SAS Supply Chain Intelligence Overview
SAS Supply Chain Intelligence is a sophisticated supply chain management software designed to optimize operations, enhance decision-making, and drive competitive advantage for businesses. Here’s a detailed look at what the product does and its key features:
Core Functionality
- Supply Chain Optimization: SAS Supply Chain Intelligence enables organizations to manage their supply chains using an integrated, market-driven approach. It helps in balancing inventory with demand in near-real time and aligns supply plans with accurate demand forecasts.
Key Features
- Advanced Analytics and Reporting: The software features advanced analytics and reporting tools that provide real-time insights into supply chain performance, demand forecasting, and operational efficiency. It includes powerful pre-built analytical forecast models and dashboards with exception reporting.
- Demand Forecasting and Sensing: SAS Supply Chain Intelligence offers precise forecasting, demand sensing, and demand shaping capabilities. It uses time-series forecasting and machine learning to build models that reflect business realities, including intermittent demand, new product launches, pricing, and promotions.
- Inventory Management: The software optimizes inventory levels by calculating optimal inventory policies using multiechelon optimization and what-if discrete event simulation. This helps in avoiding under- or over-stocking inventory and ensures product availability meets customer demand while managing overall inventory costs.
- Supplier Relationship Management: Users can efficiently manage supplier relationships, track shipments, and monitor inventory levels through an intuitive interface. This enhances visibility and collaboration across the supply chain.
- Scenario Modeling and What-If Analysis: SAS Supply Chain Intelligence supports scenario modeling, allowing organizations to assess the impact of various strategies on supply chain outcomes. This includes evaluating sales history and planning for future events such as new product launches or channel introductions.
- Integration with ERP Systems: The platform integrates seamlessly with existing ERP systems, facilitating a smooth flow of data across departments and ensuring unified data from across the organization.
- Machine Learning and AI: Embedded with SAS patented Machine Learning and statistical forecasting, the software quickly senses short-term demand and supports agile demand shaping responses. It also measures the effect of sales and marketing strategies on consumer demand using demand causal analytics.
- Collaboration and Visibility: The software fosters collaboration among sales, marketing, finance, operations, and supply teams, as well as third-party stakeholders, in support of the Integrated Business Planning (IBP) process. It includes interactive dashboards to monitor, track, and report on forecast performance.
Benefits
- Improved Forecast Accuracy: SAS Supply Chain Intelligence enhances forecast accuracy, which improves inventory productivity, increases on-shelf performance, and reduces markdowns to drive higher margins.
- Enhanced Efficiency: The software automates complex planning tasks, allowing planners to focus on critical exceptions. It also optimizes responses throughout the supply chain, reducing obsolete inventory and waste.
- Better Decision-Making: With real-time insights and data-driven analytics, businesses can make smarter decisions, innovate their supply chain operations, and achieve higher customer satisfaction.
In summary, SAS Supply Chain Intelligence is a powerful tool that leverages advanced analytics, machine learning, and AI to optimize supply chain operations, improve forecasting accuracy, and enhance overall business efficiency.