Our world is now 100% unpredictable. Traditional planning methods for Supply Chain are no longer reliable. In the span of just a few months, your supply chain strategy has probably drastically changed. In a world where borders open and close at a moment’s notice, where Supply Chain Managers are struggling to stay abreast of huge fluctuations in demand, and failures to anticipated challenges lead to unproductive finger pointing.

Consumer lockdowns, factory shutdowns in China, and supply channels being turned away at the harbour, have all led to unprecedented drops in demand affecting your overall bottom line. This then leads to reductions in working capital, potentially forever impacting your go-forward inventory strategy.

Everyone hopes global and domestic markets will one day again normalise. However, it’s important to note that normalisation does not necessarily mean a return to normal trading.

Forecasting inventory requirements has always relied on a mix of past trends, sound predictions and supplier relationships. But the global pandamic has now changed all that. In a world gone mad, your warehouse can be a source of incredible value, or a critical liability to your organisation.

Accessing the right data will assist you visualise and plan for the unexpected, while managing this tightrope of supply and demand more effectively.

Strategies to help you with Inventory Planning include: