SALES & OPERATIONS PLANNING
Business-wide synergy with S&OP
- Increase visibility into sales, inventory, operations, and finance data
- Improve accountability and forecast accuracy
- Optimize production and sourcing assignments
- Improve the effectiveness of new products and marketing initiatives
- Build custom dashboards to track key metrics and boost visibility
- Quickly change scenarios and analyze outcomes
Netstock provides core capabilities to drive smart S&OP
Integrated demand planning
The sales and operations plan starts with highly accurate and automated expert forecasts that “learn” over time to continually improve forecast accuracy. It then combines quantitative and qualitative inputs throughout the enterprise. This balanced approach ensures a more useable and accurate demand planning process. Lastly, forecasts are generated and managed at any level of product, channel, or geographic aggregation, and in financial as well as operational units of measure. Effective operational planning integrates with this demand planning process to create a cohesive framework for decision-making.
Advanced supply planning
Easily view inventory, backlogs, and planned supply at any level of aggregation and in any unit of measure, including cost basis. Align with cash flow and working capital requirements, providing finance stakeholders with essential insights for informed decision-making. Stakeholders will have a comprehensive view of critical information, empowering them with the data they need to optimize operations effectively. Advanced supply chain planning tools are leveraged to enhance operational efficiency and synchronize various departmental activities.
Centralized planning & accountability
Break down silos and share goals and strategies in a single place, putting operations, sales, marketing, and finance on the same page. With Netstock’s BI Cube, you can create dashboards from a single set of IBP data, streamlining your S&OP planning sessions. Facilitate efficient workflows that seamlessly connect tactical perspectives with strategic viewpoints. This approach ensures that operational plans are effectively integrated within the broader context of S&OP.
Scenario planning to accelerate business responsiveness
Create and compare multiple demand-supply scenarios and easily distribute plans and key data to diverse stakeholders. Netstock Predictor IBP provides an efficient platform and makes it easier to go from annual or bi-annual planning to a monthly or weekly S&OP cadence. Netstock’s platform significantly reduces the duration of the planning cycle, enabling organizations to conduct multi-divisional analyses more rapidly.
Our solutions
Netstock has the solutions you need to help you achieve and manage optimal supply and demand levels.
Inventory 
Inventory 
Inventory 
Supplier 
Demand 
Capacity 
S&OPFAQs about S&OP
Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) is an integrated business management process that drives organizational consensus to balance supply and demand. This collaborative process aligns various operational areas such as sales, marketing, product development, manufacturing, procurement, finance, and accounting. Typically conducted on a monthly basis, the S&OP process delivers an updated, rolling operational plan and demand plan that extends 18 to 36 months into the future. By harmonizing these diverse functions, businesses can create a cohesive operations plan that enhances overall efficiency and responsiveness
Integrated Business Planning (IBP) is a comprehensive approach that aligns sales, operations, and finance to optimize business performance. The benefits of IBP include:
- Improved forecasting accuracy
- Increased revenue and profit
- Better supply chain management
- Improved collaboration and communication across departments
- Enhanced decision-making
IBP enables organizations to make informed decisions by providing real-time visibility into sales, operations, and finance data. This holistic view is essential for gaining a competitive advantage in a dynamic marketplace, allowing businesses to adapt swiftly to changes and maintain a robust supply chain network.
The S&OP process follows a progression of steps designed to balance supply and demand effectively:
- Workspace preparation: This initial phase involves gathering and consolidating data from various sources.
- Demand planning: Generate updated statistical forecasts that reflect current market conditions.
- Supply planning: Balance customer service objectives against inventory and operating costs to create efficient supply plans.
- Plan review and reconciliation: Fine-tune and improve plans through collaborative review sessions.
- S&OP plan finalization and release: Present optimized plans to senior management for approval and implementation.
This structured approach is a critical component of supply chain management, enabling businesses to respond quickly to changes in demand and supply. By integrating sales, operations, and finance, the S&OP process helps businesses reduce costs, improve efficiency, and increase revenue.
Implementing S&OP requires a structured approach that involves the following steps:
- Define the scope and objectives: Clearly outline the goals and boundaries of the S&OP process.
- Identify key stakeholders: Determine the roles and responsibilities of all participants involved in the process.
- Develop a comprehensive data management plan: Ensure accurate and timely data collection and analysis.
- Design and implement the S&OP process: Establish the procedures and tools needed for effective S&OP.
- Train and educate stakeholders: Provide necessary training to ensure all participants understand the S&OP process.
- Monitor and evaluate effectiveness: Continuously assess the performance of the S&OP process and make improvements as needed.
While implementing S&OP can be challenging, the benefits of improved forecasting accuracy, increased revenue, and better supply chain management make it a worthwhile investment. By following a structured approach and leveraging the right tools and technologies, organizations can successfully implement S&OP and achieve their business objectives.
Ready to get started?
Discover how Netstock’s Predictive Planning Suite™ accelerates inventory planning.
Watch Demo