AnyLogic

Analysts and engineers use AnyLogic to build simulation models of business systems, then test changes on the model before anything changes in the real operation. The company says a model can represent a complex system at whatever level of detail the work needs, and that its tool is designed for that range.

Multimethod modeling in one tool

The central idea is multimethod modeling. AnyLogic lets a modeler use three simulation methods in any combination within one piece of software, so that a business system with several interacting parts can be described in a single model. The company says visual languages such as process flowcharts, statecharts, action charts and stock and flow diagrams all sit in the same environment. It calls its technology the standard in multimethod modeling and says it was the first tool to introduce it.

Industries and the questions they ask

The company groups its typical uses by sector. In road traffic, models support road planning, throughput analysis and network optimization. For passenger terminals, they help with building capacity, the placement of service points and evacuation planning. In healthcare, the company points to facility design, process improvement and the evaluation of policies. Business processes are modeled for operational efficiency, cost reduction and bottleneck analysis. Asset management uses them for forecasting, risk analysis and project ranking, and marketing teams use them to study consumer choice, market behavior and the response to promotions. The company also lists social processes such as health policy, economic activity and environmental impact, along with supply chain and logistics work.

Specialist libraries for particular sectors

Several libraries extend the basic toolkit. A process modeling library covers generic business processes and workflows. A fluid library simulates bulk cargo and liquid transfer in mining and in oil and gas. A rail library covers transport networks, terminals and yards, and a pedestrian library models crowds in airports, stadiums, stations and shopping malls. Models can also import custom 3D models, images, CAD drawings and shape files.

Cloud and browser access

AnyLogic Online lets users create, run and share a model in a browser, and they can switch to the desktop tool whenever they prefer. AnyLogic Cloud is a web platform for running models, carrying out experiments and collaborating on a model with colleagues, with results delivered online. The company describes the cloud service as secure.

Why simulation rather than a spreadsheet

The company explains that a spreadsheet or solver-based analysis shows a single calculation, while simulation shows how a system behaves over time. A user can check, for example, how much warehouse storage is in use on a given date. Uncertainty in the timing and outcome of operations can be built into the model, which makes it possible to measure risk and look for more dependable solutions. Virtual experiments are, in the company's words, cheaper and quicker than trials on real assets, and the detail a simulation can hold tends to give a more accurate forecast than an analytical model.

Presenting results to decision makers

Models can be animated in two or three dimensions, so that stakeholders can follow what is happening. Flowcharts can be turned into interactive animations, and simulations can be given navigation and controls and gathered into management dashboards. The company says these features help concepts be verified, communicated and understood by people who were not involved in building the model.

Reach and government access

The company says that more than 40 percent of Fortune 100 companies use AnyLogic. It also holds a General Services Administration schedule, which allows US government agencies to buy the software through GSA Advantage.