Supply Chain Matters

MARCH 20, 2025

Many are integrating Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) with finance and logistics to improve decision-making. AI i s eliminating tedious, repetitive tasks, freeing up professionals to focus on strategy, analysis, and decision-making. However, Bob argues that technology isnt replacing peopleits transforming their roles.

Supply Chain Planning Software 52

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Software Supply Chain Planning Supply Chain Strategy 52

Supply Chain Matters

MAY 6, 2025

In the latter, the leveraging of Salesforce Cloud provides customers with the ability to more readily integrate various manifestations of customer along with product demand data and insights into an existing or planned future business-wide overall sales and operations planning ( S&OP ) or integrated business planning (IBP) process.

Supply Chain Planning Software 52

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Prescriptive Analytics Software Forecasting Software 52

AIMMS

AUGUST 3, 2020

However, one-third of SCP leaders cite “the lack of effective decision making in the S&OP meeting process as the most critical problem to solve for their function’s overall performance” (source: Gartner, Improve S&OP Decision Making Through Scenario Planning , Supply Chain Research Team, 4 May 2020).

Scenario Planning 398

Scenario Planning S&OP Modeling Supply and Demand 398

Supply Chain Shaman

MAY 9, 2023

Organizations use S&OP as a hammer in search of a nail. As a contrarian voice in the industry, I want to share some research to steer the conversations towards a more fact-based dialogue. (I In this post, I want to focus on tactics that work and don’t drive success based on recent research of 107 business respondents.

S&OP 408

S&OP Supply and Demand Supply Chain Planning Software Sourcing Strategies 408

Supply Chain Shaman

MAY 22, 2023

Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) is a business process. I have tracked maturity levels in S&OP for the past two decades and note that most companies are stuck unable to drive progress. This is the same list I discussed in my research in 2006. View any research used out of context with skepticism.

S&OP 341

S&OP Supply and Demand Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software 341

Supply Chain Shaman

JULY 25, 2016

The research starts in April and stretches over many weeks as we analyze the different elements and understand the patterns of each industry. Selfishly, we need standard for our research, but we also want to help supply chain leaders gain new insights from a deep data-driven analysis. What Can We Learn from the Research?

Pharmaceutical 279

Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Design Supply Chain Strategy Supply Chain Planning 279

Logistics Viewpoints

JULY 22, 2021

Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) as a process has been around since the 1980’s. While the terminology evolved, the underlying thesis of S&OP has stayed the same, i.e., bridge the divide between sales forecasts and operational plans while respecting the budget.

S&OP 284

S&OP Supply and Demand Optimal Sourcing Supply Chain Design Software 284

AIMMS

DECEMBER 1, 2016

Throughout the years, we’ve witnessed waves of interest in S&OP and its evolution IBP, which incorporates financial planning. In the past 2 years, we’ve seen the appeal of S&OP increase a lot more. In this blog post, I will delve into 5 issues companies typically experience with their S&OP software.

S&OP 258

S&OP Prescriptive Analytics Software Supply Chain Planning Software Supply and Demand 258

ToolsGroup

MAY 10, 2017

Gartner Research just released its new Magic Quadrant for Sales & Operations Planning Systems of Differentiation (S&OP SOD). One example of a changing user requirement is the ascendancy of supply chain modeling to the highest priority in Gartner’s Market Ranking of S&OP Capabilities. Some vendors did.

S&OP 213

S&OP Supply and Demand Gartner Supply Chain Planning Software 213

Supply Chain Shaman

MAY 18, 2019

I spent time this week completing reference calls on the use of S&OP technologies. Eerily the case studies sound the same as the ones heard when I completed S&OP research in 2004. Eerily the case studies sound the same as the ones heard when I completed S&OP research in 2004.

S&OP 230

S&OP Supply and Demand Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software 230

Kinaxis

SEPTEMBER 22, 2014

Just a quick post to let our readers know of an upcoming webcast “ Purposeful Collaboration: What It Could Mean for Your S&OP Process ” on Wednesday, October 8th at 2:00pm ET. Capabilities required to facilitate purposeful collaboration in S&OP.

S&OP 184

S&OP Supply and Demand Supply Chain Planning Software Procurement Solutions 184

Supply Chain Shaman

SEPTEMBER 3, 2018

According to my research, top-performing supply chains possess three very different qualities. .” Let’s Start with Definitions: One of the difficulties in supply chain is the lack of common definitions. To help the reader, let’s start with definitions used in our research: Efficiency.

Supply Chain Planning Software 377

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Agile and Lean Supply Chain Supply Chain Software 377

Kinaxis

AUGUST 24, 2015

by Lori Smith Can the S&OP process be done without technology? So what technologies are today’s supply chain teams using to support the critical S&OP process? In addition, companies will have two to five S&OP processes working independently.”. Provide in-depth analysis using complex analytics.

S&OP 193

S&OP Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Forecasting Software 193

Supply Chain Shaman

FEBRUARY 14, 2022

I wrote my first report on Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) while sitting on the floor in the Atlanta airport in 2005 when I was an AMR Research analyst. The model in Figure 1 became the foundational model for the Gartner S&OP model. Sales and Operations Maturity Model from 2005-2008. Figures 2 and 3.

S&OP 195

S&OP Supply and Demand Procurement Analytics Manufacturing Procurement 195

AIMMS

AUGUST 3, 2020

However, one-third of SCP leaders cite “the lack of effective decision making in the S&OP meeting process as the most critical problem to solve for their function’s overall performance” (source: Gartner, Improve S&OP Decision Making Through Scenario Planning, Supply Chain Research Team, 4 May 2020).

Scenario Planning 156

Scenario Planning S&OP Modeling Supply and Demand 156

Supply Chain Shaman

OCTOBER 2, 2015

” The essence of the article was that the leading expert on smoking, Johanna Cohen from John Hopkins in USA Today, bravely admitted that after four years of research that she did not know. It’s what makes science strong. It’s only completely illuminating when we’ve fully turned the knob.

Supply Chain Planning Software 308

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Planning Supply Chain Design 308

AIMMS

DECEMBER 1, 2016

Throughout the years, we’ve witnessed waves of interest in S&OP and its evolution IBP, which incorporates financial planning. In the past 2 years, we’ve seen the appeal of S&OP increase a lot more. In this blog post, I will delve into 5 issues companies typically experience with their S&OP software.

S&OP 156

S&OP Prescriptive Analytics Software Supply Chain Planning Software Supply and Demand 156

Supply Chain Shaman

MARCH 22, 2017

The use of the term supply chain to describe make/source and deliver as a function is relatively new. A year ago, I attended a badly facilitated women’s networking conference. I will staff my events with students of color and hire co-ops with this intent in mind. Supply Chain Profession Evolving. I left angry.

Supply Chain Software 180

Supply Chain Software Supply Chain S&OP Conference 180

Supply Chain Shaman

NOVEMBER 9, 2023

Let’s take an example. ” When I asked the question, I got an answer from LinkedIn that the research focused on digital maturity with SAP. The research is generated by SAP. Let’s take another example. Matching demand and supply in Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP).

Optimal Sourcing 409

Optimal Sourcing Supply Chain Planning Software Manufacturing Procurement Modeling 409

Supply Chain Shaman

JUNE 6, 2013

In research study after study, we see that the greatest challenge to achieving supply chain excellence is the understanding of the supply chain by the leadership team. It combines decisions across sell, deliver, make and source processes to drive value based outcomes. This includes optimization and discrete event simulation.

Supply Chain Planning Software 330

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Planning Optimal Sourcing Scenario Planning 330

Supply Chain Shaman

APRIL 14, 2013

I have worked for Gartner Group, AMR Research, Altimeter Group and now my own company, Supply Chain Insights. Here, I would like to share some background information on the Index and how I intend to use it in developing a higher level of research. It will become one of the cornerstones of our research. How was it developed?

Gartner 286

Gartner S&OP Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Planning Software 286

Demand Solutions

MARCH 14, 2017

If so, you know what it’s like to work under pressure to contain costs. They’re familiar to most business users, and easy to learn for anyone who’s just starting their career. If that’s the case, you’ve probably looked into S&OP software. It gives you a single source of the truth.

S&OP 133

S&OP Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Forecasting Software 133

Logility

AUGUST 5, 2021

McKinsey & Company research recently revealed that 76% of surveyed consumers experimented with new shopping behaviors during the pandemic primarily because of product availability – an area in which larger competitors have an advantage. And the stakes have never been higher. Yielding Winning Outcomes in a Field of Uncertainty.

S&OP 130

S&OP Supply and Demand Beverage Optimal Sourcing 130

Supply Chain Shaman

NOVEMBER 6, 2016

Importance Versus Effectiveness of Demand and S&OP Planning Solutions. In the last three years the company has embarked on a path to improve Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP). As a result, the results of the S&OP processes cannot be written back to a common system of record. I welcome yours.

Supply Chain Planning Software 358

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Planning Scenario Planning 358

Supply Chain Shaman

JUNE 5, 2013

Comprehensive view of source, make and deliver. Most often the focus is on transportation or logistics, but does not take into consideration the trade-offs between make, source and deliver. Focus is on make, source and deliver together. Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP). Supply Chain Design.

Supply Chain Planning Software 255

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Planning Supply and Demand Supply Chain Design Software 255

Supply Chain Shaman

JUNE 18, 2015

The practices are still emerging and have morphed dramatically over the course of the supply chain leader’s career. For perspective, let’s look back at history. In our research on organizational alignment , we find that the alignment gaps are felt differently across the organization. Looking Back at History.

Sourcing Strategies 294

Sourcing Strategies Agile and Lean Supply Chain Inventory Reduction Supply Chain Design 294

Enterra Insights

SEPTEMBER 23, 2019

Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) has been around for over three decades. Some analysts insist it’s time companies move on. Other analysts insist the purposes behind S&OP remain as relevant as ever. ”[2] He cites research from two firms supporting his assertion: Optilon and Gartner.

S&OP 100

S&OP Supply and Demand Supply Chain Planning Software Analytics Software 100

Supply Chain Shaman

FEBRUARY 16, 2024

Let’s Start With Clear Definitions My inbox is full. I am a researcher. Let’s have fun! Let’s start with the definitions: Graph AI uses Machine Learning on graph-based technology to understand the relationships between variables to drive insights. Many of today’s solutions include Narrow AI.

Supply Chain Planning Software 417

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

Logility

MARCH 28, 2013

I recently read a roundup of all the research Gartner Group has published around S&OP. I’m struck by the fact the research points to 70% of companies are at a maturity level of 2 or lower even after 30 years of S&OP chest beating by the supply chain industry. So, where is the disconnect?

S&OP 100

S&OP Supply Chain Planning Software Supply and Demand Scenario Planning 100

Logility

MARCH 28, 2013

I recently read a roundup of all the research Gartner Group has published around S&OP. I’m struck by the fact the research points to 70% of companies are at a maturity level of 2 or lower even after 30 years of S&OP chest beating by the supply chain industry. So, where is the disconnect?

S&OP 100

S&OP Supply Chain Planning Software Supply and Demand Scenario Planning 100

Logility

MARCH 28, 2013

I recently read a roundup of all the research Gartner Group has published around S&OP. I’m struck by the fact the research points to 70% of companies are at a maturity level of 2 or lower even after 30 years of S&OP chest beating by the supply chain industry. So, where is the disconnect?

S&OP 100

S&OP Supply Chain Planning Software Supply and Demand Scenario Planning 100

Supply Chain Shaman

MAY 13, 2015

Much to my chagrin, when I entered into the world of supply chain, the processes of source, make and deliver were usually not designed. Instead, I think that it needs to be holistic to balance the trade-offs of source, make and deliver together. Figure 2: Descriptions, or Metaphors, that Describe Today’s Supply Chain.

Supply Chain Design Software 332

Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Design Supply Chain Planning Software Agile and Lean Supply Chain 332

Supply Chain Shaman

JULY 6, 2020

As a result, we shelved Ed’s idea. Testing Ed’s idea was beyond my circle of control. The research, now in its sixth year, is an analysis of peer group performance and relative rate of improvement on four metrics (growth, operating margin, inventory turns, and Return on Invested Capital (ROIC)). Strength in S&OP.

Agile and Lean Supply Chain 362

Agile and Lean Supply Chain Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Strategy 362

Supply Chain Shaman

JUNE 12, 2020

Each day through the COVID-19 pandemic, I tune into Anthony Cuomo’s (governor of New York) daily briefings. His opening line is, “Let’s start with facts. While we all have opinions, let’s start by reviewing the facts.” So, let’s start with the data. Balance in S&OP.

Inventory Management Software 286

Inventory Management Software Inventory Management Inventory Reduction Inventory 286

Supply Chain Shaman

JUNE 29, 2015

In our research for the book Supply Chain Metrics That Matter , we find that this is the case for 90% of companies. As a result, if inventory is is arbitrarily reduced you can hurt the company’s ability to meet orders. Figure 2: S&OP Change Management Issues. Growth is difficult with stalled financial results.

Supply Chain Design Software 302

Supply Chain Design Software Inventory Reduction Supply Chain Planning Software S&OP 302

Enterra Insights

JUNE 26, 2019

Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) has been around for three decades. Many pundits, however, believe the S&OP process, as originally conceived, needs to change. What’s going on? ”[2] Think back 30 years to around the time the S&OP concept was first developed. They are: 1.

S&OP 100

S&OP Supply and Demand Supply Chain Planning Software Analytics Software 100

Logility

APRIL 13, 2021

Is it identical to sales and operations Planning (S&OP), an extension of it, or something altogether separate? Call it what you want, IBP is probably best thought of as mature S&OP. Be prepared to work hard developing a single source of truth. What is the goal of your S&OP process?

Supply Chain Planning Software 240

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Planning Scenario Planning S&OP 240