I recently posted a discussion question in a number of Linkedin S&OP groups asking:
"What are the top 3 Demand planning and supply planning software features you could not live without?"
After writing my 3 part blog series; The painful saga of S&OP Software, I grew curious as to which software features others hold in high regard. I received a number of interesting responses to this question, but before presenting the findings, I would like to thank all who took time to provide me with their feedback.
Below are the top three responses I received in no particular order.
Response 1: Ability to slice and dice data
The data geek in me was happy to see this was a popular response. If there is one feature that can really help keep a lot of work within the system as opposed to building something in Excel, it is this feature. In short, slicing and dicing data is comparable to what a pivot table provides in Excel. It is important to note, each software will be different in how this feature works. Some may only be able to pivot and present the data loaded into the system, while others may be advanced enough so that the forecast can be adjusted and exploded up and down different hierarchical layers. This is a great feature and anyone that enjoys the ability to look at information in numerous ways quickly, a built in pivot engine is the way to do it.
Response 2: Promotion Management
Promotion management can mean numerous things in demand planning and supply planning software. The capability to manage promotions in your software from simply adding or subtracting special demand events as a layer to statistical identification to removal of non-repeating events are a critical component in effective Demand Planning. This feature can be very advanced taking multiple attributes into account such as product, place, price, and promotion as well as social signals. In addition, having the capability to analyze the financial effectiveness of the plan as a post-mortem provides valuable insight. Offering sound analytical insight into predicting the outcome of the promotion is a huge deal for many companies particularly when promotions are very costly.
Response 3: User-friendly
The most common feature people cant live without in demand planning and supply planning software was having a user-friendly system. While any software company can easily say they are "User-Friendly," it is very much a subjective feature. For a seasoned forecaster, user friendly may mean having all the options available to easily tweak a statistical forecast in a certain location in the interface. For a newbie, it may be to click a button to generate multiple forecast scenarios automatically or make blanket changes to data and settings without getting IT involved. Ultimately, what really matters is your opinion and you should always test the software before making the commitment to purchase. You wouldn't buy a car without test driving it first, would you?
A key, and not very obvious, attribute to look out for in determining if the software is user friendly, is the quality of the training on both the demand planning and supply planning side. Ultimately software is no different than anything you try the first time. It takes a little getting used to. The difference between user friendly and a nightmare is often tied to the training you receive at launch and the ongoing support you receive throughout its life. Photo courtesy of By didunculus99 (My artwork) [CC0], via Wikimedia Commons
Whats next for Demand Planning and Supply Planning Software?
This question is something I discuss with my boss nearly everyday. The advancement in technology is incredible and as every software company evolves, they are all evolving their technology in different ways. Some focus solely on strengthening their current features while others may chase the next feature to launch. The really good software companies do a little of both: strengthen their current features and launch new features. A key attribute amongst the really good software companies is that they don't focus on upgrading or launching new features just because they can, they focus on their clients feedback. The features that are released should be meaningful to the end user. After all, what good is a feature if no one will ever use it.
With all the advancements and different paths software companies are taking, the emergence of Cloud-based softwares is significant. The biggest benefit it that it allows for quick, easy, and often no-cost distribution of improvements and features throughout the life of the subscription. You no longer need to purchase a whole new version of the software to get the next great thing.
A final thought about features of demand planning and supply planning software, is that you must consider the industry your in, the organization and expertise of the company, and level of data maintenance necessary to manage the process. These can play a huge role in what features are necessary to ensure a successful outcome.
