Supply Chain Shaman

JUNE 10, 2025

In May 2025, one in seven home-purchase agreements fell through resulting in the cancellation of 56,000 purchase contracts. Employees Cannot Get to the Right Data at the Speed of Business A war is raging between Oracle, Salesforce and SAP to automate supply chains. The ripple effects are pervasive. It is a landgrab of sorts.

Supply Chain Planning Software 195

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

Supply Chain Shaman

JUNE 21, 2023

One of my insights from doing the industry analysis for the Supply Chains to Admire each year is that smaller and less well-known companies outperform larger and better-known manufacturers. The analysis is biased toward large process-based manufacturers in the Gartner network. Is this success? I don’t think so. Learning Stalled.

Gartner 424

Gartner Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Planning 424

Supply Chain Shaman

DECEMBER 27, 2022

In the process, there is a fine line between marketing hype and overpromising, making buying difficult. For example, I am working with a client that has deployed Ariba from SAP, GT Nexus from Infor, Everstream, and Project 44. For many tech providers, the message often becomes a religious argument. Who has the best approach?

Supply Chain Software 418

Supply Chain Software Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Inventory Reduction 418

Supply Chain Shaman

JUNE 3, 2013

It was funded by 50 large consumer products manufacturing companies (CPG). In the dawn of e-commerce, conservative manufacturers, anteed up $240 million in four months. While there is work within SAP to rethink SNC and use the assets purchased with Ariba to build multi-tier capabilities, the progress is not encouraging.

Supply Chain Design Software 321

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

Supply Chain Shaman

MARCH 3, 2013

SmartOps was purchased by SAP. If you do a google search, you will find lots of accolades and positive press on the acquisition of SmartOps by SAP, but the Shaman is a skeptic. SmartOps entered the supply chain optimization market in 2000 and became an SAP partner in 2006. Inventory is now the primary supply chain buffer.

Supply Chain Planning Software 218

Supply Chain Planning Software Modeling Optimization Software SAP 218

The Logistics of Logistics

OCTOBER 30, 2023

Over his 30+ year career in the supply chain, Richard has worked with manufacturers around the world in operations, supply chain, and lean strategy roles to develop systems that can manage complex supply chains on a global scale. acquired by SAP). Richard previously founded and led Factory Logic, Inc. The Greenscreens.ai

Optimal Sourcing 278

Optimal Sourcing Inventory Reduction Supply Chain Design Software Manufacturing Procurement 278

Supply Chain Shaman

FEBRUARY 18, 2021

Avoid implementing Aera on top of an existing SAP APO implementation.) Advanced planning evolved with a focus on modeling manufacturing constraints. Initially, the output was published to procurement to design strategic buying strategies. Procurement: Purchase price variance and procurement cost. Over time, this changed.

Supply Chain Planning Software 355

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

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. While ToolsGroup and SAP (with the acquisition of SmartOps) are the nearest competitors, Terra prided itself on delivering better decisions through better math. The Path Forward.

Supply Chain Planning Software 150

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

Supply Chain Shaman

FEBRUARY 16, 2024

” Same for SAP HANA. My Point of View (POV) is that the best use case for SAP HANA is the in-memory capabilities for repetitive work. Or mine supplier shifts to build alternate buying plans. The problem with supply chain planning is that it is, by definition, not repetitive work. Test and Learn.

Supply Chain Planning Software 417

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Modeling Supply and Demand 417

Supply Chain Shaman

JUNE 14, 2018

I am speaking to companies that are being held hostage to SAP HANA upgrades with 70% cost overruns and 60% time schedule expansion. Similarly, SAP Ariba frustration is mounting in the market. Yet, the IT team is still mandating SAP standardization. For many, mandating SAP is job security for the IT implementation team.

Optimal Sourcing 191

Optimal Sourcing Manufacturing Procurement Supply Chain Planning Software Agile and Lean Supply Chain 191

Supply Chain Shaman

JUNE 13, 2024

My takeaway is a serious concern by attendees on the impact of SAP RISE on global supply chains. Definition: “The RISE with SAP offering includes an AI-powered cloud ERP that’s managed and optimized by SAP. SAP is the maestro of charging customers for software upgrades. It was painful. I listened.

Supply Chain Planning Software 221

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Network Software SAP Supply Chain Software 221

Supply Chain Shaman

DECEMBER 4, 2018

At Rockwell this includes all processes end-to-end except for manufacturing. From a manufacturing perspective, products vary significantly in complexity. Solutions, for example, can take from 12 to 16 weeks to manufacture. The company understands global manufacturers’ problems because they are one.

Supply Chain Software 30

Supply Chain Software Case Study Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software 30

Supply Chain Shaman

SEPTEMBER 30, 2012

They excel in the four Ps of marketing. In contrast, a market-driven organization connects bidirectionally market-to-market to orchestrate the signals to shape demand and mitigate risk (buy-side to sell-side and back). We have built transactional buying relationships. Yes; someday it will happen, but not any time soon.

Supply Chain Design Software 319

Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Software Supply Chain Network Software 319

Logistics Viewpoints

DECEMBER 12, 2022

This manufacturer produces plastic reusable material handling containers and plastic fuel tanks. The Company operates eighteen manufacturing facilities, nine distribution centers located throughout North and Central America. At Dow, Mr. Baker had Purchasing experience in raw materials, and logistics for their plastics supply chain.

Supply Chain Planning Software 261

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Planning Procurement Solutions Scenario Planning 261

Supply Chain Shaman

APRIL 15, 2015

However, in the polling data in the APICS webinar, we found that over 70% of the respondents had deployed solutions from the ERP-expansionists (either SAP or Oracle). Today, SAP and Oracle have market share dominance; however, the data is clear. The research is a study of large manufacturers. The answer is interesting.

Supply Chain Planning Software 150

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Planning Scenario Planning Modeling 150

Supply Chain Insights

JANUARY 18, 2018

Here are my predictions for 2018: Supply Chain Excellence as We Know It Is Redefined. Supply chain excellence definitions evolve as companies explore the Art of the Possible. Manufacturers and retailers are bundling goods and services to drive solutions. The differences between retailers and manufacturers will continue to blur.

Prescriptive Analytics Software 197

Prescriptive Analytics Software Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Predictive Analytics Software 197

Supply Chain Shaman

OCTOBER 29, 2014

The second generation of solutions were built and marketed by Enterprise Resource Planning technology companies like SAP and Oracle. Tomorrow, I get to deliver this message to a large manufacturing client. Instead, he wants to drive supply chain excellence and build the metrics that matter. The book is a story.

Supply Chain Planning Software 379

Supply Chain Planning Software Modeling Demand Planning Software Optimization Software 379

Supply Chain Shaman

MARCH 3, 2018

Through digital marketing, small brands are cropping up all over, and it is sentiment analysis and digital content driving purchases. Instead, companies need to build it into digital process redefinition like digital path-to-purchase, digital procurement, digital agriculture, digital manufacturing or digital service.

Supply Chain Design Software 170

Supply Chain Design Software Manufacturing Procurement Network Design Software Supply Chain Planning Software 170

Supply Chain Shaman

NOVEMBER 6, 2016

The third issue is the lack of understanding that global processes–to maximize the economies of scale in transportation and material buying–need strong governance. Without this discipline, the global organization cannot actualize buying power in procurement or lower costs and improve costs/customer service in transportation.

Supply Chain Planning Software 150

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Planning Scenario Planning 150

Supply Chain Shaman

FEBRUARY 14, 2022

At the time, DuPont, now acquired by DOW, boasted externally on internal adherence to SAP standardization for decision support. Notice how the water turns from blue to brown in Figure 3 with the lack of demand translation capabilities within the enterprise for manufacturing and logistics. Let me explain. Mistake #3. My challenge?

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. Shipping approximately 400 million selling units consisting of 700 million manufactured units per year, Carter’s employs about 4,000 employees at its peak. In my experience, technologies like SAP are rigid. Is it elegant?

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

JUNE 6, 2015

I think that IBM, HP, Microsoft, Oracle, SAP and Teradata are victims today in the information technology sector. He discussed the adoption of the steam engine and the electric motor in the manufacturing sector. Today, we take these technologies for granted, but the electric motor was the genesis of the horizontal manufacturing plant.

Supply Chain Planning Software 150

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

Supply Chain Shaman

DECEMBER 4, 2018

At Rockwell this includes all processes end-to-end except for manufacturing. From a manufacturing perspective, products vary significantly in complexity. Solutions, for example, can take from 12 to 16 weeks to manufacture. The company understands global manufacturers’ problems because they are one.

Supply Chain Software 34

Supply Chain Software Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Manufacturing Procurement 34

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 number one question that I am asked today by manufacturers across all industries is “How can I improve customer service?” Background.

Supply Chain Design Software 207

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

Supply Chain Shaman

JANUARY 15, 2022

In the 1990s, I transitioned from managing an emerging supply chain organization at a mid-sized manufacturing company to working for a supply chain planning company. As we walked, I reflected and kept asking Scott, “How can we optimize outcomes if companies are not clear on what defines excellence?” A Walk That I Often Remember.

Supply Chain Design Software 195

Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Planning Software Modeling Software Modeling 195

Supply Chain Shaman

JANUARY 15, 2022

In the 1990s, I transitioned from managing an emerging supply chain organization at a mid-sized manufacturing company to working for a supply chain planning company. As we walked, I reflected and kept asking Scott, “How can we optimize outcomes if companies are not clear on what defines excellence?” A Walk That I Often Remember.

Supply Chain Design Software 195

Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Planning Software Modeling Software Modeling 195

Supply Chain Shaman

MARCH 12, 2019

This team was working on quality improvements and found that the flows crossed 117 disconnected documents in access, excel, and google analytics. Most deployments focus on functional excellence–manufacturing, transportation, customer service or procurement. Figure 1 is a picture from a client. Organizational talent.

Prescriptive Analytics Software 220

Prescriptive Analytics Software Manufacturing Procurement Procurement Analytics Analytics Software 220

Supply Chain Shaman

MAY 3, 2015

Executive, after executive, lament, “They have purchased many technologies and sponsored many projects to reduce inventories, but they are not seeing results.” The companies with the greatest market share—Oracle and SAP—have the weakest references. As a result, buyers should buy based on today’s functionality.

Inventory Reduction 150

Inventory Reduction Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Planning Software Inventory Management Software 150

Unleashed

AUGUST 11, 2020

Effective inventory management is crucial to reducing costs in any manufacturing business. This is particularly true in the food manufacturing industry, which characteristically has a high volume of products stored, and an urgent need to fill existing client orders to match ongoing consumer demand.

Manufacturing Procurement 89

Manufacturing Procurement Inventory Management Software Supply Chain Planning Software Forecasting Software 89

Supply Chain Shaman

DECEMBER 13, 2015

Today, 7% of order and purchase order flows move through business networks. However, inter-enterprise communication moves largely by email. ” Smiling and nodding in agreement, he said, “ It is frustrating,” He continued, “Why is SAP not doing more with Ariba? ” I said, ” I understand.”

Manufacturing Procurement 150

Manufacturing Procurement Procurement Analytics Supply Chain Network Software Procurement Solutions 150

Supply Chain Shaman

MARCH 15, 2016

The majority of manufacturing and retail companies want better performing supply chains. My view is that both SAP and the large consulting organizations perpetuate a very functional view of supply chain management which is detrimental to building effective value networks. A Critical Review of the Contract Manufacturing Model.

Supply Chain Software 150

Supply Chain Software Supply Chain Network Software Manufacturing Procurement Supply Chain Planning Software 150

Supply Chain Shaman

OCTOBER 8, 2017

I also worked in manufacturing during the period of 1978-1992 trying to plan demand. Most demand planning happens in Excel Ghettos not in the expensive technologies implemented in 90% of manufacturing companies. Test new solutions against the traditional demand sensing providers of E2open (Terra Technology), SAP and ToolsGroup.

Supply and Demand 199

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

Supply Chain Insights

AUGUST 29, 2017

Demand signals include shopping trends, digital footprints of shopping online or looking at recipes, talking to their neighbors and friends on social media, buying habits, and consumption data. The time in human labor and cashflow researching and identifying what these deductions are cost both the retailer and the manufacturer significantly.

Supply Chain Planning Software 95

Supply Chain Planning Software Forecasting Software Predictive Analytics Software Modeling Software 95

Supply Chain Insights

JUNE 30, 2017

Trade promotion, almost two centuries old, was used as an incentive for the retail channels to buy enough product to keep the shelves stocked with the brand and reach the local shopper with the message of price and where to buy. One of their largest is SAP. These are aptly named Demand Signal Repositories or “DSR’s.”

Supply Chain Planning Software 110

Supply Chain Planning Software Optimal Sourcing Supply Chain Design Software Predictive Analytics Software 110

ThroughPut

OCTOBER 18, 2024

ThroughPut AI SAP Integrated Business Planning Oracle SCM Cloud Blue Yonder Kinaxis RapidResponse Infor Nexus E2Open Manhattan Associates Epicor SCM Logility Anaplan Odoo Coupa HighJump (Körber) 1. Which is the Best Supply Chain Management Software in 2025? Review the features and benefits of these tools below.

Supply Chain Planning Software 52

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Software Analytics Software 52

Supply Chain Shaman

JULY 29, 2017

At the time, I was working with two large manufacturing companies that were not clear on the definition of supply chain visibility. Examples include E2open, Elemica, GT Nexus (now owned by INFOR ), and SAP Ariba. As shown in Figure 2, few orders and purchase orders flow hands-free. Investments in ERP are not the answer.

Supply Chain Network Software 170

Supply Chain Network Software Supply Chain Design Software Modeling Software Analytics Software 170

Kinaxis

JUNE 30, 2016

If you can imagine the typical supply chain, you would expect it to be comprised of customers, suppliers, and potentially one or more levels of integrated manufacturing facilities. You could assess impacts to inventory, margin, cost of sales, new purchases, capacity…all within seconds, all within a single system.

Inventory Reduction 111

Inventory Reduction Cost Reduction Strategies Supply Chain Planning Software Analytics Software 111