Inventory Planning and Wholesale Distributor's Blog

Valogix Advanced Inventory Planning and Optimization for NetSuite

Written by Rich Vaccaro | Wed, Feb 01,2023@03:07 PM

As your business grows and gains in complexity, you may need to explore how advanced inventory planning and optimization capabilities can take your business to the next level. Valogix, a global award-winning partner of NetSuite. We offer a specialized multi-stage planning engine that more effectively plans inventories and compliments NetSuite.

NetSuite offers some demand planning capabilities to enable basic inventory management and planning. Purchasing and inventory managers can calculate demand based on historical data, sales forecasts, average trends, and seasonal fluctuations. NetSuite demand planning provides flexibility and control in manually setting timeframes, preferred stock levels, and other parameters.

VALOGIX® Cloud-Based Inventory Planning and Optimization simultaneously plans for items needed both in the manufacturing (production) process and sold separately as finished goods. This smooth-flow process is unique because it accurately plans the independent inventory based on its own parameters and demand. Most planning techniques for finished goods were borne out of the manufacturing process, which leave gaps in inventory coverage for distributors and retailers.

With hundreds of NetSuite customers, Valogix has been a valued global partner since 2010. We have maintained our integration successfully every year since inception. NetSuite recognized Valogix its Supply Chain Partner of The Year award for 2013.

The on-going and ever-changing challenge

Inventory management and planning is getting more difficult due to rapidly changing demand patterns, the ever-increasing numbers of SKU’s and higher transportation costs. Even more challenging is effectively planning items that are commonly used in:

  •  Manufacturing/Production

  •  Kits (kitting & assembly)

  • Wholesale distribution, retail and e-Commerce

One Valogix customer who procures their products overseas, was facing increased competitive pressures and needed to receive more-timely inbound shipments. According to this company’s president, “We were using a mix of tools, the advanced planning in our NetSuite product, plus various Excel spreadsheets. Neither tool gave us the results we were looking for and we knew that we had tremendous redundancy. At the same time, we had a large investment tied up in dead and slow-moving stock.”

The president further quoted, “Valogix provides the visibility into the data that enables us to make better purchasing decisions. Improved order accuracy and optimized purchase quantities just add to the value. The time that we save has already helped us achieve a full ROI. Valogix has been great to work with. They listen to our recommendations and requests, and act quickly to make the changes we need.”

Valogix automates the entire inventory planning process:

  • Forecasting & Planning – every item at every location

  • Stock Level Setting – considers forecast, lead time, order frequency,

  • Comprehensive forward-timed replenishment all items at all locations simultaneously

  • Desired target service level and variability in demand

  • Replenishment - Purchase Orders, Production Orders, Stock Transfers

  • Optimization – cost reduction & control - strategic planning analytics

  • Easy to use and highly effective

  • Avoids disruptions from costly stock-outs

  • Exception based – alerts warn of potential future issues

  • Planning Groups give unparalleled planning control & flexibility

  • Items used in B.O.M.s and Kits as well as those sold independently

  • Back-schedules to cover longest lead time of components

  • Considers substitutes and supersedes

  • Synchronized planning for smooth-flow inventory availability