Demand management
In terms of the supply chain, demand management is a cross-functional and overarching process that ranges from understanding the market to predicting trends. It includes processes such as market sensing and sizing, understanding and forecasting customer needs, demand shaping, supplier forecasting, and demand capture and analytics. Increasingly, demand management is critical to informing an omnichannel and ecommerce strategy. This section provides expert insight on best practices, and how to navigate the demand management technology market, including cutting through the vendor-speak to understanding what your company truly needs.
Top Stories
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Feature
20 Jan 2023
10 AI use cases in manufacturing
Manufacturing companies are turning to AI to streamline the way they do business and increase efficiency. Here are 10 common use cases. Continue Reading
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Feature
23 Dec 2021
Supply chain disruption will persist in 2022, but tech may help
The supply chain problems of the last two years will persist into 2022, but companies can use the opportunity to redesign processes and update technology to solve long-term issues. Continue Reading
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News
12 Nov 2021
White House unveils supply chain dashboard, but who is it for?
A new supply chain dashboard from the White House promises to provide valuable data on supply chain disruption, but it may not be adequate to resolve the complex issues. Continue Reading
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News
08 Nov 2021
Agility a key quality to surviving supply chain issues
In this Q&A, IDC's Simon Ellis discusses the ongoing disruption to global supply chains and how enterprise apps can help improve processes, mitigate problems and introduce agility. Continue Reading
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Feature
01 Nov 2021
Supply chain disruption to affect holidays, but analytics can help
Real-time analytics can be used in demand forecasting and flexibility for long-term supply chain issues but won't provide an easy path out of the current disruption. Continue Reading
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News
15 Oct 2021
Shopify opens e-commerce platform to enterprise ERP vendors
Shopify's new Global ERP Program takes steps to attract larger enterprises, but the transition won't be easy, as large ERP systems are far more complex than those of Shopify's SMB base. Continue Reading
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News
11 Oct 2021
More urgency needed for supply chain security during holidays
In this Q&A, Kyle Rice, CTO at SAP NS2, explains the delicacy of increasingly complex supply chains and why IT needs to be proactive in finding their weakest links. Continue Reading
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News
30 Sep 2021
B2B network broadens partnership potential but requires trust
B2B networks increasingly offer smaller companies opportunities to collaborate and conduct business with multiple parties, but the networks have to be easy to use and trusted. Continue Reading
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Feature
09 Jun 2021
Top 7 ways to improve last-mile delivery
Failed deliveries have a powerful effect on customer experience. Here's how to improve last-mile delivery and increase overall customer satisfaction. Continue Reading
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News
09 Apr 2021
Supply chain disruptions force companies to rethink strategy
Supply chain disruptions from COVID-19 and other longstanding issues cost businesses trillions in revenue, leading to shifts in supply chain strategy, a new report said. Continue Reading
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Feature
05 Apr 2021
Biden supply chain EO makes resilience a priority
Supply chain experts weigh in on the Biden administration's push to help address vulnerabilities like parts shortages that have slowed production and put national security at risk. Continue Reading
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News
02 Mar 2021
Review of global supply chains a delicate undertaking
A federal review of vital global supply chains such as semiconductors will likely produce a 'carrot/stick approach' to change, according to Gartner's Kamala Raman. Continue Reading
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News
26 Feb 2021
Call to review critical supply chains praised, questioned
The Biden administration is requiring federal agencies to conduct a review of critical supply chains, dividing analysts on what they see as the potential long-term effects. Continue Reading
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Feature
10 Feb 2021
Kinaxis fuels Technicolor's supply chain digital transformation
Technicolor Connected Home digitally transformed its manual supply chain operations with the Kinaxis supply chain platform, resulting in improved forecasting ability. Continue Reading
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Feature
05 Feb 2021
Vaccine supply chain needs Starbucks -- not stadium -- model
In this Q&A, Sylvie Thompson makes the case for small, localized distribution at places like Starbucks for COVID-19 vaccine distribution. Continue Reading
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Feature
25 Jan 2021
Supply chain trends for 2021 include reshoring, digitization
The diversifying of manufacturing, including reshoring to the U.S. and the adoption of new technologies, will be top supply chain trends in 2021, according to industry experts. Continue Reading
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News
21 Dec 2020
Supply chain faces greatest challenge with COVID-19 vaccine
Developing a COVID-19 vaccine was only the first step in beating the pandemic. Now the supply chain must manage the challenges and complexities of getting those vaccines delivered. Continue Reading
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17 Sep 2020
Covid crisis shifts supply chain management from efficiency to resilience
Supply chain management seems to be changing profoundly as the coronavirus pandemic unfolds, possibly shifting from an economy of efficiency to resilience, harnessing trading networks, machine learning and robotic process automation Continue Reading
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Tip
08 Jul 2020
5 steps to help prevent supply chain cybersecurity threats
Follow five steps to lower the risk of supply chain cybersecurity threats, from creating third-party risk management teams to using blockchain and hyperledger and more. Continue Reading
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Feature
15 Jun 2020
Lessons from COVID-19: 4 inventory management strategies
COVID-19 highlighted a number of problems with current approaches to inventory management. Here are four strategies that leaders can use to correct those inefficiencies. Continue Reading
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Feature
29 May 2020
7 techniques to build supply chain resilience
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, business and supply chain leaders have realized how important supply chain resiliency is. Here are seven ways to boost it. Continue Reading
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17 Apr 2020
Supply chain applications help ease COVID-19 crisis
Supply chain applications from SAP Ariba, SourceDay and Kinaxis are helping companies find critical PPE, maintain manufacturing lines and plan for supply chain risk assessment. Continue Reading
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Feature
10 Apr 2020
AI for supply chain can help companies handle disruptions
Even faced with the unpredictability of the coronavirus pandemic, enterprises can generate some stability using AI and machine learning in their supply chains. Continue Reading
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Tip
02 Apr 2020
Essentials of EDI in supply chain management
Electronic data interchange (EDI) applies to many different business aspects. Learn three ways EDI has streamlined supply chain management. Continue Reading
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Feature
18 Mar 2020
Coronavirus disruption frays Amazon supply chain
Even as orders increase, disruption from the new coronavirus outbreak could have big consequences for smaller, third-party sellers on Amazon, as they will be punished for stock outages. Continue Reading
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11 Mar 2020
Cognitive automation helps processes run on their own
Merck Healthcare has implemented cognitive automation technology from Aera Technology to drive a digital transformation of its supply chain operations. Continue Reading
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28 Feb 2020
3 case studies on reducing supply chain complexity
Understanding which technologies can best simplify supply chain management is key to success in today's economy. Here's how three companies have tackled this issue. Continue Reading
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24 Feb 2020
Coronavirus outbreak puts focus on supply chain risk
Global supply chains have been disrupted by the coronavirus outbreak, and companies need to diversify suppliers and rethink strategies like lean and just-in-time manufacturing. Continue Reading
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Answer
06 Jan 2020
Can modern technology solve demand forecasting problems?
Predicting demand has never been easy, but in the age of e-commerce and omnichannel, that difficulty has multiplied. Here is some helpful guidance for organizations. Continue Reading
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20 Dec 2019
How to reduce the bullwhip effect: Supply chain partners, data key
Understanding the causes of the bullwhip effect is critical to preventing it. Here's a look at why it happens and ways to close the gap between supply and demand. Continue Reading
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News
16 Dec 2019
Amazon supply chain model disrupts entire industry
Amazon has conditioned consumers to get goods as quickly as possible, which has affected the global supply chain industry from top to bottom, including inventory management and logistics. Continue Reading
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Tip
21 Nov 2019
7 demand planning strategies to beat the competition
Today's supply chain management rests on refining your demand forecasting and creating partnerships. Here's a look at what that means. Continue Reading
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Feature
10 Oct 2019
AI helps supply chain analytics make better predictions
IoT sensors carry more data than ever into SCM platforms, making analytics simultaneously more complicated and effective. Machine learning is the indispensable helper. Continue Reading
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News
06 Jun 2019
Demand-driven replenishment added to SAP IBP
New demand-driven planning methodology in SAP Integrated Business Planning helps organizations create better supply chain forecasts based on real customer sales orders. Continue Reading
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Guide
14 May 2019
The essential guide to supply chain management best practices
In a volatile landscape, where customer expectations and supply chain complexity are growing by the day, you can't afford to bring anything but your A-game. This guide shows you how. Continue Reading
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Quiz
07 May 2019
Test your knowledge of supply chain management basics and key terms
To gain a better understanding of supply chain management, take this 13-question quiz and ensure you have a firm grasp of the key terms and processes it encompasses. Continue Reading
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Feature
12 Apr 2019
7 supply chain management key terms you need to know
Consumers are demanding greater visibility, but how do you give it them? We're starting with a list of supply chain management basic terms that you should be aware of. Continue Reading
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Answer
21 Mar 2019
Which order management system features can improve customer service?
Great order management provides insight that shipping, production, marketing and other functions need to gain a competitive edge and keep customers happy. Here's what to know. Continue Reading
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Answer
29 Oct 2018
What's most important in creating a supply chain management strategy?
Begin with the end in mind: great customer service. That's one secret to establishing your supply chain priorities -- one that can help as you decide on its tradeoffs. Continue Reading
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Answer
06 Sep 2018
What is the difference between logistics and supply chain management?
Logistics is part of supply chain management, but the two terms are often used synonymously. Here's a quick explanation of how these two are different. Continue Reading
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14 Aug 2018
What are some best practices for crafting a supply chain technology strategy?
Supply chain managers have a tough job and face many challenges. Technology can help but must also be approached with return on investment top of mind. Here are three tips that can help. Continue Reading
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Answer
21 Jun 2018
How do e-commerce returns affect reverse logistics management?
Customers expect to return purchases, which means you need to be proactive in your approach to reverse logistics. Here are some things to think about. Continue Reading
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03 Apr 2018
How will AI in demand forecasting help improve accuracy?
Changing consumer demand and supply chain disruptions are just two factors that might influence demand forecasting results. Here's a look at how AI can help. Continue Reading
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12 Mar 2018
What should companies know about sustainability software?
Sustainability is composed of social, environmental and economic pillars. That's why technologies focused on this market address different needs. Here's a narrow glimpse. Continue Reading
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Feature
12 Feb 2018
E-commerce packaging waste becoming a bigger issue
With the rise of online shopping, the packaging waste is becoming more of an issue. Here's a look at why and at some of the early work to solve the problem. Continue Reading
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Answer
11 Jan 2018
How is inventory management for e-commerce challenging?
The inventory challenges of adding e-commerce to your supply chain are considerable. Here's a look at what they entail and how you might overcome them. Continue Reading
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15 Dec 2017
How are companies solving the last-mile delivery problem?
E-commerce has radically changed how goods are transported, and put a spotlight on the last-mile delivery problem. Learn how retailers are changing their tactics to address the issue. Continue Reading
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Answer
05 Dec 2017
What are the advantages and disadvantages of drop shipping?
For both retailers and manufacturers, drop shipping has pros and cons. Here's some considerations to fuel research into the best strategy. Continue Reading
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Answer
22 Nov 2017
How does material intensity help measure sustainability?
One important foundation of sustainability is using fewer materials and less energy. Using the material intensity measure can help determine the success of those reduction efforts. Continue Reading
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Answer
10 Nov 2017
What are some elements of sustainable product design?
With waste from electronics, plastics and other materials growing at a frightening rate, manufacturers can help address the problem with sustainable product design efforts. Continue Reading
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Answer
13 Oct 2017
How is e-commerce packaging waste an issue, and what can be done?
As the world turns to online shopping for convenience, a pressing issue is developing -- packaging waste. Here are some considerations to get the conversation started. Continue Reading
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Answer
25 May 2017
What is the role of demand shaping in supply chain planning?
In the age of omnichannel, an effective demand shaping process is critical. Here's what you need to know about the strategy and collaboration that process requires. Continue Reading
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Answer
14 Dec 2015
Why is demand-driven MRP becoming more popular?
In today's markets, material requirements planning can fall short. Demand-driven MRP is the innovative approach that marries the best of "push" and "pull" in manufacturing. Continue Reading
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Feature
19 Jun 2014
Use balanced scorecards to follow through on business strategy
Balanced scorecards are deceptively powerful tools for defining and tracking key metrics and objectives. Continue Reading
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02 Aug 2013
Batch scheduling and demand-driven manufacturing can coexist, experts say
By understanding the benefits -- and limitations -- of demand-driven manufacturing and batch scheduling, manufacturers can optimize both. Continue Reading
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01 Aug 2013
Companies respond to customer needs with demand-driven manufacturing
Demand-driven manufacturing can help companies react to rapid market changes -- and save money in the process. Continue Reading
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19 Nov 2012
Know the SCOR model to build strong supply chain metrics
By following the SCOR model, manufacturers can put supply chain metrics in place to ensure enterprise-wide success. Continue Reading