Demand Planning & Forecasting
An accurate, well-built demand plan is one of the most crucial pieces of information a distributor needs for strategic decision-making and planning. However, most businesses use very rough processes to judge upcoming demand, which makes it difficult to optimize inventory levels. Our demand planning and forecasting solution automates and simplifies the process of developing accurate forecasts and facilitates the process of creating a solid demand plan.
Proven Methodologies
Although it is very easy to use, this forecasting product has a powerful statistical engine and uses proven methodologies as a basis for generating and revising forecasts. The formulas account for long-range trends, as well as seasonality by SKU. It applies seven different forecast models to each product to apply the best fitting forecast for each.
Other features include:
- Multilevel forecasts
- "Top-down/Bottom-up" forecasts
- Forecasts for promotions
- Geographic, customer-specific and market-level forecasts
- Family and product line forecasts
- Realtime forecast modeling and simulation
- Flexible, exception-oriented action reports
- Service levels for customers by product grouping
- Time phased replenishment planning
Time Phased Replenishment Planning
The system utilizes the concept of time-phasing to maximize customer service with minimum inventory investment. Through integration with host systems, it evaluates all demand and supply requirements to create time-phased replenishment plans for each product at each location. Evaluations done by the system include:
- Lead-time length and variability
- Desired customer service-level requirements
- Order cycle economics
- Item level safety-stock and targets
- Order generation rules and preferences
The calculated replenishment orders result in the minimum inventory investment required to support the desired level of customer service.
BCS has been developing software specifically for the wholesale distributor since 1985. The resulting integrated solution, Freedom Series/ec21, is functionally rich in each of the following applications:
- Internet Order Management & Customer Service
- Sales & Customer Service
- Inventory Control, Purchasing & Replenishment
- Warehouse Management
- Accounts Receivable & Credit Management
- Accounts Payable
- General Ledger, Budgeting & Financial Reporting
- Sales Analysis
- Sales Commissions
- Faxing & E-mailing
- Electronic Data Interchange (EDI)
- Customer Relationship Management/Market Segmentation
- Business Analysis Module
- Demand Planning & Forecasting
- Real-time Remote Order Entry & Customer Service
- Business Performance Management
- System Management
phone: +1-800-729-7950