Logistics Viewpoints

MARCH 27, 2023

When it comes to running a company, when things break down executives have traditionally said “we need to improve our forecasting!” Would better forecasting accuracy be a good thing? Unfortunately, most companies cannot, and will never be able to, consistently rely on highly accurate forecasts. Absolutely!

Forecasting 276

Forecasting Forecasting Software Modeling Optimal Sourcing 276

Supply Chain Shaman

DECEMBER 17, 2018

Nick Lynch is the Global Excellence Manager at Shell Lubricants, a division of Shell Global. It is just not enough to do a software upgrade or slowly push continuous improvement projects. He did this first by implementing demand sensing from Terra Technology (now E2Open) eight years ago. Nick does this well. The reason?

Demand Planning Software 322

Demand Planning Software Supply and Demand Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software 322

RFgen

DECEMBER 4, 2024

Supply chain efficiency is the cornerstone of success and involves the effective management of processes, resources, and technologies from procurement to production, transportation to warehousing. Technology integration: Leveraging digital tools to enhance visibility and decision-making.

Sourcing Strategies 96

Sourcing Strategies Inventory Reduction Waste Reduction Expense Reduction 96

Supply Chain Shaman

OCTOBER 16, 2023

Clear operating strategy and definition of supply chain excellence across plan, source, make and deliver. Most companies buy decision support technology, but do not redefine work to improve decisions. A shift from functional metrics to a balanced scorecard. Improved Forecast Value Added (FVA). Drives Value.

S&OP 390

S&OP Supply and Demand Forecasting Supply Chain Design Software 390

Supply Chain Shaman

FEBRUARY 18, 2021

The systems–based on shipment and order data–were out of step with the market. With fixed models and hard-wired data feeds, teams could not adjust the planning systems to use consumption data or market indicators. Initially, the output was published to procurement to design strategic buying strategies. The reason?

Supply Chain Planning Software 355

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Supply and Demand Procurement Analytics 355

Kinaxis

DECEMBER 12, 2017

When making discretionary purchases, I could look at my projection to make sure that if I made that purchase, I would have enough money in the bank, not only now, but at the end of the month when my mortgage and car loan came out. Then could I buy it? Planning systems, however, are not designed to allow you to ask ‘what if?’

Supply Chain Planning Software 193

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Scenario Planning Supply Chain Planning 193

Supply Chain Shaman

JUNE 3, 2013

At a time that marketplace offerings were super-hyped, I forecasted the doom of ten e-marketplace providers. I asked companies to “Navigate through the hype focusing on the feasibility of scope and technology.” At the time, the popular belief was that Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) technologies would build multi-tier capabilities.

Supply Chain Design Software 321

Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Planning Software Procurement Analytics Manufacturing Procurement 321

Supply Chain Shaman

MARCH 8, 2016

As an analyst in the supply chain market for 15 years, I have written many articles on best-of-breed technology companies purchased by a larger company. Today I am writing my take on the acquisition of Terra Technology by E2open. History of Terra Technology. Terra Technology is 15-years old.

Supply Chain Planning Software 150

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Network Software Forecasting Software Demand Planning Software 150

Supply Chain Shaman

JUNE 7, 2018

Or agreement on the definition of supply chain excellence. As a result, functional excellence anchors action. The focus is on digitization—automating today’s processes—versus rethinking process excellence based on the art of the possible. Confluence of New Technologies. Today, we find ourselves in a hype cycle.

Supply Chain Planning Software 287

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Optimization Software Forecasting Software 287

Supply Chain Shaman

OCTOBER 29, 2014

The second step is usually a large implementation of a technology project–Enterprise Resource Planning, Customer Relationship Planning or Analytics. The first evolution of technologies were built by best-of-breed solution vendors. This new solution was favored by the Information Technology (IT) organization.

Supply Chain Planning Software 379

Supply Chain Planning Software Modeling Demand Planning Software Optimization Software 379

Logistics Viewpoints

JULY 18, 2022

Driving an excellent supply chain depends on how people are recruited and managed, processes, and the technology used. In the annual report where they report on their key performance indicators (KPIs), they don’t just report on core financial metrics and the NPS, they also have people metrics. The company recorded 1.9

Supply Chain Design Software 305

Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Software Network Design Software 305

SCMDOJO

APRIL 11, 2025

Front and center in this revolution are the marriage of customer relationship management (CRM) software and capable e-commerce platforms like Shopify. Enter companies like DigitalSuits, a high-tech Shopify development and e-commerce agency that leverages technology and innovation to build end-to-end solutions.

Supply Chain Planning Software 73

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Software Forecasting Software Inventory Management Software 73

RFgen

DECEMBER 19, 2024

It’s a holistic approach that blends strategic planning, streamlined processes, and the right technology to transform your warehouse into a well-oiled, profit-generating machine. Eight proven optimization strategies, combining technology, best practices, and sustainable solutions.

Optimal Sourcing 97

Optimal Sourcing Optimization Software Waste Reduction Inventory Reduction 97

Supply Chain Shaman

JANUARY 14, 2013

It was a story where people believed that functional excellence leads to supply chain superiority. Year after year, well intentioned people toiled against improving metrics that reduced, not improved, the effectiveness of the supply chain. These technologies are mature. I feel that many of these technologies are now legacy.

Supply Chain Planning Software 260

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Optimal Sourcing Modeling 260

SCMDOJO

MARCH 24, 2025

Introduction Gardner, (1954) and Huntzinger, (2007) define Purchase price variance (PPV) as a metric used to measure the effectiveness of cost-saving efforts by calculating the difference between the planned cost (standard pricing) allocated for purchasing activities and the actual cost incurred.

Purchasing Skills 58

Purchasing Skills Negotiating Skills Negotiate Pricing Procurement Analytics 58

Jaggaer

MARCH 24, 2025

Top 3 Procurement Technologies to Embrace in 2025 Staying ahead of key procurement technology and advancements is essential for CPOs who want to improve spend cost reduction, drive strategic value, and navigate the increasingly complex procurement landscape.

Optimal Sourcing 52

Optimal Sourcing Procurement Analytics Procurement Solutions Negotiating Skills 52

Logility

MAY 22, 2020

Users are accustomed to building everything in Excel and manipulating the data as needed for their own particular use, typically using static reports or spreadsheets that are siloed in specific departmental needs. A key first step is to have buy-in at the highest level of the organization. Starting at the Top.

Analytics Software 148

Analytics Software Metrics Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Software 148

Precoro

JULY 29, 2024

Businesses adopt online procurement systems to mitigate risks and to streamline requisitions, approvals, order placement, and spend management. However, with numerous e-procurement software vendors available, choosing the right tool can be overwhelming. Keep reading to learn: What is an online procurement system?

Procurement Solutions 105

Procurement Solutions Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Planning Software Inventory Management Software 105

Supply Chain Shaman

DECEMBER 23, 2014

If you are going to be excellent at ecommerce fulfillment, you need to have great perpetual inventory capabilities. Select your technology partners based on reliability and flexibility for ecommerce capabilities and aggressively build a multi-tier available-to-promise (ATP) signal to enable drop shipments and merge in transit capabilities.

Packaging 332

Packaging Inventory Reduction Supply Chain Design Software San Francisco 332

ShipBob

OCTOBER 24, 2022

Forecasting projections is one of the toughest things to get right. Whether your brand is experiencing gradual sales or is in high-growth mode , we’ll walk you through some tips to improve your ability to forecast demand. Jump to section: What is demand forecasting? Jump to section: What is demand forecasting? Conclusion.

Forecasting 130

Forecasting Forecasting Software Modeling Demand Planning Software 130

Supply Chain Shaman

OCTOBER 7, 2012

Q: Is it only inventory disrupting the agility resulting from inaccurate forecasts by S&OP? Common Platforms: The more that products are standardized and platforms are rationalized, the easier it is to design for agility. Q: You mention that Executive Buy-in is the biggest stumbling block. Is it S&OP?

Supply Chain Design Software 231

Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Planning Software Optimal Sourcing Inventory Reduction 231

Supply Chain Shaman

OCTOBER 8, 2019

The focus is on the role of supply chain finance in driving supply chain excellence. The design of the conference includes tours of several modern warehouses and centers of excellence. The supply chain is a complex non-linear system. The budget is not sufficient and is often a detrimental input for supply chain forecasting.

Supply Chain Design Software 207

Supply Chain Design Software Inventory Reduction Supply Chain Planning Software Forecasting 207

The Logistics & Supply Chain Management Society

APRIL 26, 2022

Brand loyalty is no longer the driver for consumer purchasing decisions. People simply want to purchase products from businesses which provide a more transparent and streamlined service, and who deliver on their customer promise, even if it means inflated prices to obtain it. Internal data alone won’t cut it.

Supply Chain Planning Software 246

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Agile and Lean Supply Chain Supply Chain Software 246

SCMDOJO

APRIL 11, 2025

But what if you could get a clear, birds-eye view of your core performance without investing in complex, expensive software? Running procurement and supply chain without metrics is like driving blindfolded. Control Costs: Track value beyond just the purchase price and manage inventory effectively. Our course breaks down TCO/TCS.

Pricing Training 61

Pricing Training Negotiating Skills Purchasing Skills Optimal Sourcing 61

SYSPRO Smarter ERP

MARCH 15, 2023

Manufactures are continuously faced with the challenge of forecasting how much (raw material) to purchase and how much (finished goods) to produce. To manage this delicate balance of demand and supply, manufacturers often use statistical forecasting techniques to predict future demand by looking at historical sales data.

Forecasting 105

Forecasting Forecasting Software Demand Planning Software Modeling 105

Supply Chain Shaman

FEBRUARY 14, 2022

At the time, I was fascinated how the most mature teams bucked the system. However, this mature team found the technology insufficient. Tight coupling of the supply chain forecast to the financial forecast will improve value. Demand latency is two-eight weeks delayed from consumption purchase to translate to an order.

S&OP 195

S&OP Supply and Demand Procurement Analytics Manufacturing Procurement 195

Supply Chain Shaman

NOVEMBER 28, 2016

To drive global scale, companies need to design the supply chain to buy globally and execute locally. The company leverages globally sourcing strategies to buy products at a lower cost and then deploys some unique process logic to drive mass customization for retailers. Performance on the Supply Chain Metrics That Matter.

Supply Chain Design Software 195

Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Planning Software Agile and Lean Supply Chain Supply Chain Software 195

Supply Chain Shaman

AUGUST 12, 2024

However, my worldview is that the larger shifts are far more systemic requiring a call for action that is going largely unheard. Forecastability. Today, due to the increase in the long tail of the supply chain and changing customer dynamics, less than 50% of items are forecastable at an item level. Let me explain. Not so today.

Waste Reduction 195

Waste Reduction Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Sourcing Strategies 195

Supply Chain Shaman

JUNE 6, 2015

The premise of the Christensen’s book is that when companies focus on current customer needs, they fail to adopt new technologies or business models that will meet the customer’s unstated or future needs. I think that IBM, HP, Microsoft, Oracle, SAP and Teradata are victims today in the information technology sector.

Supply Chain Planning Software 150

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Forecasting Software Demand Planning Software 150

Silvon Software

NOVEMBER 14, 2024

To truly harness the power of POS data, CPG manufacturers must implement systems and processes that translate data into strategic improvements in sales, marketing, and operations. Depending on the retailer, this can involve manually downloading files or using automated tools to pull the data into a centralized system.

Inventory Reduction 59

Inventory Reduction Price Reduction Resource Reduction Optimal Sourcing 59

Logility

AUGUST 7, 2017

Ask yourself, “Are your supply chain metrics bogging you down?” ” To manage a supply chain containing complex dependencies between teams, departments and partner companies across international boundaries requires a rich set of metrics. Functionally isolated metrics lead to sub-optimized supply chain performance.

Procurement Analytics 121

Procurement Analytics Metrics Gartner Supply Chain Planning Software 121

Supply Chain Shaman

JUNE 29, 2016

The network senses, translates, and orchestrates market changes (buy and sell-side markets) bi-directionally with near-real time data to align sell, deliver, make and sourcing organizations outside-in. These concepts, radically different from the traditional planning systems in the market, fly in the face of tradition.

Supply Chain Network Software 186

Supply Chain Network Software Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Demand Planning Software 186

Logility

JANUARY 26, 2024

However, this year promises a significant paradigm shift where traditional performance metrics are replaced by technology-driven frameworks, as recent breakthroughs with Generative AI in supply chains have demonstrated. Modern technology is the key ‘‘unlocker.’’ Enter our list of supply chain trends for 2024.

Supply Chain Planning Software 217

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Modeling Supply Chain Software 217

Jaggaer

MAY 8, 2025

She works with supply chain leaders to take teams to higher levels of excellence and is an influencer with more than 340,000 followers on LinkedIn. Do you give suppliers accurate forecasts? How often do your purchase orders change? Lora is the Founder of Supply Chain Insights LLC. On average a P.O.

Optimal Sourcing 52

Optimal Sourcing Manufacturing Procurement Procurement Analytics Procurement Solutions 52

Supply Chain Shaman

OCTOBER 8, 2017

On one extreme, there is an argument that forecasts are always wrong, “Why do them at all?” ” At the other end of the continuum is the argument that “ Forecast error is the most important metric to improve.” I do believe in demand planning, but most companies overstate forecast improvements.

Supply and Demand 199

Supply and Demand Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Planning Software Forecasting Software 199

Silvon Software

APRIL 16, 2025

Available to Promise (ATP) Available to Promise (ATP) is a real-time inventory management metric that tells you how much of a product you can promise to customers without overcommitting. Supply chain managers use ATP to trigger reorders or adjust forecasts. Sales teams use ATP to give accurate delivery dates. Why is GMROI important?

Optimal Sourcing 65

Optimal Sourcing Inventory Reduction Supply Chain Optimization Price Mitigation Strategies 65

Logility

AUGUST 23, 2016

I have heard a number of supply chain professionals proclaim that their companies should stop forecasting product demand due to poor forecast accuracy. However, what is often overlooked is that moving to a pull strategy does not eliminate the need for a forecast. It’s the old Push – Pull argument. Financial Impact.

Forecasting 100

Forecasting Forecasting Software Supply and Demand Inventory Reduction 100