.Planner - A Smart Demand Planning Solution

February 15, 2025

The Growing Need for Smarter Supply Chain Planning

In today’s complex and dynamic supply chain environment, businesses must optimise inventory, improve demand forecasting, and streamline replenishment to remain competitive. The traditional approaches to demand planning and inventory management are no longer sufficient to meet evolving customer expectations and market conditions.

To address these challenges, Trace Consultants has developed .Planner, a next-generation Demand Planning, Inventory Optimisation, and Replenishment system. Built on the principles of advanced analytics, AI-driven forecasting, and automation, .Planner empowers businesses to enhance decision-making, reduce waste, and improve overall supply chain efficiency.

Why .Planner? The Key Benefits

1. AI-Driven Demand Forecasting

Accurate demand forecasting is the foundation of a resilient supply chain. .Planner leverages machine learning algorithms to analyse historical sales data, market trends, and external factors such as seasonality and economic shifts. The system continuously refines its forecasts, ensuring that businesses can make proactive, data-driven decisions.

2. Real-Time Inventory Optimisation

Balancing inventory levels to meet demand while minimising holding costs is a constant challenge. .Planner provides real-time insights into stock levels, dynamically adjusting inventory replenishment based on actual sales patterns and predictive analytics. This reduces stockouts, overstocking, and excess carrying costs.

3. Automated Replenishment Planning

Replenishment planning can be complex, especially for businesses managing multiple warehouses or distribution centres. .Planner automates replenishment by setting optimal reorder points, calculating economic order quantities, and aligning purchase orders with supplier lead times. This ensures a seamless flow of goods while minimising disruptions.

4. Seamless ERP & Supply Chain System Integration

.Planner integrates seamlessly with ERP systems, warehouse management systems (WMS), and transport management software (TMS). Whether your organisation uses SAP, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics, or other platforms, .Planner ensures smooth data synchronisation, providing real-time visibility across the entire supply chain.

5. Multi-Channel Demand Management

For businesses operating across multiple sales channels—retail, e-commerce, wholesale—.Planner consolidates demand data from all sources. This enables precise demand planning and stock allocation, ensuring consistent service levels across all customer touchpoints.

6. Scalability for Growing Businesses

As businesses expand, their supply chain complexity increases. .Planner is built to scale, allowing companies to manage growing product lines, new markets, and additional distribution points without compromising operational efficiency.

7. Advanced Analytics and Performance Insights

Data is at the heart of effective supply chain planning. .Planner provides powerful dashboards and reporting tools that help businesses:

  • Identify demand trends and optimise inventory levels.
  • Monitor supplier performance and lead time variability.
  • Improve sales and operations planning (S&OP) alignment.
  • Generate compliance and regulatory reports.

8. Mobile Access and Remote Planning Capabilities

With supply chain teams often working remotely or across different locations, .Planner is mobile-optimised, allowing real-time access to demand forecasts, inventory updates, and replenishment insights from any device.

Implementation: Getting Started with .Planner

Step 1: Business Assessment & Demand Planning Review

Trace Consultants collaborates with businesses to assess their current demand planning and inventory management challenges. A tailored implementation roadmap is developed to align with operational goals.

Step 2: System Configuration & Data Integration

Our team configures .Planner to align with business needs, integrating it with existing ERP, WMS, and procurement systems. The platform is customised to reflect demand planning workflows and supplier relationships.

Step 3: Pilot Testing & Refinement

A pilot phase allows businesses to test .Planner in real-world conditions. The system is fine-tuned based on user feedback and operational insights before full deployment.

Step 4: Full Implementation & Ongoing Support

Once validated, .Planner is deployed across all relevant departments. Ongoing support ensures continuous improvements, system updates, and the introduction of new functionalities as supply chain requirements evolve.

The Future of Supply Chain Planning with .Planner

With increasing volatility in global supply chains, businesses must adopt smarter demand planning and inventory management strategies. .Planner represents the next generation of supply chain optimisation, leveraging AI, automation, and real-time analytics to drive efficiency.

As technology continues to evolve, .Planner will integrate predictive analytics, AI-powered scenario planning, and autonomous replenishment, positioning businesses to proactively navigate supply chain disruptions.

Why Choose .Planner?

For organisations looking to improve supply chain efficiency, .Planner offers a game-changing solution:

AI-Driven Demand Forecasting – Enhances accuracy and responsiveness.
Seamless ERP Integration – Ensures end-to-end supply chain visibility.
Automated Inventory Replenishment – Reduces manual intervention and optimises stock levels.
Scalable & Flexible – Grows with your business needs.
Advanced Analytics – Provides actionable insights for strategic decision-making.
Mobile-Optimised – Enables real-time access and remote management.
Industry-Specific Configurations – Customisable for retail, FMCG, healthcare, hospitality, and more.

Ready to revolutionise your supply chain planning?

Get in touch with Trace Consultants today to learn how .Planner can transform your demand planning, inventory optimisation, and replenishment processes. Let’s build a smarter, more resilient supply chain together!

Related Insights

Technology
October 11, 2024

Enhance Emergency Supply Chain Resilience with Advanced Demand Forecasting

Learn how Advanced Demand Forecasting boosts emergency supply chain resilience in Australia, using predictive analytics for proactive risk reduction, rapid response, and resource optimisation.

Enhancing Emergency Supply Chain Resilience through Advanced Demand Forecasting, written by Abby Hodgkiss

In the past five years, Australia has confronted a series of natural disasters and health crises, from bushfires to droughts, floods, and COVID-19. Effective responses to such emergencies require rapid and strategic actions to safeguard the community and wildlife, protect homes and businesses, and ensure the continuity of essential services like food, water, power, and communication. Achieving this demands a coordinated effort across federal, state, and local governments, in collaboration with private sector stakeholders.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction Framework, established in 2018, forms the backbone of Australia's strategy to enhance resilience against increasingly frequent and severe natural disasters. Building a resilient response framework is inherently multidisciplinary, necessitating collaboration across logistics, supply chain management, policy, finance, engineering, and more. This article delves into the critical role of forecasting and machine learning in emergency response, emphasising how Advanced Demand Forecasting serves as a foundation for informed decision-making during crises.

Natural Disasters and Emergencies in Australia

Australia has endured several significant natural disasters in recent years. The 2019-2020 Black Summer bushfires scorched over 18 million hectares across multiple states, leading to widespread destruction of homes, wildlife, and agricultural land. Severe flooding in southeastern Queensland and northern New South Wales in early 2022 caused extensive infrastructure damage, while the COVID-19 pandemic created nation-wide challenges, notably shortages of critical medical supplies, and disrupted daily life.

These events have underscored the significant need for increasingly resilient emergency supply chains, capable of responding effectively to unpredictable and rapidly changing demand patterns during crises.

What is Advanced Demand Forecasting?

Advanced Demand Forecasting goes beyond copying historical data, but learns from it, by utilising sophisticated models that incorporate real-time and predictive data sources, such as weather forecasts, demographic trends, and even social media activity. These models employ advanced analytics and machine learning algorithms to provide more accurate and timely predictions, enabling organisations to anticipate future demand for critical resources and services more effectively.

For example, integrating live meteorological data into machine learning models allows government agencies to predict the trajectory, intensity, and impact of natural disasters like storms or bushfires. This predictive capability enables the estimation of necessary quantities of emergency supplies, optimal pre-positioning of resources, and precise timing for deployment. In addition to predictive analysis of the immediate threat, overlaying estimates of populations, infrastructure costs and more also enables impact estimates, including human injuries or displacement, or the cost to rebuild damaged infrastructure, which are used for forward planning at a government level, and prioritising resources at the time of a crisis (1).

Advanced Demand Forecasting and the National Disaster Risk Reduction Framework

The National Disaster Risk Reduction Framework aims to shift the focus from reactive disaster response to proactive risk reduction, emphasising a unified national approach involving all sectors of society (2). It outlines four key national risk priorities:

      • Understand disaster risk: Ensure that meaningful risk information is freely shared and integrated into planning;

      •   Accountable decisions: Making decisions across sectors that either reduce or prevent disaster risk;

      • Enhanced investment: Invest in risk reduction to limit the future costs of disasters;

      • Governance, ownership and responsibility: Establish clear roles across all sectors and communities for reducing disaster risk.

The importance of this framework is underscored by the significant economic impact of natural disasters, which have cost the Australian economy around $18 billion per year over the past decade, with projections indicating this figure could rise to $39 billion annually by 2050 without effective risk reduction strategies. Advanced Demand Forecasting directly supports these priorities by providing high accuracy data to inform decision-making, budgeting, and resource allocation. By enhancing the understanding of disaster risks through predictive analytics and incorporating impact estimates, organisations can make decisions that prioritise risk reduction and timely recovery.

Practical Implications

Implementing advanced demand forecasting can lead to:

      • Improved Responsiveness: Faster identification of emerging needs allows for quicker mobilisation of resources, reducing the time lag between when it is needed, and when it arrives.

      • Resource Optimisation: Accurate forecasts help in allocating resources efficiently by optimising stock distribution.

      • Enhanced Collaboration: Sharing forecasting data among various stakeholders fosters a unified approach to disaster response, ensuring that efforts are complementary rather than duplicative.

The trace. Resilience and Emergency Response Framework

As a member of the Federal Government’s Management Advisory Services Panel, trace. is uniquely positioned to apply our expertise in Supply and Demand Management and Advanced Forecasting techniques to support the financial and economic analysis behind critical disaster resilience decisions. Our structured response framework aligns with the ISO 22301:2019 International Business Continuity Management Systems (BCMS) standard, ensuring that government agencies can maintain essential services during and after a disaster. The purpose of utilising the BCMS framework is “for organisations to plan, establish, implement, operate, monitor, review, maintain, and continually improve a documented management system to protect against, reduce the likelihood of, and ensure recovery from disruptive incidents (3).”

Our approach includes:

      • Risk Identification: Support the Australian Government to identify all potential disasters, such as floods, bushfires, or droughts.

      • Impact Analysis and Prioritisation: Analysing the potential impact of these disasters from multiple perspectives—economic, social, environmental—and prioritising the most significant risks based on data-driven insights.

      • Continuity Strategies and Planning: Recommending tailored continuity strategies, risk mitigation activities, and response timeframes to ensure effective disaster recovery.

How Trace Consultants Can Assist Government Agencies

As part of the Management Advisory Services Panel, trace. can now assist Australian Government Entities with the following services:

      • Benchmarking, economic, econometric, mathematical and financial modelling and analysis

      • Competition and market analysis

      • Economic advice

      • Regulatory and policy analysis

      • Data analysis

      • Business cases and cost benefit analysis

      • Supply and demand management and forecasting

Benefits of Our Approach

By engaging trace. to assist with Supply and Demand Management and Forecasting, government agencies can achieve:

      • Improved Responsiveness: Faster identification of emerging needs allows for quicker mobilisation of resources, reducing the time lag between when it is needed, and when it arrives.

      • Cost Savings: Efficient resource allocation reduces unnecessary expenditures on surplus supplies and minimises losses due to shortages.

      • Data-Driven Decision Making: Leveraging robust data analytics supports transparent and accountable decisions, aligning with national priorities for disaster risk reduction.

Next steps

The increasing frequency and severity of natural disasters necessitate a proactive and data-driven approach to emergency management. Advanced Demand Forecasting offers a powerful tool for enhancing the resilience of emergency supply chains. This capability is crucial for safeguarding communities, reducing economic losses, and ensuring the continuity of essential services.

At trace., we are committed to helping government agencies adopt advanced Supply and Demand Management and Forecasting capabilities. With the right tools and strategic planning, we can collectively mitigate the economic and societal impact of future disasters.

If your organisation is seeking to strengthen its preparedness and response capabilities, contact trace. today.

Abby Hodgkiss

Consultant

References

1: Merz, B. et al (2020). Impact Forecasting to Support Emergency Management of Natural Hazards. Reviews of Geophysics, 58(4). Available at: https://doi.org/10.1029/2020rg000704.

2: Department of Home Affairs (2018). National Disaster Risk Reduction Framework Department of Home Affairs. Available at: https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/emergency/files/national-disaster-risk-reduction-framework.pdf.

3: ISO The International Organization of Standardization (2019). ISO 22301:2019 Security and resilience — Business continuity management systems — Requirements. ISO. Available at: https://www.iso.org/standard/75106.html.

Technology
July 19, 2023

Mastering the Complexity of Supply Chain Management: Essential Skills for Australian Federal and State Governments

The intricate and evolving world of public service delivery requires robust capabilities in supply chain management. For Australia’s federal and state governments, deep subject matter expertise and advanced technical skills have emerged as vital components in navigating this complex landscape.

The Essential Role of Supply Chain Management in Modern Public Service

Government agencies' roles - whether in Canberra or at State level - have evolved considerably over time, with supply chain management taking a central position in contemporary public service delivery. These changes are palpable across a range of sectors—from healthcare to infrastructure, from education to defence.

Consider the example of public health, where efficient supply chain management is essential for everything from procuring essential medical equipment to the timely distribution of vaccines. Missteps can lead to severe repercussions, such as critical supply shortages during a health crisis. Hence, in-depth supply chain expertise is critical for predicting and mitigating potential challenges, facilitating effective planning, and ensuring the continuity of life-saving services.

Harnessing the Power of Technology in Supply Chain Management

In the digital era, technology and technical skills are no longer optional—they're indispensable. Emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, and advanced analytics have reshaped supply chain operations, making them more efficient, cost-effective, and transparent.

For instance, AI can be employed to anticipate potential disruptions based on historical data and current market trends, allowing government agencies to respond proactively. Blockchain, on the other hand, ensures unparalleled transparency and traceability within the supply chain, invaluable in scenarios like the distribution of public funds or assets. Advanced analytics can sift through mountains of data to generate actionable insights, guiding data-driven decision making.

Balancing Technological Innovation with Human Expertise

Despite the undeniable benefits of technological advancements, human expertise remains irreplaceable. Deep supply chain knowledge is critical to manoeuvre intricate logistics, understand nuanced procurement policies, and keep pace with global market trends.

For example, procurement in the public sector is subject to numerous regulations and requires significant expertise to ensure compliance while still achieving efficiency. Similarly, understanding global market trends is vital when sourcing materials or services from overseas suppliers. This human expertise is key to mitigating risks, maintaining operational excellence, and delivering value-for-money services to the public.

Increasing Importance of Supply Chain Expertise in the Department of Defence

Notably, one sector where the importance of supply chain expertise and technical skills is increasingly being recognised is the Department of Defence. Given rising geopolitical tensions and the increase in the complexity of military assets, supply chain management has become an integral part of defence strategy. The recent AUKUS pact, which involves the sharing of advanced technologies such as nuclear-powered submarines, has brought this into sharper focus.

The maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) supply chain capability, for instance, has emerged as a crucial aspect of the defence sector. Efficient management of the MRO supply chain ensures the readiness and operational efficiency of these complex military assets. It involves precise inventory control, meticulous tracking of components, and timely maintenance – all tasks that require deep supply chain expertise and advanced technical skills.

Moreover, the increasing preparedness requirements in light of geopolitical events have further underlined the need for a robust and efficient defence supply chain. It ensures that the defence forces can respond promptly and effectively to any threats or emergencies, underlining the need for the Department of Defence to continue investing in and strengthening its supply chain management capabilities.

Therefore, in a time of rising complexity of assets and increasing security challenges, the role of supply chain expertise within the Department of Defence has never been more critical. Recognising this importance and investing in developing this expertise is a strategic move towards maintaining national security and defence readiness.

Building a Resilient Future with Strong Supply Chain Capabilities

The future stability of Australian federal and state government agencies hinges on their adaptability and resilience. The ability to adapt to changes and continue to deliver essential public services in times of crisis, such as during natural disasters or pandemics, depends on the strength of their supply chain capabilities.

For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, government agencies with robust supply chain systems were able to rapidly procure and distribute medical supplies and vaccines, demonstrating the value of intertwining technological innovation with deep supply chain expertise.

The need for deep supply chain subject matter expertise and advanced technical skills within Australian federal and state governments is indispensable. Recognising this necessity and investing in these capabilities is a crucial step towards a more efficient, effective, and resilient public service delivery system.

Contact us today, trace. your supply chain consulting partner.

Technology
October 9, 2023

Modern Slavery Technology Partnership

Modern Slavery Technology Partnership: trace. and INFORMED 365

Modern Slavery Technology Partnership

As a part of our Australian and New Zealand offering, trace. is excited to announce our recent collaboration with Informed 365 – a global Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance (‘ESG’) platform that provides Supply Chain Management, Ethical Sourcing, Modern Slavery and ESG Business Intelligence solutions for clients to collect, analyse data and report through advanced technology and automation.

Having worked with many industries and clients in Australia, New Zealand and internationally, including Property Council of Australia and a consortia of Australia’s Top 40 Law Firms – Informed 365 has proven experience in supporting organisations to achieve data transparency and make informed decisions.