ToolsGroup

MARCH 11, 2025

Demand forecasting is a critical strategy for supply chain management that can dramatically improve business decision-making and financial performance. Beyond Forecast Accuracy: A Holistic Approach Demand forecasting is just one piece of the supply chain management puzzle.

Forecasting 156

Forecasting Inventory Reduction Forecasting Software Cost Reduction Strategies 156

Supply Chain Shaman

APRIL 2, 2025

The Connected Supply Chain. Drip Digital Supply Chain. Autonomous Supply Chain Planning. Self-Healing Supply Chains. Touchless Supply Chains. Small companies outperform large companies, and the marquee customers of major supply chain planning technology providers underperform.

Optimal Sourcing 195

Optimal Sourcing Supply Chain Planning Software Modeling Supply Chain Design Software 195

Supply Chain Shaman

MAY 29, 2014

Last week, the Gartner Top 25 was announced with great fanfare. The announcement marks a decade of Gartner Top 25 annual lists. I find the Gartner Top 25 to be a muddled methodology that is boiled and allowed to congeal into a bland product with little use. In many businesses, assets are a core part of the supply chain.

Gartner 366

Gartner Inventory Reduction Supply Chain Planning Software Pharmaceutical 366

Supply Chain Shaman

JUNE 24, 2022

Life for the supply chain leader is more complex. The future inventory fire sale. We are living in a world of rich supply chain case studies. Each day, the Wall Street Journal features a supply chain failure as front-page news. Why Is There No Economy of Scale in Supply Chain Acquisitions?

Supply Chain Planning Software 397

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Planning Supply Chain Software 397

Supply Chain Shaman

JANUARY 9, 2024

Today, we published The Supply Chains to Admire for 2023. Supply Chains to Admire Winners 2023 Examine Your Own Paradigm. Most supply chain leaders are stuck in their own paradigms. As an old gal, with over forty-years of supply chain experience, writing this report for ten years taught me many lessons.

Supply Chain Planning Software 386

Supply Chain Planning Software Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Planning Gartner 386

Supply Chain Shaman

JUNE 19, 2018

This afternoon, I poured myself a cup of tea to pen congratulation emails to the Supply Chains to Admire award winners. In the calculation of winners, we measure improvement through a vector analysis of orbit charts at the intersection of inventory turns/operating margins and growth/ROIC. Supply Chains to Admire Award Winners.

Gartner 277

Gartner Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Design Supply Chain Strategy 277

ToolsGroup

JUNE 2, 2023

But then, supply chain disruption became the rule instead of the exception, consumers changed their tastes as often as their socks, and global competition started playing hardball. Suddenly, managing inventory is the name of the game for companies trying to manage working capital and maximize profit while keeping customers happy.

Real-time Visibility 294

Real-time Visibility Manufacturing Procurement Optimal Sourcing Inventory Reduction 294

Logility

APRIL 28, 2025

” What makes supply chains an ideal proving ground for this evolution? It’s a natural fit for an environment built on orchestration across vendors, partners, inventory, and data. But to manage it all, supply chain professionals need action, not another dashboard. At least, not yet.

Supply Chain Planning Software 147

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Modeling Supply Chain Software 147

Supply Chain Shaman

JULY 22, 2019

I feel that topic of supply chain management is analogous to the downward cycle of the news channels. What Drives Supply Chain Excellence? I analyze supply chain management. The broader the definition of end-to-end strategy and the alignment of supply chain processes drives value.

Supply Chain Design Software 304

Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Planning Software Gartner Supply Chain Software 304

Supply Chain Shaman

SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

Today we published a new report, Supply Chains to Admire. The data analyzed to compile the Supply Chains to Admire report came from publicly-available information from balance sheets and income statements. We think that supply chain excellence is a combination of performance and improvement.

Pharmaceutical 307

Pharmaceutical Gartner Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Design 307

Supply Chain Shaman

JANUARY 2, 2024

As I wrote, I reflected on the Generative AI hype cycle in the supply chain market and the contribution to noise. I questioned in this time of uncertainty if supply chain leaders will value data-driven content. Conventional wisdom centers on the use of enterprise data to make the supply chain more efficient.

Gartner 368

Gartner Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Case Study 368

Supply Chain Shaman

OCTOBER 25, 2013

SAP touts “best-run companies” while the Accenture ads claim “ high-performance supply chains.” I am a nomad, searching for a good definition of supply chain excellence. It is a quest and the subject of my next book, Metrics That Matter , that will publish in September, 2014.

Gartner 258

Gartner Supply Chain Strategy Supply Chain Software Supply Chain 258

ToolsGroup

MAY 8, 2025

Ideally, it connects sales, marketing, supply chain, finance, and operations in a seamless flow. According to Gartner , early stages of S&OP maturity often lack formal processes, metrics, and cross-functional participation. It connects strategy and execution with features built for modern supply chains: 1.

Inventory Reduction 156

Inventory Reduction Price Reduction Cost Reduction Strategies Supply Chain Planning Software 156

Supply Chain Shaman

APRIL 27, 2022

Supply chain excellence is easier to say than to explain. Executive teams strive to drive improvement in supply chain results; yet, sadly, only four percent of public companies succeed. The supply chain is a complex non-linear system. Now, I view the company as a supply chain laggard.

Procurement Analytics 369

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

Supply Chain Opz

JANUARY 7, 2013

Is Apple Supply Chain Really the No. Surprisingly, IT research firm Gartner ranks Apple Supply Chain as the best supply chain in the world for 4 years in a row. But, is Apples Supply Chain really the number 1? 1) Apples Supply Chain Model. Supply Chain Model of Apple Inc.

Case Study 279

Case Study Study Negotiating Skills Supply Chain Planning Software 279

ToolsGroup

AUGUST 20, 2019

More and more businesses are hopping on the outsourcing bus and letting the experts take the wheel to drive supply chain planning processes. Several years ago ToolsGroup pioneered business process outsourcing (BPO) as an alternative to in-house supply chain planning (SCP). Driven by improvements in performance and cost.

Supply Chain Planning Software 214

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Planning Gartner Supply Chain Software 214

ToolsGroup

FEBRUARY 6, 2018

Financial executives measure inventory health with metrics like inventory turns because they view the firm from a financial viewpoint - such as how much working capital is being tied up. Gartner delved into this issue in a recent report, Build the Capability for Inventory Health Assessment.

Inventory Reduction 159

Inventory Reduction Inventory Material Savings Gartner 159

Supply Chain Shaman

JULY 3, 2015

Supply chain leaders are competitive. They want to drive supply chain excellence; but today, the definition is not clear. I remember sitting in a room and discussing the definition of what is now the Gartner Top 25 methodology eleven years ago. Some Background: The math behind the Gartner Top 25 is quite simple.

Gartner 150

Gartner Supply Chain Software Demand Planning Software Modeling Software 150

Supply Chain Shaman

JUNE 26, 2016

In the last six months, in my travels, I have presented to supply chain teams in China, Belgium, France, Germany, Peru, Mexico, Netherlands, South Africa, Singapore, and the United Kingdom. I strongly feel that if I am going to cover the global supply chain that I need to experience it. A Personal Reflection.

Supply Chain Design Software 260

Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Planning Software Agile and Lean Supply Chain Supply Chain Design 260

ToolsGroup

JUNE 17, 2024

Last week at the Gartner Supply Chain Symposium/Xpo™ 2024 conference in Barcelona, the supply chain community gathered for one of the most anticipated events of the year. The conversations were both dynamic and thought-provoking, reflecting the complex and rapidly evolving nature of global supply chains.

Gartner 156

Gartner Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Software Agile and Lean Supply Chain 156

Supply Chain Shaman

JULY 29, 2013

Last week in the middle of a presentation, a supply chain leader made the statement, “We have solved the issues in supply through better optimization and use of data. Many supply chain leaders are so convinced they know the answers that they have stopped listening and learning. The issue is demand.

Supply Chain Planning Software 350

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Modeling Analytics Software 350

Kinaxis

JUNE 9, 2017

by CJ Wehlage A few years ago, Kevin O’Marah said Gartner’s Top 25 Supply Chains was getting increasingly boring. So Gartner looked at the numbers and created the Masters category. Something needs to be done differently in the Masters category if Gartner wants to avoid simply having two lists. Cisco Systems.

Gartner 168

Gartner Supply Chain Software Supply Chain Benchmarking 168

ToolsGroup

AUGUST 29, 2017

Gartner measures supply chain analytics maturity across seven different dimensions. There are supply chain and demand analytics models that describe the type of analytics being deployed (e.g., The key, Gartner says, is that each of the seven dimensions is interconnected. descriptive, prescriptive, etc.).

Modeling 189

Modeling Prescriptive Analytics Software Analytics Software Modeling Software 189

Logility

JULY 9, 2021

Will your ERP accommodate your complex supply chain planning requirements? Comparing a supply chain planning platform against an ERP system that offers supply chain management capabilities is a challenge. Logility is Fit for Purpose and Addresses Supply Chain Needs Head On.

Supply Chain Planning Software 208

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply and Demand Supply Chain Software Optimal Sourcing 208

Logility

AUGUST 7, 2017

Wait, it’s not spring; but does that mean you have to wait another eight months to review your supply chain? Often, it becomes necessary to reevaluate how supply chain performance is measured to ensure healthy operations. Ask yourself, “Are your supply chain metrics bogging you down?”

Procurement Analytics 121

Procurement Analytics Metrics Gartner Supply Chain Planning Software 121

Silvon Software

JUNE 23, 2020

As I mentioned in my previous post, Sales Dashboards – 16 Metrics for Manufacturers , a strategy for measuring business performance should also incorporate metrics that focus on the supply chain and other operational areas of the enterprise. Inventory Turns and Sales-to-Inventory Ratio.

Manufacturing Procurement 111

Manufacturing Procurement Metrics Gartner Supply Chain Planning Software 111

AIMMS

FEBRUARY 20, 2015

Interview with Lora Cecere, Founder and CEO of Supply Chain Insights and Author of Supply Chain Metrics that Matter ( published December 2014 ). Lora Cecere is the founder and CEO of the research firm Supply Chain Insights. I was an analyst at AMR Research and subsequently Gartner.

Metrics 120

Metrics Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Software 120

Supply Chain Shaman

JUNE 7, 2021

Gartner purchased the firm in 2010.) Driving Improvements in Supply Chain Excellence. He felt strongly that supply chain leaders knew how to drive supply chain excellence and needed a forum– or maybe two or three depending on the business model– to help them network and refine their approaches.

Gartner 221

Gartner Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Planning Software Eliminating Excel in Purchasing 221

Supply Chain Insights

SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

Today we published a new report, Supply Chains to Admire. The data analyzed to compile the Supply Chains to Admire 2014 report came from publicly-available information from balance sheets and income statements. Was the list of the Supply Chains to Admire hard to select? What is the Supply Chain Index?

Pharmaceutical 179

Pharmaceutical Gartner Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Design 179

ToolsGroup

MAY 24, 2016

Most companies segment their supply chain by breaking it down according to operational and logistical metrics. But there is another way to segment supply chains that begins with the customer. This is important since complexity is intensifying in most supply chains.

Supply Chain Segmentation 159

Supply Chain Segmentation Optimal Sourcing Gartner Supply Chain Optimization 159

Supply Chain Shaman

MAY 19, 2016

Supply Chain Groundhog Day. Last night, the twitter feed was buzzing with pictures of the celebratory Supply Chain Top 25 dinner. The Gartner Supply Chain Top 25 is now twelve years old. I have openly written about the issues with the Gartner Top 25 methodology. A Different Approach.

Gartner 210

Gartner Pharmaceutical Predictive Analytics Modeling Software 210

ToolsGroup

JULY 11, 2017

Finance speaks a different language than supply chain. But by monetizing Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP), supply chain planners can speak the language of finance while developing S&OP into a more mature process. Gartner’s research is echoed by Lora Cecere of Supply Chain Insights.

S&OP 92

S&OP Supply and Demand Inventory Reduction Price Reduction 92

Kinaxis

SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

Here’s the supply chain conferences we love and will be attending. Gartner Supply Chain Executive Conference. Kinaxis is pleased to be a Premier Sponsor and participate in panel discussion of the 2014 EMEA Gartner Supply Chain Executive Conference. Supply Chain Insights Global Summit.

Conference 154

Conference Gartner Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software 154

Logility

MAY 21, 2012

That was the question Michael Uskert, managing vice president, Gartner, asked at the end of the day 1 keynote at Gartner’s 2012 Supply Chain Executive Conference. ” According to Jane Barrett, “the supply chain is hard and it is getting harder.” “We choose to go to the moon.

Gartner 100

Gartner Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Software 100

Logility

MAY 21, 2012

That was the question Michael Uskert, managing vice president, Gartner, asked at the end of the day 1 keynote at Gartner’s 2012 Supply Chain Executive Conference. ” According to Jane Barrett, “the supply chain is hard and it is getting harder.” “We choose to go to the moon.

Gartner 100

Gartner Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Software 100

ToolsGroup

OCTOBER 11, 2017

A recent report from Gartner agrees, focusing specifically on the challenge of building a better business case for improved forecast accuracy. Gartner says that you shouldn’t just pitch forecast accuracy to your executive management, but translate your plan into business metrics. Customer service must come from inventories.

Forecasting 180

Forecasting Supply and Demand Forecasting Software Optimal Sourcing 180

Logility

JANUARY 26, 2024

What defines a high-performing supply chain? 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. 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