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Taking a performance driven approach to supply chain planning and management, software makers PeopleSoft Inc. and Optiant both released new technology Wednesday.
PeopleSoft, of Pleasanton, Calif., announced the general availability of its namesake Supply Chain Planning 8.8, which utilizes a centralized data warehouse that combines planning, performance management and operational systems.
At the same time Optiant, of Boston, announced the next iteration of its PowerChain platform that is designed to help manufacturers tie supply chain decisions to financial impact.
PeopleSofts SCP 8.8 has three new applications: Demand Planning, Inventory Policy Planning and Supply Planning.
With 14 new forecasting algorithms, Demand Planning enables companies to create demand forecasts based on statistical analysis of demand history, causal factors like events and promotions, and input from employees and trading partners.
With Inventory Policy Planning, organizations have the ability to strategically manage inventory by creating what-if scenarios to compare current inventory policies with alternative policies —and then compare the costs.
Supply Planning aligns purchases and production capacity. At the same time, tight integration with PeopleSofts Demand Planning enables users to create schedules that are tied to forecasted events.
Separately, Optiants PowerChain upgrade to version 4.5 comes with actionable intelligence that include new features the likes of cash-to-cash cycle time (that measures the time from which materials are purchased to when money is recouped through a product sale), enhanced import/export integration with Microsoft Excel, advanced planning systems and enterprise resource planning systems.
PowerChain 4.5 includes three new modules: PowerChain Inventory, Architect and Echelon. Inventory establishes optimal inventory targets and policies. PowerChain Architect designs optimal supply chain configurations, material sourcing, manufacturing processes and distribution methods. Echelon allocates production and warehouse capacity across products.