Hello Anaplan Ecosystem,
Welcome back to another Anaplan content series. In this series, we will be diving deeper into Anaplan Data Integrations. Specifically, we will be looking into some of the different options that are available at our disposal.
- Anaplan Connect
- iPaas Connectors (such as Boomi, Informatica, Mulesoft)
- Data Visualization Connectors (such as Power Bi & Tableau)
- Custom Connectors (Python/Custom)
Anaplan Customers should know what each data integration offering's strengths and weaknesses are. Here's a quick graphic that breaks down the complexity of each option.
Anaplan Connect
What is Anaplan Connect?
Anaplan Connect is a free data integration option made available from Anaplan. Anaplan Connect utilizes an API and command line interface and provides customers the ability to run imports, exports, processes and other actions. This is a great "no-frills" option that can be sufficient for a good handful of Anaplan customers and their data integrations needs.
Pros & Cons of Anaplan Connect
Pros:
- Free with a quick and easy setup
- Can be maintained and administered by an IT team
- Can authenticate with Basic Authentication, CA Certificates (unencrypted Private Key or encrypted Private Key), and Java Keystore
- Can run Imports, Exports, Processes and other Actions
- Can tap into Transactional APIs and databases with JDBC connectivity
- Good for small or basic datasets/integration requirements
Cons:
- Limited data transformation capabilities (data will be loaded "as-is" from the data source)
- Limited ability to connect to external systems (does not have native Salesforce, Workday or other connectivity)
- Not the best option for complex data integration & ETL needs
iPaas Connectors
What are iPaas Connectors?
There are several third party iPass Connectors available at your disposal. iPass stands for "Integration Platform as a Service". Some examples of iPass connectors include: Boomi, Informatica, Mulesoft, Snaplogic, OneCloud etc. iPass connectors can offer more powerful data integration solutions with Anaplan.
Pros & Cons of iPaas Connectors
Pros:
- More powerful data transformation capabilities
- More options to connect with external systems such as Salesforce, Workday, or Data Warehouses etc.
- Can authenticate with Basic Authentication, CA Certificates (unencrypted Private Key or encrypted Private Key), and Java Keystore
- Can run Imports, Exports, Processes and other Actions
- Good for larger and heavy duty data sets.
Cons:
- Can be expensive to setup
- May require tapping into specialized or certified resources for desired connector
- Can be lengthy startup process
Data Visualization Connectors
What are Data Visualization Connectors?
Looking for more robust reporting with Anaplan? Look no further than these group of connectors that I like to call "data visualization" connectors. With its partnerships with Microsoft and Tableau, Anaplan offers customers the ability to visualize their Anaplan reports in Power Bi and Tableau utilizing each respective connector. Personally speaking, I know I have found a few instances where I prefer the visualization capabilities in these tools over the native UX reporting Anaplan provides and you may find it useful too.
Pros & Cons of Data Visualization Connectors
Pros:
- Great for enhanced or more robust reporting
- More visually appealing reporting
- Can tap into Microsoft or Tableau ecosystem for reporting capabilities and further data manipulation
Cons:
- As of now, Summer 2021, each connector only offers 1 way connectivity. You can only send data from Anaplan to PowerBi/Tableau and not the other way around
- May add additional overhead to administer or maintain multiple systems for modeling/reporting
Custom Solutions
What are custom solutions?
Custom solutions are exactly as they sound, they are solutions that are developed uniquely for the desired customer. These types of solutions are tailor-made specifically for the data integration requirements for the customer. Usually, this kind of solution is required for when there are extraordinary data integration requirements that are not supported by the connectors listed above or the customer has in-house expertise/developers with data integration capabilities. These solutions will tap into the Anaplan API library which offers powerful capabilities.
Pros & Cons of Custom Solutions
Pros:
- Tailor-made solutions, meets most or all requirements for the customer
- Most powerful and customized solution
- Powerful data transformation abilities
- Ability to tap into customized external systems
Cons:
- Can be a very expensive endeavor
- Can be a lengthy setup process
- Most difficult to administer or maintain as usually only the custom developers know how to administer the solution
Final Thoughts
Each Anaplan customer will have different needs and requirements for their data integration solution. It is in the best interest for all stakeholders involved to know what each option brings to the table and make a decision based on all relevant factors.
I hope this content helps provide you with some insight into what each option has to offer and helps you get a better understanding of the world of Anaplan Data Integrations. Thanks for reading!