive platform to support the needs of the modern enterprise user.

Anaplan Key Advantages


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Technology

Anaplan is Built Using Innovative, Web 2.0 Technology

Anaplan was built from the ground up to be a cloud based platform. Further, what differentiates Anaplan from other products are the patent pending innovations that allow Annaplanners to build enterprise scale, instantly adaptable, high performing applications with a modern user experience.

Anaplans cloud based architecture yields many distinct advantages, especially when compared to the on-premise architecture of IBM Cognos TM1. The cloud shifts the management of infrastructure away from scarce organizational IT resources and Business Analysts can build applications without having to go through the IT queue.

Anaplan takes IBM Cognos TM1 head on in terms of enterprise scale, performance, and calculation speeds across massive data and user volumes but with added flexibility and a modern user experience via the following innovations:

Business Analysts can change their models ON THE FLYThe in-memory database system stores its data in main-memory without trafficking through a database, enabling faster processing speeds over larger, more complex data sets. You can make changes (add/delete dimensions, rename objects, change calcs, etc) and they are instantly

updated throughout the model.


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Inputs into large, complex models are INSTANTWhen a user changes input data in Anaplan it is submitted using a

patent pending HyperBlock technology. This technology uses highly selective logic to pinpoint specific data elements to be changed and then only traffics the minimal data packet in a single round trip back to the server. Recalculation time is typically under a second.

Anaplan users have a MODERN, CLEAN USER EXPERIENCE Anaplan is built on a scalable, open architecture using a Java 2 Platform, HTML, Javascript, and 64 Bit. Anaplan will support the new HTML 5 and will be fully functional on a broad range of mobile devices.

Anaplans application builder allows for RAPID DEVELOPMENT Anaplan uses multi-stage execution to create a modeling environment that supports parallel computation. This innovation enables rapid, tool of thought application development.


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Contrary to Anaplans innovative, cloud based technology, IBM Cognos TM1 relies upon on-premise architecture dating back to the 1980s. Founded in 1983 and acquired by IBM in 2008, the underlying technology has remained the same; on-premise architecture with in-memory calculation engine for aggregating data.

The ability to aggregate data in-memory with IBM Cognos TM1 is a key benefit when compared to other on-premise products like Oracle Hyperion Essbase, but not when compared to a cloud based planning platform like Anaplan. On-premise still means that model updates, metadata updates, and product updates need to be coordinated across IT resources and result in end user outages. Overall, Anaplans cloud is more cost-effective, less disruptive to the business, and easier to manage from an infrastructure and product update perspective.


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Time to Value

Implementations in Days and Weeks Business Self Service

Easy to Adopt

Single Platform vs Stack of Products

The simplicity of Anaplans single platform removes the complexity that is required to develop and maintain solutions in the on-premise world. In Anaplan, there is one platform for both development and end user consumption, no infrastructure to support, and all model and data changes are instant. It is the single place to build your planning models, interactive dashboards, and manage your enterprise metadata. The impact to the business is that a collaborative team can now change assumptions, add scenarios, and create multiple sandbox versions on the fly in Anaplan without scaling limitations or change latency. The platform is easy to use and allows the business user to design, build, and deploy applications in days and weeks, not months.

Contrast Anaplans single platform with the IBM Cognos world; there are more products to support, multiple levels of infrastructure to install and manage, and change is not instantly reflected but must be coordinated across people (IT consultants), software products, and infrastructure. Tiered infrastructure and multiple products add to the complexity in managing and staffing IBM Cognos TM1 implementations.


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First of all, IBM Cognos TM1 infrastructure requires that IT technicians have expertise in tuning and managing a multi-tier, on-premise environment such as the illustration below. Additional enterprise infrastructure will include Development, UAT, Production, and Disaster Recovery servers.

Secondly, from a tooling perspective, IBM Cognos is represented by many products: IBM Cognos TM1 Architect: stand alone

client and design interface for creating multi-dimensional cubes

Turbo Integrator: used to extract, transform, and load data into the cubes.

IBM Cognos TM1 Contributor: planning web interface

IBM Cognos TM1 Web: alternative web interface

IBM Cognos Framework Manager: data modeler needed to integrate with IBM Cognos BI

IBM Cognos BI: report authoring


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The impact to the business is that IBM Cognos TM1 projects are much more complex, require many more resources, and take significantly longer to implement than a similar project in Anaplan.

Enables Business Self Service

In Anaplan business applications are rapidly built by Business Analysts using a natural business language without having to be concerned about the underlying infrastructure. IBM Cognos solutions are developed by consultants across a range of products (ie IBM Cognos TM1, IBM Cognos BI, etc) with each product requiring unique IT skill-sets and IT infrastructure support teams.

Anaplan is geared to the Business Analyst with power spreadsheet skills along with the deep domain knowledge to build and deploy business applications.

Business Self Service with Anaplan: Familiar Business Language: Excel-like formulas for powerful multi-dimensional

modeling Quick Skills Ramp: 2-3 day ramp for a Business Analyst with Excel spreadsheet

skills


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Clean, Simple User Experience: similar to todays consumer software (Twitter, Facebook, Dropbox, Google Apps, etc.) Anaplan presents the user with a simple interface while hiding the complexity below the surface.

Real-Time Modeling: Business Analysts can easily make changes to assumptions, business logic, and add scenarios on the fly to manage todays rapidly changing business environment. "

Sophisticated Data Load Interface: Business Analysts can easily import data using the elegantly designed Anaplan data loader. Anaplans data loader is more intuitive than the script based Turbo Integrator of IBM Cognos TM1

In contrast, IBM Cognos TM1 is more focused on enterprise IT and uses a proprietary syntax and scripting language. It is harder to build TM1 applications because its not a natural transition from a spreadsheet environment and it requires dedicated application specific skills. Building products across planning and analytics for IBM Cognos requires the Configuration Army:

The Configuration Army

The TM1 skill-set is typically an IT or consulting resource with experience building cubes/dimensions/applications/etc in IBM Cognos TM1 Architects scripting language called Turbo Integrator. Log files are used for application configuration and the services can be stopped and started through the Windows services. The web interface is then configured using a separate tool called IBM Cognos TM1 Contributor

Consulting and IT resources are needed to integrate data between IBM Cognos TM1 and IBM Cognos BI using IBM Cognos Framework Manager

Consulting and IT resources are needed to author reports in Cognos BI. Data modeling and report authoring skills are needed.


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Consulting and IT resources are needed to manage infrastructure, install/configure software, support application developers, facilitate patches and upgrades, and run backups/restores/disaster recoveries.

The time to value difference also exists in the proof of concept process. The Anaplan Challenge is a 2-3 day process where the pre-sales team will prototype a customers most complex spreadsheet model, free of charge. The process takes days with little disruption to the business. On the other hand, the IBM Cognos TM1 process requires more time, commitment, and investigative costs from the customer.

Easier to Adopt

The Anaplan adoption strategy is to quickly up-skill the Business Analyst with a short training period, and then follow with a best in class customer service and technical support. Each Anaplanner has immediate access to a support structure and design team as they transition from existing applications to the new cloud based designs.


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http://www.anaplan.com/the-anaplan-challenge/http://www.anaplan.com/the-anaplan-challenge/http://www.anaplan.com/the-anaplan-challenge/http://www.anaplan.com/the-anaplan-challenge/

The Anaplan Adoption Strategy " "

" " Always Connected: Anaplan Guru Station - customers can book 1 hour model

design review appointments with any guru Live Chat to immediately engage with an Anaplan guru Skype Access - immediate support through Skype Telephone Assistance - Anaplan support via telephone

" " Rich Online Support Resources: Anapedia comprehensive online help is available 24 x 7 x

365 On-demand video training for more advanced topics and

self-paced courses is provided via the Anaplan University site

Sample Model Library for partners and customers

" " Community Edited Support Content: Go to the crowd: Anaplanners can search by topic, post

topics and see answers to platform design and implementation questions from customers, Anaplan gurus, and other partners on the Anaplan Forums site

" " Advanced Training: Anaplanners can participate in additional levels of

advanced training for multi-dimensional design

IBM and other implementation partners rely on long range projects with significant services revenue. Even with IBMs help content, the level of complexity is much greater with IBM Cognos so you likely need to reach out to an IBM consultant or partner which results in incremental services cost.

Customer Service

Online Help Content

Community

Advanced Training


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Adaptability

Anaplans Blueprint and The Hub Allow Business Analysts to Adapt in REAL-TIME

Anaplans cloud based, in-memory architecture is designed to handle change; the Anaplan Blueprint manages a range of model changes in real-time and the Anaplan Hub keeps the constantly changing enterprise metadata in synch.

The Anaplan Hub updates and synchronizes all downstream models on demand making sharing and synchronizing common lists straightforward. The Hub allows the business to rapidly build applications using shared lists preventing them from building applications that cannot connect.


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IBM Cognos TM1 is more static when it comes to making changes. Change requests must be submitted through the IT queue and scarce IT resources must coordinate that change across on-premise products. As stated previously, change in the on-premise world of IBM Cognos TM1 is neither instant nor simple.

Cost of Ownership

TCO is Much Lower with Anaplans Cost Per User Pricing

Anaplans pricing structure is an example of how a cloud based software company is disrupting a long established enterprise vendor model. The Anaplan pricing structure is a shift from the costly infrastructure, software licenses, and services model that is a large component of IBMs yearly revenue. IBM sells software, services, and enterprise infrastructure and an IBM Cognos TM1 implementation will involve all 3 components. However, in Anaplan the infrastructure costs are removed, consulting costs are absorbed by internal Business Analyst resources, and software costs are a scale as you go model based on number of users.

Cost Dynamics of Anaplan vs IBM Cognos TM1


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SummaryIn todays volatile market conditions, enterprises struggle to accurately forecast performance and execute on their strategy. The ability to respond in the moment to constantly changing conditions is mandatory, yet continues to elude the majority of organizations, despite huge investments in Enterprise Performance Management Software.

IBM TMI is characteristic of traditional EPM on-premise software designed for a different era - complex, inaccessible to the average business user, requiring specialist IT support, armies of consultants, and year long implementation cycles. In addition, hundreds of thousands of dollars must be spent in upfront license fees, annual maintenance costs, and additional infrastructure and software.

Anaplan changes the game for Enterprise Performance Management. It is the next generation EPM Cloud Platform designed for business users to build, and deploy their own rich applications. For the first time users can edit and change business models on the fly - add scenarios, versions, update calculations, change structure, edit lists and hierarchies, all without IT support.

Not only intuitive and easy to use, Anaplan is built from the ground up, to leverage cloud technology, in memory computing, and multi threaded processing, delivering unsurpassed levels of performance and scale.

At the heart of Anaplans design, is a unified platform, enabling a broad community of users to collaborate in real time across complete processes, crucially ensuring the integrity of underlying data.

Time to value, instant access, instant collaboration, and instant visibility is the mandate for driving a new level of Enterprise Performance. Anaplan sets a new paradigm for the way business performance applications should be bought, designed and consumed.

IBM, Cognos, and IBM Cognos are trade names, trademarks, and/or service marks of IBM Corporation or its subsidiaries and affiliates. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.


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About the AuthorJosh King

Josh is Anaplans director of pre-sales working with customers to utilize Anaplan across a broad set of use cases and to help with the every day challenges of planning in todays complex organization.

Prior to Anaplan Josh worked at IBM and managed the internal Business Analytics TM1 Development Team responsible for building TM1 planning and forecasting solutions for IBMs world wide finance teams. Before IBM, Josh " worked with a Cognos Platinum Partner leading

" " " " large Cognos BI and Cognos Enterprise " " " " Planning implementations across a range of " " " " industries.


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Nomenclature Dimension Management (MDM) - tools and processes that manage key dimensions

across your enterprise. Example: a process and/or tool for making changes to your account dimension to be used in expense planning and reporting

Cloud based Computing - users access applications through a web browser, applications are managed by the cloud provider (Anaplan), and data is securely stored in the cloud configuration

In-Memory Analytics - create, store, manage, and retrieve data in main-memory without using a hard disk. In-memory analytics enables processing speeds that are significantly faster than traditional disc-based database systems.

Multi-Tenant Data Architecture - Anaplans architecture that is configured to enable multiple client organizations to run a single instance of software on a shared server. Anaplans architecture reduces overhead costs and improves performance without compromising security.

The BluePrint - Anaplans single interface for managing the logic of your model (formulas, linking of data across modules, formatting, dimensions, versions, time, etc). The Blueprint is a live environment, meaning any changes made in the Blueprint are instantly reflected throughout the model

The Hub - Anaplans central repository for managing lists across the enterprise. Lists are synchronized and easily shared via the Anaplan Hub

Business Performance Management (BPM) - a set of management and analytic processes, supported by technology, that enable businesses to define strategic goals and then measure and manage performance against those goals

Metadata - the design and specification of data structures

Product Stack - software products that have been brought together (typically through acquisitions) under a single vendor umbrella to deliver a set of capabilities to end users

Point Solution - ancillary software products that are widely used throughout the organization to fix a specific problem or implement a new service quickly (examples: sales compensation or quota planning software package)


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Technical Products Reference

Anaplan - cloud based platform that leverages a large scale in-memory, multi-dimensional modeling system to build planning, forecasting, and dashboard solutions that are integrated in real time.

IBM Cognos TM1 - formerly Applix, TM1 is enterprise planning software used to implement planning, budgeting, and forecasting solutions. Data is stored in multidimensional OLAP cubes and installation is done on the customers servers. TM1 is comprised of multiple development tools including IBM Cognos TM1 Architect for modeling, IBM Cognos TM1 Contributor for configuring the web interface, and TM1 Web for an alternative web interface.

IBM Cognos 10 (IBM Cognos BI) - IBMs business intelligence solutions including query and reporting, analysis, scorecarding, dashboarding


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