project44

On-shelf or out-of-stock? For consumer package goods (CPG) brands, the answer depends on how well you read demand signals. Reliable on-shelf availability begins with collecting the right retail data: point-of-sale (POS), inventory levels, consumer shopping behaviors, and promotional activity –then transforming that raw information into actionable insights. The challenge: retail data frequency, formats, hierarchies and points of access vary. The sheer volume of data from multiple retailers, mismatched SKUs, and manual processes can cause delays, a lot of noise, and a risk of errors. That leaves forecasts built on guesswork, not the most current reality. The fallout? Stockouts, overstocks, missed sales, and a drop in on-shelf availability. What if you could bring that disparate, robust data together in a harmonized, strategic way for an apples-to-apples view across all sources? When you use clean, accurate demand data, you can dramatically improve forecasting and planning ...

Make-to-Order (MTO) businesses are some of the most complex, and most fascinating, supply chains to work with. Every customer order is a new project—often with customized specifications, tight timelines, and dependencies that span multiple suppliers and production facilities. Unlike Make-to-Stock (MTS) operations, where products are built in anticipation of demand, MTO businesses commit to customers before they design the solution, procure components, and begin production. The moment an order is booked, the clock starts ticking, and every part of the supply chain must respond in perfect coordination. It’s like walking a tightrope where any misstep ripples through to the end result. What makes this even harder is the fragmented nature of business functions and systems. Supplier procurement might happen in one tool, production planning in another, and fulfillment tracked elsewhere. The result is predictable: delays, misalignment, and a constant scramble to react instead of p...

E2open is powered by a strong global network of problem solvers and innovators driven by strong values and our company culture. Together, we are focused on doing what’s right in business and in our communities. Every month, we will shine a spotlight on an exceptional team member who is helping us transform the supply chain industry. This month, we held a Q&A with Kevin Mak, Director, Enterprise Service Engineering at e2open..