The ERLANGB function determines the probability of a request being blocked given a specified number of servers, arrival rate of requests, and the average service duration.
For example, you can use the ERLANGB function to ensure that a certain percentage of all requests are fulfilled.
Syntax
ERLANGB(Number of servers, Arrival rate, Average duration)
Arguments
| Argument | Data type | Description |
| Number of servers | Number | The number of servers (for example, call center agents) available to process requests. |
| Arrival rate | Number | The interval between the arrival of each request. |
| Average duration | Number | The average duration it takes to process each request. |
The ERLANGB function returns a number, which is the probability a request is blocked.
Calculation engine functionality differences
Call center planning functions are unavailable in Polaris. Learn more about the differences between Anaplan calculation engines.
Additional information
How Erlang B is calculated
Erlang B is the solution to this equation:
In this equation:
- x is the Number of servers.
- y is the Arrival rate.
- z is the Average duration.
- a is the offered load, which is y multiplied by z.
Constraints
Time unit for arguments
The Arrival rate and Average duration arguments do not have to use a specific time unit. For example, they can use seconds or minutes. However, both arguments must use the same time unit.
Maximum number of servers
The maximum number you can use for the Number of servers argument is five million.
Examples
In this example, the Call Centers list is on columns, and line items on rows. The first three line items contain the scheduled number of servers, arrival rate of requests, and average duration to fulfil requests. The fourth line item, Blocking Possibility calculates the possibility of a call being blocked using a formula.
The final two line items are a numeric line item, Required Extra Agents, to adjust the number of servers, and a formula that displays the blocking possibility after adjustment. This can be used to adjust the number of servers until the desired blocking possibility is reached (in this case, less than 5%).
Both of the line items that contain formulas use the Percentage format with two decimal places to display the possibility as a percentage.
| Call Center 1 | Call Center 2 | Call Center 3 | Call Center 4 | |
| Scheduled Number of Servers | 25 | 45 | 50 | 39 |
| Request Arrival Rate | 0.76 | 0.93 | 1.4 | 1.2 |
| Average Duration | 25 | 55 | 45 | 66 |
Blocking Possibility
| 3.63% | 18.58% | 24.74% | 51.88% |
| Extra Servers | -1 | 12 | 19 | 46 |
Amended Blocking Possibility
| 4.85% | 4.69% | 4.57% | 4.60% |
