Forecaster

Anaplan Forecaster is a machine learning-based, time series forecasting tool. It uses algorithms to generate results. There are two tiers for this product.

Forecaster offers transparent, explainable algorithms so you can produce more accurate and quicker forecasts. It also has more modern algorithms and enhanced accuracy. Forecaster is compatible with Anaplan Classic and Polaris.

The two tiers are standard and advanced. The advanced tier offers access to additional functionality (more algorithms and data insights). 

There are two new Forecaster algorithms:

• LightGBM offers advanced gradient boosting and excels at modeling complex, non-linear patterns. Example: forecasts for very large data sets with many different product categories.
• TimesFM provides the ability to generate high-performance, "cold start" forecasts. Example: A new product launch where there's no historical data to analyze.

Forecaster offers advantages in forecast accuracy over PlanIQ.

• Automatic identification of data quality challenges (sparsity, outliers, missing values) before they impact your forecast's accuracy.
• Improved forecasts for new product introductions and product lifecycle management.
• Better detection of seasonal patterns, trends, and structural breaks in data.

A prediction is a single planning unit that gets forecasted. Forecaster uses planning units from your allocated monthly quota each time you generate a forecast.

• In supply chain, a planning unit is a SKU or SKU-location combination. 
• For finance, a planning unit a might be a budget forecast line item, such as a spend category or cost center. 
• For workforce planning, a planning unit would be a resource that impacts the demand, either directly (such as call-center employee utilization), or indirectly (such as the number of customer calls or support tickets). 

To get Forecaster, talk to your Customer Success Business Partner.