Addition of Anaplan PlanIQ Enables Users to Leverage Machine Learning to Align Plans and Optimize Inventory
Valizant, an innovator in real-time supply chain planning solutions tailored to a company’s business practices, announced several enhancements to its Demand Planning suite that increase user visibility, streamline data analysis and improve forecast accuracy. In addition to the upgrades to its Demand Planning suite, Valizant is also making available Anaplan PlanIQ™ with Amazon Forecast, which leverages artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) capabilities for cross-functional predictive forecasting and agile scenario modeling.
“Companies relying on traditional planning software often have major blind spots that result in serious miscalculations, which can be magnified during volatile times like we’re now experiencing. Valizant’s Demand Planning enhancements provide the transparency companies need to understand all market forces in real-time and be more responsive in managing their business,” said Ed Lewis, president and CEO of Valizant. “Adding Anaplan PlanIQ™ to our toolbox makes our solution even more powerful, delivering significant improvements in forecast accuracy for our users.”
Available as an add-on, Anaplan PlanIQ™ enables users to connect large volumes of relevant external data with internal data to better align plans and optimize inventory. It provides users flexible access to multiple intelligence techniques, such as native predictive capabilities and seamless integrations with third-party ML-based systems, including Amazon Forecast, a fully managed service from Amazon Web Services (AWS) that uses ML to enable business users across finance, supply chain, HR and sales to deliver precise forecasts.
Other enhancements, which were custom developed by Valizant for select customers, are now available commercially as part of the Demand Planning suite, include:
- Sell-in and Sell-through Planning – For big box retailers, this feature delivers more accurate forecasting, enabling them to monitor customer inventory and determine how much to sell to that customer.
- Event and Promotion Planning – By adding promotional calendars and stand-alone job bids into the planning process, users can gain better insights into the uplift from these activities.
- Seamless Data Exchange with Large Retailers – Native inputs and outputs from large retailers can be automatically incorporated into demand planning, eliminating manual, one-off processes in Excel.
- Integrated Regression Testing – Allows users to reduce risks that may disrupt planning efforts as improvements are made to models.
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