Supply chains across industries are under increasing pressure to be more agile, cost-efficient, and resilient. From managing global disruptions to coping with the complex logistics of fast-paced markets, supply chain leaders are seeking technological solutions that provide flexibility and scalability without requiring extensive IT resources or custom development. This is where low-code and no-code (LCNC) solutions come into play, offering an unprecedented opportunity to automate workflows, enable data capture, and deliver structured reporting—all with minimal coding expertise.

In this article, we will explore how low-code and no-code platforms are making a significant impact on supply chains across key sectors, including Retail, Manufacturing, Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG), Healthcare, and Pharmaceuticals. We will also highlight how Trace Consultants has had notable success in helping clients deploy Microsoft Power Apps-based solutions to deliver immediate and tangible results in these industries.

Understanding Low-Code No-Code Solutions

Low-code and no-code platforms empower users—many of whom may not have formal coding skills—to design and implement applications, automate processes, and improve data management. The fundamental difference between the two lies in the level of technical engagement required:

• Low-code platforms provide pre-built templates and drag-and-drop tools but may require some coding knowledge for more complex customisations.
• No-code platforms are entirely user-friendly, relying on visual interfaces to create fully functional applications without writing a single line of code.

These platforms have gained significant traction in recent years due to their ability to enable rapid development, reduce reliance on IT departments, and provide cost-effective solutions that can be deployed in a fraction of the time compared to traditional software development.

Key Applications of Low-Code No-Code Solutions in Supply Chain

While LCNC platforms are versatile across various business functions, they hold particular promise for supply chain management, where data-driven decisions, operational efficiency, and adaptability are crucial. Below, we look at how these platforms are transforming supply chains in Retail, Manufacturing, FMCG, Healthcare, and Pharmaceuticals across Australia and New Zealand.

1. Retail: Enhancing Inventory Management and Store Operations

In the highly competitive retail environment, efficient supply chain management is critical to reducing operational costs, optimising inventory, and delivering better customer experiences. LCNC platforms can automate multiple retail supply chain processes, from inventory tracking to demand forecasting and store-level operations.

For example, Microsoft Power Apps has been used successfully in retail supply chains to automate workflows related to inventory replenishment, reducing the time needed for manual processes and minimising stockouts. Retailers can design apps that connect to existing enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, providing real-time insights into inventory levels across multiple locations. This allows managers to make data-driven decisions on stock transfers and reorder points, thus improving overall store operations.

Moreover, LCNC platforms facilitate reporting and analytics, enabling retailers to capture data from sales, returns, and customer preferences to fine-tune supply chain strategies. This level of visibility helps retailers maintain lean operations while responding rapidly to changes in demand patterns.

2. Manufacturing: Automating Production and Quality Control

Manufacturing supply chains are characterised by intricate processes, stringent quality control measures, and often multiple stakeholders across the value chain. Low-code and no-code platforms offer manufacturers the ability to streamline their operations by automating workflows and capturing data for production planning, inventory management, and quality assurance.

One common application is the automation of production scheduling. Using Power Apps, manufacturers can build custom applications that automate scheduling tasks, ensuring that production meets customer demand without overburdening the workforce or machines. This helps manufacturers avoid costly delays and maintain efficient production flows.

Additionally, LCNC platforms can be integrated with IoT devices and sensors for real-time monitoring of equipment performance and product quality. For instance, a no-code app can trigger alerts when a machine requires maintenance, thereby reducing unplanned downtime. These platforms also enable structured reporting on quality control metrics, ensuring that manufacturers can quickly identify and address issues before they affect output.

3. FMCG: Streamlining Supplier Collaboration and Demand Planning

Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) companies rely heavily on efficient supply chains to meet the rapid pace of consumer demand. In this context, low-code and no-code solutions play a vital role in enhancing collaboration between suppliers, manufacturers, and retailers, as well as improving demand planning.

LCNC platforms enable supplier collaboration portals that provide real-time updates on order status, shipments, and inventory levels. By automating supplier interactions, FMCG companies can reduce lead times, minimise errors, and improve communication across the supply chain. For example, a Power Apps-based portal allows suppliers to update order fulfilment status in real time, which automatically triggers notifications and updates for the buying teams.

Demand planning is another critical area where LCNC platforms shine. By leveraging historical sales data and external market factors, custom-built applications can automate demand forecasting, reducing the reliance on manual spreadsheets and enabling more accurate predictions of future demand. This, in turn, improves inventory management and reduces the risk of overstocking or stockouts.

4. Healthcare: Improving Patient Flow and Supply Logistics

Healthcare supply chains are complex, with hospitals and medical facilities required to manage a vast array of resources—from medical supplies and pharmaceuticals to food services and patient transport. Low-code and no-code platforms can help automate several aspects of healthcare supply chain management, ensuring that critical supplies are available when and where they are needed.

A key area of impact is in patient flow management, where LCNC platforms can streamline the logistics of moving patients through different areas of the hospital. Custom applications can automate bed assignment, coordinate transport between departments, and track the availability of medical equipment in real time. By improving operational efficiency, healthcare providers can reduce patient wait times and enhance overall care quality.

Another important application is in inventory management for medical supplies and pharmaceuticals. Power Apps can be used to create apps that automatically track the consumption of medical supplies, ensuring that reordering occurs well before critical stock levels are reached. This helps hospitals avoid shortages and maintain compliance with regulatory standards for medical supply availability.

5. Pharmaceuticals: Enhancing Compliance and Traceability

Pharmaceutical supply chains face unique challenges, including the need for strict compliance with regulatory standards and the requirement for robust traceability. Low-code and no-code platforms can help address these challenges by automating compliance processes and providing real-time visibility into the movement of pharmaceutical products.

For example, Power Apps can be used to create track-and-trace systems that monitor the movement of pharmaceuticals from manufacturing to distribution. This level of traceability is critical for ensuring product safety and compliance with Good Distribution Practice (GDP) standards. These systems also enable pharmaceutical companies to respond quickly to recalls or other supply chain disruptions.

LCNC platforms are also used to automate regulatory reporting, ensuring that pharmaceutical companies can easily generate reports required by government authorities. By automating these processes, pharmaceutical companies reduce the risk of non-compliance and free up resources for more value-added activities.

How Trace Consultants is Leading the Way with Microsoft Power Apps

At Trace Consultants, we have seen firsthand how low-code and no-code platforms, particularly Microsoft Power Apps, are transforming supply chains across various sectors. Our expertise lies in understanding our clients’ specific supply chain challenges and delivering tailored solutions that leverage Power Apps to automate workflows, enable data capture, and deliver structured reporting—often with immediate, tangible outcomes.

Case Study: Power Apps in Retail Supply Chain

In one notable engagement with a leading Australian retailer, Trace Consultants implemented a Power Apps-based solution to automate the inventory replenishment process. The retailer faced challenges with manual processes that were slow and error-prone, leading to stockouts and lost sales. By deploying a custom-built app that integrated with the retailer’s ERP system, Trace helped automate stock monitoring, reordering, and reporting.

The result was a significant reduction in stockouts, improved inventory turnover, and a more efficient use of store personnel who no longer needed to spend time manually tracking inventory levels. This project demonstrated how even a relatively simple LCNC solution could have a powerful impact on supply chain performance.

Case Study: Power Apps in Healthcare Supply Chain

In the healthcare sector, Trace Consultants worked with a regional hospital network in New Zealand to improve its medical supply logistics. The hospital network was struggling with inconsistent inventory levels and frequent stockouts of critical supplies. Trace developed a Power Apps-based application that provided real-time visibility into supply levels across multiple locations, automatically triggered reordering when stock levels dropped below a set threshold, and generated compliance reports.

This solution not only reduced stockouts and improved patient care but also delivered cost savings by reducing the amount of expired inventory and ensuring that supplies were ordered based on actual usage patterns.

The Future of Low-Code No-Code in Supply Chains

The adoption of low-code and no-code platforms is set to accelerate as more organisations recognise their potential to deliver quick wins and long-term efficiencies. For supply chain leaders in Australia and New Zealand, LCNC solutions provide a way to respond to ongoing challenges, whether it be managing costs, improving customer service, or navigating complex regulatory environments.

As supply chains continue to evolve in complexity, the need for customised, scalable, and adaptable solutions will only grow. Low-code and no-code platforms offer a flexible approach that enables organisations to continuously improve their supply chain operations without the time, cost, or complexity of traditional software development.

In a world where supply chain resilience, efficiency, and agility are more important than ever, low-code and no-code solutions are playing a pivotal role in driving transformation. From retail and FMCG to healthcare and pharmaceuticals, these platforms are helping organisations automate workflows, enable data capture, and provide structured reporting—leading to better decision-making and improved outcomes.

At Trace Consultants, we are proud to be at the forefront of this revolution, helping our clients unlock the potential of low-code and no-code solutions like Microsoft Power Apps to deliver tangible, immediate results. Whether you’re looking to streamline your supply chain, improve collaboration with suppliers, or enhance your compliance and reporting capabilities, LCNC platforms offer a path to success in today’s dynamic business environment.

If your organisation is ready to explore the benefits of low-code and no-code platforms in the supply chain, we at Trace Consultants are here to help you every step of the way.

How will your supply chain benefit from embracing the power of low-code and no-code solutions?

In an increasingly complex and competitive global market, supply chain operations are a key differentiator for businesses across all sectors. Retail, Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG), and manufacturing industries, in particular, face unique challenges in managing the complexities of demand forecasting, inventory optimisation, and supply chain planning. The integration of Advanced Planning Systems (APS) is proving to be a game-changer for organisations striving to optimise their operations and achieve lasting competitive advantage.

In this article, we will explore how APS is transforming supply chains in Australia and New Zealand, discuss the benefits of implementing such systems, and examine why industry-specific expertise is crucial in making these technologies work effectively for retail, FMCG, and manufacturing businesses.

1. Understanding Advanced Planning Systems

Advanced Planning Systems are integrated software solutions that streamline and optimise various components of supply chain operations. These systems utilise data analytics, artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning (ML) to improve forecasting accuracy, plan resources more efficiently, and respond to real-time changes in demand or supply disruptions. The benefits of APS include:

• Better Demand Forecasting: Advanced algorithms process historical sales data, seasonality, and market trends to generate more accurate forecasts.
• Inventory Optimisation: APS can reduce excess inventory while maintaining the ability to meet customer demands promptly.
• Supply Chain Visibility: These systems offer real-time data visibility, allowing organisations to quickly adjust to changes in supply, demand, or logistical challenges.
• Improved Collaboration: APS platforms facilitate better collaboration across departments and external partners, such as suppliers and distributors.

The ability to respond rapidly to market conditions and optimise resource allocation is essential in today's fast-paced business environment. For organisations in retail, FMCG, and manufacturing in Australia and New Zealand, adopting APS is not just an option but a necessity to remain competitive.

2. How Advanced Planning Systems Benefit Retail in Australia and New Zealand

The retail sector in Australia and New Zealand faces constant pressure to manage fluctuating consumer demands, competitive pricing, and high operational costs. Advanced Planning Systems can transform retail supply chain management in the following ways:

2.1 Accurate Demand Forecasting and Replenishment

Retailers deal with highly volatile demand patterns, influenced by promotions, seasons, and consumer trends. APS uses predictive analytics to forecast demand more accurately, reducing stockouts and overstock situations. This allows retailers to fine-tune their inventory levels, ensuring they have the right products available at the right time without tying up capital in excess stock.

For example, a major Australian fashion retailer may see a spike in demand for certain clothing items during seasonal sales or promotional periods. APS can help plan for these fluctuations, ensuring optimal stock levels across various store locations, as well as online, maximising sales opportunities while minimising wastage.

2.2 Enhancing Omnichannel Fulfilment

In today’s retail landscape, customers expect a seamless experience across online and in-store channels. APS helps retailers manage their omnichannel strategies more effectively by providing a holistic view of inventory levels across different locations and fulfilment centres. With APS, retailers in Australia and New Zealand can improve order fulfilment rates and ensure faster delivery times.

For instance, a large New Zealand electronics retailer can leverage APS to optimise its stock across physical stores and online platforms, ensuring that customer orders are fulfilled from the nearest location, reducing shipping costs and delivery times.

2.3 Supply Chain Risk Mitigation

Retailers are increasingly facing supply chain disruptions due to global events like the COVID-19 pandemic or geopolitical instability. APS provides real-time data visibility, allowing retailers to identify and address potential supply chain disruptions early. This capability is critical in Australia and New Zealand, given their geographic isolation and reliance on international supply chains.

3. The Role of Advanced Planning Systems in FMCG

The FMCG sector, known for its tight margins and high turnover, presents unique supply chain challenges. In Australia and New Zealand, the adoption of APS is helping FMCG companies to stay agile, manage inventory more effectively, and respond quickly to changes in consumer behaviour.

3.1 Inventory Optimisation

In the FMCG industry, inventory management is a balancing act. Companies must ensure they have enough stock to meet customer demand while avoiding the costs of holding excess inventory. APS helps FMCG companies to optimise their inventory levels by forecasting demand with precision and planning for potential disruptions.

For example, an Australian beverage company can use APS to analyse historical sales data, adjust for seasonality (e.g., increased demand for soft drinks during summer), and manage supplier lead times to ensure products are available on store shelves without overstocking.

3.2 Production Planning and Efficiency

FMCG companies must manage production schedules efficiently to reduce lead times and costs. APS facilitates better production planning by integrating demand forecasts with manufacturing capabilities. This results in smoother production schedules, minimised downtime, and improved utilisation of resources.

In New Zealand, a large dairy producer can use APS to synchronise its production processes with demand forecasts, ensuring that milk and dairy products are produced and delivered just in time to meet market demand, reducing spoilage and waste.

3.3 Managing Supply Chain Complexity

FMCG supply chains are complex, often involving multiple suppliers, distributors, and logistics providers. APS enables companies to have real-time visibility into every stage of their supply chain, allowing them to respond quickly to any disruptions or changes in demand. This is especially important in FMCG, where small delays can have significant impacts on product availability and customer satisfaction.

4. Transforming Manufacturing Supply Chains with Advanced Planning Systems

Manufacturing in Australia and New Zealand is a diverse sector, encompassing industries such as automotive, food production, chemicals, and electronics. Each of these industries has unique supply chain needs that can be addressed by APS.

4.1 Enhancing Production Efficiency

Manufacturers face the challenge of balancing production capacity with fluctuating demand. APS helps manufacturers optimise their production processes by integrating demand forecasting with resource planning. This allows manufacturers to produce goods more efficiently, minimising lead times and reducing costs.

For example, an Australian car parts manufacturer can use APS to synchronise production schedules with demand forecasts, ensuring that the factory is running at optimal capacity while avoiding bottlenecks and excess inventory.

4.2 Supplier and Inventory Management

Manufacturing companies rely heavily on their supplier networks to source raw materials. Disruptions in the supply of these materials can lead to costly delays. APS allows manufacturers to track supplier performance, monitor lead times, and adjust production schedules accordingly.

A New Zealand electronics manufacturer, for instance, can use APS to monitor its global supplier base, ensuring that critical components are sourced and delivered on time, preventing production delays and stock shortages.

4.3 Reducing Waste and Improving Sustainability

Manufacturers are under increasing pressure to adopt sustainable practices. APS can help companies to reduce waste by optimising their use of raw materials, improving production planning, and minimising excess inventory. By using APS, manufacturers can reduce their environmental impact while also achieving cost savings.

In Australia, a food manufacturing company can implement APS to track and optimise the use of raw materials, ensuring that production processes are as efficient as possible, reducing food waste and contributing to sustainability goals.

5. Industry-Specific Expertise: Why It Matters

While APS can offer significant benefits across various industries, it's important to recognise that each sector—retail, FMCG, and manufacturing—requires a tailored approach to implementation. The nuances in each industry’s supply chain operations mean that APS must be configured and optimised differently to deliver the best results.

5.1 Retail Expertise

In retail, APS needs to focus on demand forecasting, inventory management, and omnichannel fulfilment. Understanding the fast-paced nature of consumer demand and how to integrate APS with retail operations, from stores to e-commerce platforms, is crucial.

5.2 FMCG Expertise

In FMCG, where speed and efficiency are paramount, APS must be geared towards managing high turnover, reducing lead times, and optimising production planning. Expertise in handling perishable goods, regulatory compliance, and managing complex supply chains is essential for effective APS implementation.

5.3 Manufacturing Expertise

Manufacturing requires an APS that can integrate seamlessly with production processes, supplier networks, and sustainability initiatives. Industry-specific expertise in areas such as lean manufacturing, just-in-time production, and supply chain resilience will ensure that APS delivers maximum value.

By partnering with a consulting firm that understands the unique needs of each industry, organisations can ensure that their APS implementation is not only technically sound but also aligned with their business goals and operational challenges.

6. How Trace Consultants Can Help

At Trace Consultants, we specialise in helping businesses across Australia and New Zealand optimise their supply chains through the implementation of Advanced Planning Systems. Our industry-specific expertise in retail, FMCG, and manufacturing enables us to tailor APS solutions that address the unique challenges of each sector. Whether it's improving demand forecasting, streamlining production processes, or enhancing supply chain visibility, we have the knowledge and experience to help your business achieve operational excellence.

Transform Your Supply Chain Today

The adoption of Advanced Planning Systems is no longer just an option for businesses in retail, FMCG, and manufacturing—it’s a strategic imperative. By leveraging APS, organisations can improve forecasting accuracy, optimise inventory levels, and enhance overall supply chain efficiency. However, the key to success lies in implementing solutions that are tailored to the unique needs of each industry.

For businesses in Australia and New Zealand, now is the time to invest in Advanced Planning Systems to drive operational excellence and secure a competitive edge in the market. Contact Trace Consultants today to find out how we can support your APS journey.

Has it become normal in your organisation to rely on emergency processes, like expediting or airfreighting, rather than the exception? Are your employees struggling to provide consistent customer service, despite full warehouses of stock, or working additional hours? Many businesses today face similar challenges.  

Rising mistrust in systems, use of manual overrides, and continual underperformance of new product launches signal inefficiencies within supply chains. This misalignment often leads to high levels of waste, lost sales, and diminished customer trust. Addressing these challenges requires not only identifying the symptoms but also taking a deeper dive into the root causes of supply chain misalignment. In this article, we focus on ways to identify the root causes of these problems, and how to take a structured approach to resolving them.

Common Indicators of Supply Chain Misalignment

Supply chain misalignment is often evident through symptoms that disrupt business efficiency.  Key signs include:

• Rising use of overtime: Either at DCs or Plants, issues are being resolved with extra unplanned labour

• High levels of write-offs and waste: Inventory planning gaps leading to obsolete or expired stock

• Exceptions becoming the norm: Regular use of more expensive options to meet demand such as air freighting or transferring stock between locations

• Distribution centres (DCs) at capacity with lost sales: DC operations are overwhelmed yet unable to meet demand

• Eroding trust: A lack of confidence from suppliers and customers

• Mistrust in systems: Heavy reliance on human intervention and excessive manual checks  

Getting to the Root Cause of Supply Chain Misalignment

To truly resolve inefficiencies in supply chain operations, it’s essential to go beyond surface-level issues and identify the root causes. Misalignments can stem from a combination of structural gaps and foundational capability weaknesses, which collectively impact overall performance. By dissecting these core elements, organisations can begin to understand the critical factors holding back their supply chain from optimal functionality.

Foundational Capabilities

1. People: Does your organisation depend heavily on a few key individuals? Not only does this increase operational risk if those individuals are unavailable or leave the organisation, it can impede the organisation’s ability to undertake strategic projects

2. Processes: Are supply chain processes well-defined and followed consistently? Knowledge sharing, documenting of processes and upskilling of the whole team is critical for delivering quality outcomes.

3. Technology: Are current systems and tools fully integrated, and do they streamline key processes to support your supply chain? Relying on outdated or disconnected technologies can prevent seamless planning and execution.   

4. Data & Insights: Is your data accurate and timely? Are you spending more time collecting data than analysing it? Without reliable data, supply chain decisions may be based on incorrect assumptions, leading to misaligned strategies.

Structural Enablers  

1. Organisational Structure: Are roles and responsibilities within your supply chain clearly defined and aligned with your business model? An unbalanced structure can lead to inefficiencies or misalignment of goals and initiatives across the organisation.   

2. Governance: How are supply chain decisions made, and are they aligned with the broader business strategy? Effective governance is essential for coordinating activities across the supply chain and ensuring compliance with best practices.  

3. KPIs & Incentives: What behaviours are being driven by your current KPIs and incentive structures? Misaligned KPIs can encourage actions that may benefit short-term performance but harm long-term goals, such as overemphasis on production speed at the cost of quality or customer satisfaction. Are the right performance metrics in place to encourage collaboration, efficiency, and innovation across your supply chain?

A Structured Approach to Supply Chain Planning Improvements

Effective supply chain transformation is rooted in a structured approach, designed to diagnose, design, develop, and deliver the necessary changes.

1. Diagnose

          The first step in any improvement initiative is diagnosing the current state of your supply chain.  Key activities in this phase include:

• Business process discovery

• Issue, inefficiency, and bottleneck identification

• Root cause analysis

• Impact quantification

2. Design

          Once the root causes are identified, the next step is to design tailored solutions that address those gaps. Key activities may include:

• Target state capabilities determination

• Business process and capability roadmap development

• Solution architecture design

• Business case creation

3. Develop

          After designing the necessary improvements, the focus shifts to developing the solution. This involves the hands-on building and testing of new processes, systems, or tools. Key activities in this phase include:

• Solution build and test

• Capability development

• Pilot testing and deployment planning

4. Deliver

          The final phase is delivering the solution across the entire organisation. This requires careful management to ensure that the improvements are fully implemented and deliver the expected results. Key activities to support this phase include:

• Project management and implementation support

• Change management

• Results delivery and value realisation

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Building the Business Case for Change

A robust business case forms the backbone of any successful supply chain transformation. This involves quantifying the expected benefits of improved planning capabilities.

1. Current Capability Analysis: Evaluate the existing supply chain planning capabilities across people, processes, policies, and technology.

2. Gap Modelling: Compare the organisation’s current capabilities to improved practices, suitable to the organisations size, investment appetite and perceived ROI, identifying the areas with the most potential for improvement.

3. Targeted Business Case: Develop a business case that targets the most critical capability gaps and outlines the expected ROI.

Typical benefits of improving supply chain planning include:

• Revenue Growth: Increased sales through improved availability and forecasting.

• Cost Reduction: Lower inventory carrying costs and a healthier mix of inventory, reducing waste and obsolescence.

• Operational Efficiency: Better labour utilisation and fewer emergency orders due to enhanced capacity management.

• Optimised Working Capital: Streamlined inventory levels, supported by improved planning processes.

Next steps

Trace Consultants have the flexibility, knowledge, and experience to provide hands-on support across any or all steps in the Supply Chain Planning Improvement process. If your organisation is experiencing any of these symptoms or seeking ways to unlock value in your supply chain, contact the trace. team today.