AI in Anaplan: What actually helps planning teams in 2026

SKU Point
21 hours ago
3 min read

The amount of conversation around AI in Anaplan has increased quickly.

Every roadmap discussion includes it. Many demos highlight it. Some of it is genuinely useful. Some of it looks impressive once and then has little impact on how planning actually runs.

From recent projects and conversations, here’s how I think about where AI in Anaplan really stands heading into 2026.

Why the $500M AI roadmap matters, and where it doesn’t

Anaplan has committed to a $500M, multi-year AI roadmap. That matters. It signals that AI is now central to the platform’s direction, not an experiment on the side.

What it does not guarantee is immediate value.

A roadmap funds capabilities. It does not fix unclear processes, weak model design, or unresolved decision ownership. I still see teams waiting for AI to solve problems that are fundamentally about clarity and discipline.

The framework I use

When evaluating any AI capability around Anaplan, I use two simple dimensions.

1. Who owns it

Anaplan-native
Ecosystem or third-party

2. When it acts

Build-time AI, used during design, setup, and configuration
Run-time AI, used during planning cycles and decision-making

Once you place an AI capability in this 2×2, its likely value becomes easier to assess.

AI in the Anaplan ecosystem

	Build-time AI (design & setup)	Run-time AI (planning & decisions)
Anaplan-native	AI-assisted model setup Structure and formula suggestions Intelligent planning features used during build	Role-based AI Agents (early access) Predictive signals embedded in planning flows
Ecosystem / 3rd party	Excel-to-Anaplan translation tools AI-supported requirements and user story analysis	AI copilots layered on Anaplan UX External scenario or insight tools connected to Anaplan data

This table is not exhaustive, but it reflects the patterns I see most often.

Where AI is already helping

The most consistent impact today is in build-time AI, especially when it reduces repetitive work early in a project.

Tools that help translate logic, requirements, or structure shorten feedback loops and reduce rework. That matters because most delivery issues originate in early design decisions, not during day-to-day planning.

This kind of AI rarely gets much attention, but it frees senior people to focus on architecture, governance, and trade-offs. That is where long-term value is created.

Where AI is overestimated

Run-time AI often gets the most attention, and it is also where expectations run highest.

If a model mixes assumptions and outputs, lacks clear ownership, or does not reflect how decisions are made, AI will not fix that. It will surface the confusion faster.

The most common misconception I see is that AI will compensate for unclear planning logic. In practice, it only amplifies what is already there.

The growing role of third-party tools

A lot of experimentation is happening outside the core platform.

Third-party vendors can move faster, focus on narrow problems, and test ideas that Anaplan itself may take longer to productize. That is healthy for the ecosystem.

At the same time, these tools introduce questions around cost, governance, security, and long-term ownership. Those trade-offs need to be explicit, not assumed away.

How I think about AI going into 2026

If I strip this down to what matters most:

AI is delivering value today in quiet, structural ways
The biggest gains are still before users ever see the model
Run-time AI only helps when decisions are already clear
Planning fundamentals matter more than any AI capability

My advice to leaders:

Be curious, but measured
Ask where AI acts in the planning lifecycle
Fix clarity before adding automation
Treat AI as an accelerator, not a substitute

With that mindset, AI announcements become easier to evaluate, and easier to ignore when they do not address real planning problems.

About author

Štěpán Zechovský

I deliver Anaplan projects across EMEA and have led numerous complex implementations as a Solution Architect, Project Manager, and Engagement Partner. My work is guided by clarity, trustworthiness, and speed — helping clients and partners achieve maximum ROI through fast, reliable delivery backed by deep hands-on experience.