Groupon leverages 20+ Anaplan use cases with innovative Master Data Management and Center of Excellence for automation and business agility.
20+ integrated use cases from financial consolidations to workforce planning
Innovative MDM model aligning data across Workday, NetSuite, Coupa, and Anaplan
Dedicated CoE with executive sponsorship driving standards and enablement
50% of 150+ users are power users through customized training programs
Groupon transforms financial planning with 20+ connected Anaplan use cases—delivering automation, standardization, and business agility across their global marketplace operations.
Since 2008, Groupon has been connecting people with local experiences, events, and travel deals. But as the company grew and priorities shifted, their finance team struggled to keep up with manual processes and fragmented systems.
What started as a solution for financial consolidations has grown into something much bigger—20+ connected use cases that help Groupon's finance team work faster and smarter.
With operations spanning local businesses, live events, and travel destinations, Groupon's finance teams faced mounting challenges:
For Megan Carrozza, Finance Manager and Master Anaplanner leading Groupon's Anaplan Center of Excellence:
"We were pioneers. We were one of the first Anaplan customers in the Chicago area. The challenge was building something that could grow and evolve with our fast-moving business."
Groupon's transformation went far beyond basic financial planning. They developed a comprehensive, three-tier Connected Planning architecture:
Financial Consolidations
Financial Forecasting & Modeling
Center of Excellence Models
The implementation follows a Centralized/Federated hybrid approach, with the four-member CoE team providing oversight while model builders work within specific finance functions.
Today, over 150 Anaplan users across Groupon's finance organization rely on their Connected Planning platform. The transformation has delivered measurable impact:
50% Power User Adoption: Through rigorous, customized internal training programs, half of all users have become power users
Complete Finance Integration: "A majority of team members who report up to our CFO uses Anaplan," notes Carrozza
Automated Standardization: Elimination of manual tasks with improved accuracy and substantial time-savings
Process Excellence: "We never lift and shift a process when moving it to Anaplan. We make sure it's done in the way that makes the most sense."
Business Agility: The most critical benefit: rapid adaptation to changing business requirements
In Carrozza's words:
"The power of Anaplan to apply automation and standardization to a fast-moving company like Groupon is really powerful."
Groupon's success with Connected Planning stems from two fundamental factors:
Executive sponsorship: Monthly meetings between the CoE team and executive leaders ensure alignment between planning initiatives and company strategy. As Carrozza explains: "Who knows the company strategy and where things are going better than those folks? They've been pivotal in guiding everything we're doing."
Center of excellence: The dedicated CoE applies resources optimally while managing the risks of rapid growth. "The power of Connected Planning is in connecting more and more models, processes, and functions, but there are risks in growing fast without having a dedicated, aligned team."
With solid foundations established, Groupon continues expanding their Connected Planning capabilities:
Because in fast-moving digital businesses, planning isn't just about numbers—it's about enabling the agility to seize every opportunity.
About Groupon
Groupon is an experience marketplace that brings people more ways to get the most out of their city or wherever they may be by enabling real-time mobile commerce across local businesses, live events, and travel destinations. Since its founding in 2008, Groupon has steadily grown and evolved to meet the needs of its customers and merchants, helping local businesses grow and strengthen customer relationships while building strong, vibrant communities.
Access the full details of this customer story and see the results up close, available as a PDF.
Access the full details of this customer story and see the results up close, available as a video.
Access the full details of this customer story and see the results up close, available as a PDF and a video.
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