Supply Chain Shaman

APRIL 27, 2022

Supply chain excellence is easier to say than to explain. The supply chain is a complex non-linear system. Keith led the work to move P&G from a regional to a global manufacturer opening up the Warsaw center of planning excellence and outsourcing IT to HP. Business leaders are action-oriented and competitive. The reason?

Procurement Analytics 369

Procurement Analytics Manufacturing Procurement Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software 369

Supply Chain Shaman

DECEMBER 15, 2022

” Followed by “How are you organized, and what defines functional excellence? And, how do you tie functional excellence to corporate value?” Companies became less clear on the definition of supply chain excellence and how to implement decision support technologies. This gap grew over the last decade.

Manufacturing Procurement 397

Manufacturing Procurement Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Planning Software Procurement Analytics 397

ToolsGroup

MARCH 25, 2025

Modern ML-powered demand planning systems simplify this by analyzing multiple factors simultaneously – product trends, competitive pricing, market conditions, and social media activity – to uncover patterns in promotional events and quantify their precise effect on sales.

Supply and Demand 156

Supply and Demand Forecasting Forecasting Software Modeling 156

Supply Chain Shaman

APRIL 19, 2024

These flows are one-to-one– focused on sharing a singular flow of information– lacking a system of record. In addition, a purchase order changes three-to-four times and there is a black hole (data is caught between email systems of trading partners for one-to-two days). Many systems without interoperability.

Supply Chain Network Software 374

Supply Chain Network Software Resource Reduction Cost Reduction Strategies Manufacturing Procurement 374

Supply Chain Shaman

OCTOBER 4, 2018

Against my friends’ advice, I decided to drive to speak to 120 business leaders at the Gains Systems event. I wanted to say, “You let the consultants influence you to buy the wrong technologies based on IT standardization. Success in Selection of Advanced Planning Systems (APS). Most planning happens in Excel Spreadsheets.

Inventory Management Software 337

Inventory Management Software Inventory Reduction Inventory Management Supply Chain Planning Software 337

Supply Chain Shaman

MARCH 21, 2024

As the only woman on the team, I always laughed that I had no place to put it, but I did not buck the system. Engineers could sign up for hour-long blocks to use the new systems. The tight integration of APS to ERP introduces nervousness in complex systems.) Lack of executive buy-in. I think that the answer is no.

Inventory Reduction 434

Inventory Reduction Supply Chain Planning Software Cost Reduction Strategies Supply Chain Design Software 434

Supply Chain Shaman

JUNE 30, 2023

Each executive has a different perspective on the definition of supply chain excellence, but they are never discussed and aligned. His organization purchased an advanced planning technology from well-known best of breed provider, and the implementation should have been successful, but it was not. What Is The Ring of Fire?

Supply Chain Planning Software 387

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Agile and Lean Supply Chain Eliminating Excel in Purchasing 387

Supply Chain Shaman

JANUARY 9, 2024

How Do You Define Excellence? In retrospect, I find that technology is an enabler, but only if we are clear on what defines supply chain excellence. Many believe that an ex-supply chain exec knows the definition of supply chain excellence. There Is No Perfect Measurement System. I admit it. Lora was as well.

Supply Chain Planning Software 386

Supply Chain Planning Software Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Planning Gartner 386

Silvon Software

MAY 6, 2025

Thats why modern BI systems are quickly becoming the go-to solution for data-driven enterprises. Modern platforms pull data from a wide array of sources: ERPs, relational databases, Excel files, cloud apps, third-party providers, and beyond. Think of it as the central nervous system of your analytics ecosystem.

Prescriptive Analytics Software 89

Prescriptive Analytics Software Analytics Software Predictive Analytics Software Supply Chain Design Software 89

Supply Chain Shaman

JUNE 28, 2021

Consumers constantly change the mix preferences in purchases. Somedays, the focus is on steaks or ribs and the next on the purchase of ground or cubed meat. New demand planners start using the system without clarity on what makes a good plan. Here are my recommendations: Buy Software Like You Manage A Relationship.

Supply Chain Planning Software 322

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Planning Supply Chain Software 322

Supply Chain Shaman

NOVEMBER 11, 2020

Today, supply chain excellence matters more than ever. Until there are clear answers, business leaders should avoid buying software from companies with deep investments by venture capitalists. The method is not systemic and the data scientists lack an understanding of supply chain management. Kinaxis Purchase of Rubikloud.

Supply Chain Design Software 362

Supply Chain Design Software Procurement Solutions Manufacturing Procurement Supply Chain Planning Software 362

Supply Chain Shaman

NOVEMBER 21, 2022

So, I smile, catch my dinner partner’s eye and ask, “In our prior conversations, you mentioned the lack of clarity on the definition of supply chain excellence in your current deployments and how this is a barrier to implementing supply chain planning properly. Or have you set it and forgot it in the evolution of planning systems?

Supply Chain Planning Software 376

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Optimal Sourcing Modeling 376

Logistics Viewpoints

JUNE 8, 2023

To remain competitive, retailers and carriers must excel in the crucial last-mile delivery stage. To Build or To Buy Companies looking to implement new or improve existing delivery technology face a crucial decision: should they build an in-house platform or buy an existing solution from a vendor?

Modeling Software 273

Modeling Software Optimization Software Supply Chain Network Software Logistics Network Optimization Software 273

Supply Chain Shaman

SEPTEMBER 24, 2018

<Bear with me… > Here I share a nine-step process in an attempt to help companies unravel the process for buying supply chain planning software. They center on how to make a good decision in the purchase of supply chain planning solutions. Most have purchased software, but are dependent on Excel spreadsheets.

Supply Chain Planning Software 252

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Planning Supply Chain Software 252

Logistics Viewpoints

MARCH 9, 2023

The classical approach involves functional silos, sequential decisions, and Excel and people to render a plan executable. Theory and practical implications are clear: optimizing each silo does not imply optimizing the end-to-end system. The planning process should be automated, repeatable, and not dependent on Excel-based manipulation.

Supply Chain Planning Software 282

Supply Chain Planning Software Modeling Forecasting Software Optimization Software 282

Supply Chain Shaman

APRIL 29, 2024

In 2012, when I started Supply Chain Insights , I believed that I could revolutionize the purchase of supply chain planning solutions by initiating a rating and review process across trading partners. Buying supply chain planning software is hard. How are people buying software? Here I share how to challenge the status quo.

Supply Chain Planning Software 417

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Software Forecasting Software 417

Supply Chain Shaman

MAY 21, 2024

In follow-up qualitative interviews, one of the largest issues with organizational alignment was metric definition and a clear definition of supply chain excellence. To manage continuous improvement, companies need a clear definition of excellence and organizational alignment to that goal. They do not excel in planning or forecasting.

Procurement Analytics 393

Procurement Analytics Optimal Sourcing Metrics Supply Chain Planning Software 393

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

Logistics Viewpoints

MAY 11, 2023

To define what exactly it is, a digital twin is a virtual replica of a physical asset, process, or system. Does a DC need to buy a bunch of IoT or PLC sensors to wire up throughout the warehouse, their truck fleet, or on individual products or associates? Do they purchase a 3D warehouse simulation and modeling tool?

Modeling 307

Modeling Analytics Software Supply Chain Design Software Optimization Software 307

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. The lesson should be to align to outside-in signals, reduce signal latency and drive systems of insights. Write these insights to the APS/ERP technologies as a planning system of record.

Supply Chain Planning Software 195

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

Procurement Academy

APRIL 24, 2025

Theyre often seen as separate worlds, each with its own goals, systems, and ways of working. This blog explores procurement vs supply chain strategy and looks at how aligning the two leads to operational excellence. They may use different systems, follow conflicting processes, or pursue KPIs that pull in opposite directions.

Optimal Sourcing 52

Optimal Sourcing Negotiating Skills Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software 52

Supply Chain Shaman

JUNE 20, 2014

The implementations were longer, the purchase costs were higher, and the functionality was less robust and lacking flexibility. As a result, there is a greater and greater need for a visualization layer and planning master data system. It is not a good system of record. I did not see it. Organizations Are Not Static.

Supply Chain Planning Software 366

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Planning Scenario Planning Supply and Demand 366

Supply Chain Shaman

DECEMBER 17, 2018

Nick Lynch is the Global Excellence Manager at Shell Lubricants, a division of Shell Global. However, the goal of having a single integrated ERP system with the embedded functionality and modules was never achieved. What can often look like compliance in APO could actually be numbers calculated in Excel and posted into the SAP system.

Demand Planning Software 322

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

Supply Chain Shaman

SEPTEMBER 27, 2021

Importers are trying to push 30 percent more thru a system that is running at 70 percent throughput aainst the old level. My thought was to combine my experience working on visibility solutions with Descartes Systems Group and Manugistics with recent research data. Conventional approaches are not sufficient. I thought it would be easy.

Supply Chain Planning Software 390

Supply Chain Planning Software Sourcing Strategies Manufacturing Procurement Supply Chain Design Software 390

Supply Chain Shaman

MAY 13, 2024

Observations on What It Takes In the Mea Culpa post, I wrote that I used to believe that excellence in S&OP was a ratio of 60/30/10. (60% A clear strategy defines what is a good output of a planning system and the governance of who is responsible for the decision. Do you use market drivers to understand market shifts?

S&OP 393

S&OP Supply and Demand Inventory Reduction Expense Reduction 393

Supply Chain Shaman

SEPTEMBER 13, 2023

The issues are largely rooted in politics and the lack of clarity on supply chain excellence. The goal was to teach the impact of system dynamics in a non-linear system that we now call the supply chain. Or planned orders to purchase orders?) False Belief in Current Systems. And how do we measure it? (Is

Supply and Demand 431

Supply and Demand Supply Chain Planning Software Modeling Demand Planning 431

Logistics Viewpoints

APRIL 25, 2024

A robust, automated appointment scheduling system that connects and streamlines communications between yard workers, shippers, carriers and drivers can alleviate many problems, but it’s not a panacea for these more systemic issues. Create a facilities “Center of Excellence.”

Expense Reduction 312

Expense Reduction Cost Reduction Strategies Supply Chain Design Software Inventory Reduction 312

Logistics Viewpoints

AUGUST 28, 2024

Therefore, businesses need reliable and robust systems to capture and maintain this data. These IoT systems help businesses maintain near real-time information on their products. Why DPPs Matter Consumers today expect transparency about the products they purchase.

Optimal Sourcing 310

Optimal Sourcing Optimization Software Modeling Supply Chain Optimization 310

DELMIA Quintiq

DECEMBER 28, 2020

Working with Excel spreadsheets does not contribute the efficiency, speed and agility necessary for planning teams to bring the best plans to the company. For the decision making process, the comparison of scenarios in an easy and objective way based on the indicators allows the choice based mainly on a rationalized financial criteria.

Supply Chain Planning Software 296

Supply Chain Planning Software Scenario Planning Modeling Prescriptive Analytics Software 296

Supply Chain Shaman

SEPTEMBER 30, 2014

Consumers want to shop anywhere, and buy in the way that they want to buy. As things change there is no system of record. …there is not substitute for an accurate PI signal in supply chain excellence. As a result, it has become a systemic way of making money for the retailer which is a lose/lose.

Optimal Sourcing 353

Optimal Sourcing Forecasting Forecasting Software Supply Chain Network Software 353

Supply Chain Shaman

FEBRUARY 11, 2019

A complex non-linear system is not easily wrangled by the uninformed. 3) Buy Technologies that Supply Chain Planners Will Love. Over 65% of supply chain planning happens in Excel spreadsheets. Many times it is the result of the purchase of supply chain planning technologies purchased based on IT standardization.

Supply Chain Planning Software 207

Supply Chain Planning Software Modeling Software Demand Planning Software Supply and Demand 207

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. They believed that the system was driving improvement. Houston, We Have a Problem.

Supply Chain Planning Software 287

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

SYSPRO Smarter ERP

JANUARY 13, 2025

The role of ERP in optimizing production A well-chosen ERP system empowers food and beverage manufacturers to optimize productivity and spur company growth. Making the right choice The right ERP system delivers immense advantages to food and beverage manufacturers seeking to optimize intricate operations.

Optimization Software 52

Optimization Software Supply Chain Planning Software Manufacturing Procurement Beverage 52

My Office Apps

JANUARY 16, 2024

Start Your Year with Cloud-Based ERP: The Ultimate Guide to Operational Excellence Begin your year on a transformative note by embracing the power of Cloud-Based Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems. Operational Excellence with Cloud-Based ERP Procurement Management Efficiently manage your procurement processes with ERP.

Eliminating Excel in Purchasing 105

Eliminating Excel in Purchasing Optimal Sourcing Manufacturing Procurement Procurement Analytics 105

ivalua

JUNE 29, 2020

With rising costs and declining margins, health systems must become more efficient and productive. Now, of course the systems of healthcare differ but overall the level and growth is certainly a concern. The Path to Supply Chain Excellence. We believe that a key pillar of this transformation is the supply chain.

Supply Chain Planning Software 219

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Software Agile and Lean Supply Chain Optimal Sourcing 219

The Logistics of Logistics

SEPTEMBER 24, 2024

There, he navigated the complexities of the fuel desk, advising drivers nationwide on Comdata issues, optimizing purchase orders, and leveraging tax advantages. Excelling as an inside sales manager, account manager, and mentor, he led a broker team to achieve a monumental revenue goal of $40 million.

Supply Chain Network Software 246

Supply Chain Network Software Network Optimization St. Louis Logistics Network Optimization Software 246

SCMDOJO

APRIL 11, 2025

The Core Role of CRM in Modern Supply Chains CRM systems first existed to manage customer interactions, track leads, and aggregate information from sales and marketing departments. Enhance Inventory Management A combined CRM-Shopify platform provides past sales data, allowing procurement teams to make informed purchasing decisions.

Supply Chain Planning Software 84

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Software Forecasting Software Inventory Management Software 84