Data, people, plans, and your network can be connected using Anaplan’s platform to increase supply chain planning speed and efficiency. Creating value for your customers in real-time through collaboration with your extended network is the key to staying profitable. Anaplan demand planning will help you integrate the supply chain planning process with marketing, sales, and financial planning. As a result, you will be able to adjust to changing priorities more quickly. Develop solutions-centric supply chains based on relationships and evaluate “what-if” scenarios.
A massive transformation has taken place in supply chain management over the past few years. For collaboration and tracking data across the entire organization, companies typically used enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems. A large number of corporations plan with spreadsheets and ERP systems, while others use cloud-based planning platforms. As a result, these systems are often messy, disjointed, and confusing. They tend to raise more questions than they do answers over time.
How frequently are forecast numbers updated and shared across the business, including with sales, finance, and operations stakeholders?
In a new spreadsheet, are inventory numbers from previous versions entered correctly?
When one of your supply chains is disrupted by natural disasters or labor issues, what happens?
These questions remain unanswered without connection. Using a slow, siloed supply chain planning system won’t help you move forward in the midst of supply chain management change. In the following sections, we will define supply chain management, discuss a few key areas of supply chain transformation, and discuss five tips for building a connected supply chain.
Where does supply chain planning fit into the process?
An efficient supply chain involves planning the journey of a product from its raw material source to its final consumer. Among its functions are supply planning, production planning, demand planning, and sales and operational planning.
Using demand planning, supply planning determines how best to meet the requirements generated. In order to achieve the enterprise’s financial and service objectives, supply and demand must be balanced.
Planning the production and manufacturing processes in a company is called production planning. Resource allocation, in this case, consists of employees, materials, and production capacity.
Planning demand identifies the products that are likely to be in demand and then forecasts them to ensure they can be delivered reliably. Effective demand planning allows companies to accurately predict revenue for a particular channel or product, align inventory levels with peaks and troughs in demand, and increase profitability.
The operations and sales planning process (S&OP) lets management focus on key supply chain drivers, including sales, marketing, demand management, production, inventory management, and new product introduction.
Coordinating supply chain planning
Adapting effectively to the digital revolution will enable you to compete in a growing global market and connect your supply chain planning from start to finish. We recommend five steps to connect your supply chain planning.
1. Make the transition to real-time supply chain planning
Companies utilize ERP systems and spreadsheets for planning, but they typically rely mostly on historical data, which leaves little room for adjustment if demand or supply shifts. In addition, if a company uses the previous year’s numbers, it can estimate how many products it will sell in the next quarter. Would a massive hurricane devastate a vital distribution center, thus causing the shelves to be bare? You can design “what-if” scenarios with Anaplan’s real-time connected supply chain management solution to prepare for disruptions more effectively.
2. Connect supply chain planning to enterprise planning
Putting together a siloed supply chain and sales and operations planning and financial planning together is a crucial second step. In order to make real-time inventory forecasts and supply updates, companies can synchronize short-term operational planning with more significant business planning processes. In order to maximize profitability, real-time S&OP solutions that enable enterprise collaboration will allow key stakeholders across the business to put new scenarios to the test and address unforeseen events effectively.
3. Predict the end-users demand
The challenge of anticipating what consumers bioaqua cream want and when they want it is ongoing for consumer product companies. Through Anaplan, a company can have visibility across the entire supply chain, and can sense customer demand beyond their existing distribution network of wholesalers and retailers. You improve your company’s profitability, margins, and lead time by identifying and responding quickly to changes in consumer sentiment and how those changes affect demand for your products.
4. Take advantage of real-time data across the supply chain
Due to the diverse set of suppliers, channels, customers, and pricing schemes, supply chain models quickly become large and cumbersome, especially if spreadsheets are your primary planning instruments. You can plan more accurately with real-time data from a real-time solution and reduce the risk of stock-outs and having too much inventory.
5. Be flexible to deal with change
With the right technology to plan efficiently and react quickly, disruptions don’t become disruptive since re-planning and re-forecasting are easy, which saves you time and money, as well as increases your profitability.
A new set of skills is needed for supply chain leaders along with new technologies and practices. In combination with collaboration and communication skills, technical and business knowledge will be crucial for leading the way into a transformative future. Due to the fact that supply chain initiatives often span business units, the ability to influence department leaders who partner with the supply chain is essential. In addition, communicating intelligently with colleagues across the organization is desirable. It is also imperative that you have strong business acumen. That way, you can communicate effectively with your counterparts in finance, sales, and marketing.
Conclusion
Are you planning to expand your supply chain beyond the limitations of outdated ERP systems and spreadsheets? Polestar, an Anaplan partner, will enable you to connect your supply chain and collaborate across enterprises while allowing you to be quickly adaptable to changing market conditions.