The best demand planning software are: Datup, Forecast Pro, Microsoft Dynamics 365, IBM Planning Analytics, Anaplan, Relex, and Kinaxis.
However, depending on your company type and specific needs, one may be more suitable than another. Therefore, we are going to analyze 7 alternatives, so you can make the best decision.
What criteria should you take into account when choosing demand planning software?
After speaking with dozens of supply chain teams, we realized that when selecting supply chain software, you should consider these key criteria:
- Analytical capabilities: Look for a solution that offers predictive analytics to anticipate the future, not just historical data.
- AI models: Forecasts are now much more accurate if they include machine learning and artificial intelligence; avoid simple averages and descriptive statistics. Today, there are prescriptive models that help you plan demand with greater precision.
- Data integration: Ensure it can integrate multiple data sources (ERP, sales, marketing, and external variables) for an aligned global vision.
- Implementation time and ease: Evaluate the time and effort required to implement the solution; many solutions have a very long implementation time.
- Support: Having good support and a dedicated team to accompany you is important because the business is always evolving, and your analysis should also transform.
- New product handling: Verify if the solution can forecast demand for new products based on historical data of similar products.
- Pricing model: Check if they charge per user or by other criteria, looking for flexibility and scalability.
Datup.ai demand planning software: our choice for 2024
If your company has an annual turnover of more than $10 million and you’re looking to manage demand forecasting, purchasing and inventory management, and portfolio, Datup is the solution you need.
Datup allows supply chain teams to forecast their demand and optimize their inventories using AI and Deep Learning, integrating with their historical data, ERP, WMS, TMS, and any data source to generate predictive demand forecast scenarios with an average accuracy of over 95%.
A key difference between Datup and other alternatives is the speed of implementation, with an average of only five weeks (other solutions take months to start delivering results). So, if you’re looking for a faster return on your investment and time, Datup can be a good alternative.
The platform integrates securely with the client’s data, processing it in the cloud and generating customized dashboards that drive strategic decision-making.
Datup consolidates your historical data and external variables such as weather and inflation that impact demand, processes it with Artificial Intelligence, and suggests scenarios so that you and your team can make better decisions. Teams using Datup reduce forecast errors by 15% to 30% and decrease their inventory levels by 5% to 25%.
Furthermore, Datup also has an AI assistant, imagine ChatGPT but specialized in the supply chain (demand planning, portfolio, inventory) specific to each company. This assistant allows for detailed queries, ensuring at all times the privacy and security of the client’s information.
Datup’s solutions for supply chain teams include:
- Demand planning software or demand forecasting software
- Inventory and purchasing management software
- Portfolio optimization software
- SupplAI: Conversational AI assistant, specially trained for your business
Features and Pros of Datup
- Demand forecasts with scenarios: Datup delivers dynamic forecast scenarios (both up and down), not just a fixed number, allowing the client to make better decisions. Other software provides only a static number and lacks machine learning capabilities.
- Collaborative demand planning: Allows creating collaborative forecasts with the commercial and marketing team for joint sales and operations planning.
- Easily integrates data from multiple sources: (ERP, CRM, external data) to have more accurate forecasts and a centralized source of truth. Others are limited to ERP data only.
- Easy to use for analysts and managers thanks to its user-friendly interface that delivers a ready-to-use report with different graphs, filter options, and various business questions and answers.
- Filters throughout the report: Supply chain planning questions are answered with specific searches through filters that allow you to segment by location, product, category, date, brand.
- Customization and parameterization based on business rules: Such as defining safety stocks, capacities, inventory policies, and commercial agreements, to adapt to the specific needs of each company.
- Demand forecasting for new products: Can forecast for new products without history, using data from similar products. This is not allowed by traditional ERPs.
- Implementation in an average of 5 weeks: One of the fastest in the market. ERPs and other systems take months or even years to implement.
- More flexible and accessible pricing model: Charging a base fee regardless of the number of users. Others charge per user, becoming very expensive.
- Dedicated Customer Success team: To continuously accompany the client, at no extra cost with 8×5 remote support and training included in the subscription for new users. Other tools charge separately for training and support.
Disadvantages:
- Like other platforms, it requires internet connectivity to function.
- It doesn’t work for small businesses that have an annual turnover of less than USD 10M.
- If the company doesn’t have an ERP and more than a year of consolidated historical data, they can’t work with Datup, as it requires prior information to train the model.
Implementation:
- It’s a SaaS (Software as a Service), requiring no servers or infrastructure from the client. Only access to databases is needed.
- It requires a minimum of 2 years of historical data in the client’s ERP to make 1-year forecasts.
- The implementation is fast, taking weeks instead of months. Datup handles the integration.
- It has a dedicated customer success team to support the client.
Is Datup the best demand planning software for your company?
Datup is ideal for:
- Companies with an annual turnover of at least USD 10M.
- Businesses with a structured ERP system, containing a minimum of 2 years of historical data.
- Organizations wanting to perform advanced predictive and prescriptive analytics, beyond basic descriptive reports.
- Companies needing a centralized source of truth with data from multiple systems.
- Organizations that value rapid implementation and customized dashboards: With an average implementation time of 5 weeks, Datup connects to your data, processes it in the cloud, and provides dashboards tailored to your needs.
Forecast Pro Demand Planning Software
Forecast Pro is a specialized platform for demand forecasting, used by analysts and planners to generate accurate predictions. It uses advanced statistical techniques and automatic forecasting models to project future sales of a business at the product or SKU level.
It stands out for the customization of the tool and the ability to choose statistical models. You can use it to forecast demand for individual products, product families, or even entire regions. Additionally, it allows you to share your forecasts with your team, facilitating collaboration.
Forecast Pro offers three packages:
- FP100: For projects with up to 100 items.
- FP Unlimited: No restriction on the number of items.
- FP TRAC: Includes advanced functionalities such as historical archiving, forecast vs. actual sales comparisons, report ranges, and a collaborative module.
Functionalities and Pros of Forecast Pro
- Automatic Forecasting Models: Automatically selects the best forecasting model based on historical data. Supports a wide range of statistical models, including exponential smoothing, ARIMA, and seasonal models.
- Multi-level Forecasting: Ability to generate forecasts at different levels of aggregation, such as individual products, product families, regions, and more.
- Manual Adjustment and Overrides: Allows users to manually adjust automatically generated forecasts based on their market knowledge or specific events.
- Data Analysis and Visualization: Integrated tools for data visualization, such as time series graphs, histograms, and seasonal component analysis. Ability to compare forecasts with actual data and perform accuracy analysis.
- Exception Management: Identification and handling of exceptions and outliers in historical data. Automatic alerts for unusual events that may affect forecast accuracy.
- Data Integration: Import and export of data to and from ERP systems, CRM, and other databases. Support for CSV files, Excel, and ODBC connections.
In the words of their customers:
“It is an excellent management tool that helps to keep your tasks and workload in order. It aids in better strategy and planning with good execution.” – Forecast Pro Customer, 2022
“It is an effective and efficient tool that helps to improve and enhance the company’s work. Very effective and fast, which saves quality time. The installation and implementation of the tool is very easy, which increases your work in multiple ways. Very easy to use.” – Forecast Pro Customer, 2022
Forecast Pro limitations:
- Information Access: If the cloud solution is contracted, access to information is limited to Monday through Friday from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm
- Initial Configuration Complexity: The initial setup can be complex, especially for organizations with complicated data structures or specific requirements
- Primarily Limited to Demand Planning: It mainly focuses on demand planning, without covering other key supply chain processes such as inventory management, purchasing, or distribution
- Infrastructure Requirements: Requires clients to acquire and maintain their own infrastructure to run the software, implying significant costs and efforts
- Limited Analysis and Metrics: Analysis and metric options are limited in basic packages, requiring a larger investment to access advanced functionalities
- Updates and Maintenance: Needs periodic updates and maintenance to ensure the software is running with the latest improvements and bug fixes.
According to their customers:
“It can be slow depending on how complex and large your models are.”- Forecast Pro Customer, 2020
“Their collaboration solution (S&OP) could be a bit stronger.” – Forecast Pro Customer, 2019
Is Forecast Pro the Right Solution for You?
Forecast Pro can be a good option if your company has very specific demand forecasting needs and has the resources and expertise to manage the required infrastructure.
- High accuracy and reliability in its forecasts through the use of advanced modeling techniques.
- Flexibility and adaptability to adjust to different business needs and demand scenarios.
However, if you’re looking for a comprehensive solution that covers all supply chain processes, with a cloud delivery model and a more flexible pricing structure, other alternatives like Datup might be better for your company.
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Supply Chain demand planning software
Microsoft Dynamics allows you to plan demand and collaborate with other teams. It primarily functions as an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Material Requirements Planning (MRP) system. It also has functionalities to simulate and model demand forecasting scenarios where you can model variations in demand, changes in suppliers, and prices.
It allows real-time tracking and control of inventories, production planning and scheduling, demand forecasting, supplier relationship management, and transportation route planning and optimization. Additionally, it offers real-time analysis and reporting tools. This platform integrates easily with other Dynamics 365 modules and other Microsoft products.
Pros:
- Complete Integration with Microsoft Ecosystem: Easily integrates with other Dynamics 365 modules, such as Finance and Sales, and Microsoft products like Power BI and Office 365, allowing customization and adaptation to specific company processes and requirements.
- Real-Time Data Access for Better Decision Making: Offers access to real-time data, improving supply chain visibility and facilitating informed decision-making and quick identification and resolution of problems.
- Process Automation for Greater Operational Efficiency: Automates repetitive and manual processes using Microsoft’s Power Apps, Power Automate, and Copilot (AI), improving operational efficiency and reducing costs through resource optimization.
- Scalability Adaptable to Business Needs: Designed to scale according to business needs, suitable for companies of different sizes, ensuring that the platform can grow along with the company.
- Advanced Real-Time Analysis and Reporting Tools: Provides real-time analysis and reporting tools, including data visualization and KPI monitoring, enabling efficient supply chain planning and tracking
In the words of their customers:
“The advanced warehousing functionalities allow us to have an efficient workflow process for our supply chain processes.” – Microsoft Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management customer, 2021
“It’s easy to adjust. You can configure the required amount yourself with little SQL knowledge, otherwise, the support team will always be by your side.” – Microsoft Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management customer, 2021
Cons:
- High learning curve requiring extensive training: Users may need extensive training to effectively use all functionalities, and the system’s complexity can be challenging for non-technical staff.
- Configuration and implementation are often complex to access all functionalities. This can impact implementation times and also costs due to the need for external consultants.
- They charge per user, which causes the cost to scale very quickly as these tools are collaborative.
- Need for frequent updates and maintenance: Frequent updates may require ongoing adjustments and training. Continuous maintenance and technical support may be necessary to ensure the system functions properly.
In the words of their customers:
“We feel that there are many features that are not being used and it takes time to implement the features correctly. Customization is a long process.” Microsoft Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management Customer, 2021
“What I liked least: lack of training, inadequate documentation, weak reporting.” – Microsoft Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management Customer, 2019
Is Microsoft Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management the best demand planning software for your company?
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management can be the best solution if you’re looking for a comprehensive ERP and MRP platform with advanced demand planning functionalities that integrate perfectly with the Microsoft ecosystem, especially for companies that:
- They require a scalable solution that can grow their business.
- Need complete integration with other Microsoft tools like Office 365 and Power BI.
- Value real-time data access to improve supply chain decision-making.
- Seek to automate repetitive processes to increase operational efficiency.
However, keep in mind that:
- The learning curve is high and requires extensive staff training.
- Configuration and implementation can be complex and costly, possibly requiring external consultants.
- The per-user pricing model can result in costs that scale quickly for large teams.
- Frequent updates may require constant adjustments and ongoing staff training.
IBM Planning Analytics Supply Chain Management Software
IBM Planning Analytics is an integrated performance management platform that combines an in-memory database with a native Excel interface. It stands out for handling increasing data complexity and multiple stakeholders without changing business processes.
Features and advantages of IBM Planning Analytics:
- Complete Functionality and Scalability: Covers all stages of the analytics lifecycle, from planning to reporting, allowing large-scale implementations across multiple locations.
- Advanced Technology Based on TM1: Uses the powerful TM1 engine, providing advanced processing and analysis capabilities, including predictive analysis for accurate forecasts.
- Robust and Flexible Integration: Easily integrates with ERP, BI, and other business solutions, including native Excel integration, ensuring a centralized data source.
- Comprehensive S&OP Module: Includes an integral Sales & Operations Planning module, facilitating planning and coordination between sales and operations.
- Business Model Adaptability: Offers both SaaS and on-premise options, allowing companies to choose the configuration that best suits their needs.
- Integrated Finance Tool: TM1 allows companies to extract financial numbers into an Excel spreadsheet for reporting, analysis, and forecasting.
- Global Support and Training: Offers intensive training programs, ensuring users can maximize the tool’s performance and efficiency.
“PA offers the best flexibility for business modeling. It provides users with a flexible way to interact with and change their data in real-time on a large scale.” – IBM Planning Analytics Customer, 2022
Main disadvantages:
- High Cost per User: Expensive for smaller companies and hinders adoption and testing for new users due to IBM’s payment strategy.
- User Interface and Rule Writing: The user interface still needs significant improvements and the simplification of rule writing is not sufficient.
- Speed and Performance Issues: The system can be extremely slow, especially when used alongside other tools from other companies at the same time.
- Steep Learning Curve: Requires intensive and adequate training, which can be a barrier for new users and adoption.
- Updates and User Focus: TM1 is aging and updates don’t come fast enough, leaving business users feeling like second-class citizens.
“TM1 is showing its age and is still lagging behind competitors in terms of user interfaces. Additionally, IBM’s payment strategy has made adoption and testing difficult for new users.”- Cliente de IBM Planning Analytics, 2022
Is IBM Planning Analytics the best demand planning software for your company?
IBM Planning Analytics can be the ideal software if you are a company with complex business planning and performance management needs. This software is especially beneficial for organizations that require:
- Complete functionality and scalability at all stages of the analytics lifecycle, from planning to reporting.
- Robust integration with ERP, BI and other business solutions, including native Excel integration.
- Advanced technology based on TM1, providing advanced processing and predictive analysis capabilities.
- Adaptable business model with both SaaS and on-premise options to choose the configuration that best suits specific needs.
- Global support and training with intensive and detailed programs to maximize tool performance and efficiency.
To take full advantage of its advanced features, you need:
- Specialized technical teams.
- Resources to invest in training and maintenance.
However, keep in mind that:
- Very high cost: Mainly accessible to large companies.
- Steep learning curve: Requires intensive and adequate training.
- Complicated user interface: May be less intuitive compared to more modern solutions.
- Speed issues: Some users report slowness, especially when used with other similar tools.
- Implementation time: Can be long depending on project complexity and required customization.
Anaplan Demand Planning Software
Anaplan is a cloud-based enterprise performance management (EPM) and planning platform that uses its patented Hyperblock™ technology to contextualize real-time performance and forecast future outcomes for faster and more confident decision-making. It enables connected strategy and planning across your enterprise to drive your business forward.
Differentiating features:
- Connected Planning: Allows users to plan seamlessly across different use cases such as finance, human resources, supply chain, etc.
- Native SAP integration that updates in real-time.
- Excellent planning tool for hypothetical scenarios and seeing the impact of “what-if” scenarios on business KPIs.
- Easy-to-use interface combined with modeling capability.
In the words of their customers:
“It is flexible as a tool and has potential in many different areas of the business. It combines good data analysis with a great user interface for planning. If built correctly, it is fast, easy to use and reliable.” Anaplan Customer, 2023
“Easy-to-use tools for my monthly forecasting purposes and easy to extract for manual amendments in Excel files. I can also see live reports as long as the database is up to date with some manual pushes.” Anaplan Customer, 2020
Main disadvantages:
- Sometimes specific reporting or graphing functionalities are missing in Anaplan’s new user experience.
- Limited integration capabilities.
- Can be slow, especially if you’re working with a lot of data at once.
- According to some of its users, the user interface needs improvement, especially when working with many products in a table.
- High cost, not applicable for small and medium-sized businesses.
- Steep learning curve, requires training and familiarization.
- Implementation time can be long, especially for highly customized configurations.
In the words of their customers:
“It’s difficult to build as it involves many formulas and possibly linking to other dashboards, which makes it more complicated. The report is also quite hard to modify to fit individual needs.” – Anaplan Customer, 2020
“User management, specifically regarding licenses, can sometimes be a bit hard to follow and track properly in the system. Although there have been good improvements recently with the enhancements in the Global User Management views, it still lacks an easy view of contracted vs. used licenses.” – Anaplan Customer, 2023
Is Anaplan the best demand planning software for your company?
Anaplan can be the best solution if you are looking for a cloud-based enterprise performance management (EPM) platform with advanced modeling and connected planning capabilities, especially for companies that:
- Need connected planning across different areas of the business.
- Require native integration with SAP and other management tools.
- Want to analyze hypothetical scenarios and their impact on business KPIs.
- Need highly customizable and scalable tools to meet specific needs.
However, to fully leverage its advanced features, you’ll need specialized technical teams and resources to invest in training and maintenance.
Keep in mind:
- The cost is high, which may not be suitable for small and medium-sized businesses.
- The learning curve is steep and requires extensive training.
- Implementation time can be long, especially for highly customized setups.
- There may be limitations in some specific reporting or charting features.
- Performance may slow down when working with large volumes of data simultaneously.
Software de planificación de la demanda de Relex
Relex se enfoca en ayudar principalmente a marcas de consumo masivo y retail a planificar la cadena de suministro usando machine learning para pronosticar la demanda de productos, tiendas y canales.
- Machine Learning: Uses machine learning to improve forecast accuracy. It excels at predicting future demand and can handle vast amounts of data with ease.
- Comprehensive Optimization: Elevates key retail processes by optimizing supply chains, demand forecasting, promotions, space management, and workforce scheduling.
- Gartner Certification: Recognized in Gartner’s quadrant, reinforcing its quality and effectiveness.
- Multi-device Compatibility: Adapts to any device, allowing access and management from anywhere.
“Provides user visibility with predefined algorithmic calculations and logic, offering a wide range of possibilities for users to manage material flows.” – Relex Customer, 2022
Main disadvantages of Relex:
- Shipment Limit Issues: It doesn’t work well with limits on how much can be shipped in a single delivery, which can be a significant issue. Many of its features struggle with these constraints.
- Manual Data Entry: The interface for manual data entry is outdated and prone to user error.
- No Free Version or Trial: Relex does not offer a free version or trial, limiting the ability to evaluate the software before purchase.
“The reporting capabilities could be more visual; there could even be better ‘control towers’ to highlight key insights or actions users should take. It would be beneficial to offer users the ability to understand the AI logic and collaborate in building it alongside the machine.”- Relex Customer, 2020
“The tool for manually importing data is terrible: the design looks like it’s from 10 years ago. It’s not user-friendly at all and is finicky; it’s easy to make mistakes.” – Craig, 2022
Is Relex the best demand planning software for your company?
Relex could be the ideal solution if you’re looking for a comprehensive platform for retail and consumer goods that covers the entire supply chain, especially if:
- You need to manage everything from demand planning to in-store execution and workforce management.
- You require advanced optimization in pricing, promotions, assortments, and planograms.
- You’re looking to integrate supply chain planning with S&OP and S&OE.
- You want a solution that handles both strategic planning and tactical execution in omnichannel environments.
However, keep in mind:
- The initial cost is high, which may not be suitable for growing companies seeking a scalable solution.
- Implementation can be lengthy and complex due to the broad range of features.
- There are reported limitations in manual data entry and handling of transportation capacity constraints.
- The learning curve can be steep.
- There is no trial version available to fully evaluate its capabilities before purchasing.
Kinaxis Demand Planning Software
Kinaxis offers a comprehensive solution for demand planning, reducing uncertainty and improving forecast accuracy. From a single platform, it enhances forecasting by incorporating data from various stakeholders such as sales, marketing, finance, customers, and suppliers.
The price of Kinaxis depends on the number of users and activated modules, with an estimated range between $50,000 and $100,000 USD for a full implementation. According to Capterra, prices start from 30,000 CAD.
Key features and advantages of Kinaxis:
- AI and Machine Learning Capabilities: Automates and optimizes forecasts with machine learning and demand sensing capabilities.
- End-to-End Supply Chain Management: Includes features for order tracking, S&OP (Sales and Operations Planning), transportation, and returns management.
- “What If” Scenario Evaluation: Allows you to assess the impact of changes in pricing or demand before implementing them.
- Supplier Performance Analysis: Offers advanced tools to analyze supplier performance.
- Gartner Certification: Certified by Gartner and listed in its 2024 quadrant, confirming its quality and effectiveness.
- Order Tracking and S&OP: Includes functionalities for order tracking, S&OP, transportation, and returns.
- Flexible Implementation: Provides options for both cloud and on-premise deployment.
According to its customers:
“It’s a good option for demand planning and forecasting, helping to improve supply and demand curves. Overall, it’s a very good supply chain software, providing the agility the industry needs, which helps you stay ahead of your competitors.” – Sahil, 2022
Main disadvantages:
- High cost: The price can be steep, depending on the number of users and modules activated.
- Manual data import: The tool for manually importing data has an outdated design and is not user-friendly, making it easy to make mistakes during the import process.
- Reporting capabilities: Reports could be more visual, and better “control towers” could be implemented to highlight key insights or actions for users. There is also room to improve the understanding and collaboration with AI logic.
According to its customers:
“Sometimes reports don’t generate automatically, which makes us lose some trust in the tool. Sometimes it’s slow, though I’m not sure what causes that exactly.” – Kinaxis Customer, 2022
“There are some things I don’t like, such as it not being an easy-to-use tool. Also, it’s mostly understood by those in the industry; people outside the PMO don’t know much about it.” – Sahil, 2022
Is Kinaxis the best demand planning software for your company?
Kinaxis could be the ideal solution if you’re looking for a comprehensive supply chain planning and management platform applicable to various industries, especially if:
- You need to perform “What If” scenario analysis to assess the impact of changes in pricing or demand.
- You require advanced tools for analyzing supplier performance and enhancing collaboration.
- You’re seeking flexibility in deployment, with options for both cloud-based and on-premise solutions.
- You want a solution that covers everything from order tracking to S&OP, transportation, and returns management.
- You value a platform backed by Gartner, with AI and machine learning capabilities.
However, keep in mind:
- The cost can be high, with estimates ranging from 30,000 CAD to 100,000 USD for a full implementation.
- The learning curve can be steep, particularly for users outside of project management areas.
- Some users report inconsistencies with automatic report generation and occasional system slowdowns.
- Full implementation and utilization of the platform may require additional consulting services.
Conclusión
In summary, the choice of the best demand planning software depends on the specific needs, size, and industry of each company. Here are our one-line conclusions for each solution:
- Datup is the best solution for supply chain teams that value precision, ease of use, and fast implementation, and generate at least USD 10M in revenue.
- Forecast Pro is ideal for companies that need highly accurate demand forecasts at the SKU level and have resources to manage their own IT infrastructure.
- Microsoft Dynamics 365 Supply Chain is optimal for organizations needing a complete ERP solution integrated with demand planning and already using other Microsoft solutions.
- IBM Planning Analytics is best for large enterprises requiring full functionality and scalability across all stages of the analytics lifecycle, with robust ERP and BI integration.
- Anaplan is excellent for companies needing connected planning across different business areas and value the ability to analyze hypothetical scenarios.
- Relex is ideal for retail and consumer goods companies that need to manage everything from demand planning to in-store execution with advanced optimization.
- Kinaxis is best for organizations requiring detailed “What If” scenario analysis and advanced tools for supplier performance analysis, with flexible implementation options.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is demand planning software?
Demand planning software is a tool that helps plan and manage supply chain demand.
The best demand forecasting tools allow you to generate accurate forecasts using artificial intelligence, manage inventories, and assess product portfolio performance. It integrates with all of a company’s data sources, such as ERPs, WMS, and CRMs, to keep data up to date. Additionally, it calculates reorder points based on safety stock, supplier lead times, and expected demand.
What are the benefits of demand planning software?
An accurate demand forecast enables companies to:
- Access the necessary data to make strategic decisions.
- Reduce manual workload.
- Optimize inventory levels to avoid overstocking and stockouts.
- Reduce storage and obsolescence costs.
- Improve customer satisfaction by having products available when needed.
- Plan production and the supply chain more strategically and efficiently.