Today I’m joined by Anaplan, a company that builds connections and collaboration across organizational silos, allowing its platform to intelligently surface key insights, so businesses can make the right decisions, right now.
Anaplan is the only scenario planning and analysis platform designed to optimise decision-making in today’s complex business environment, so that enterprises can outpace their competition and the market.
Today Michele Tezer, Senior Director of Supply Chain Applications at Anaplan, will be taking a deep dive into the retail supply chain – exploring what’s changing, the impact of the ‘latency tax’ and how to remove friction, what it takes to operate global brands, and how retailers can turn AI experimentation into real-world success.
Guest bio:
Michele Tezer currently works at Anaplan as the Senior Director of Supply Chain Applications. Michele has extensive experience as a consultant and technology leader, providing best practices and advanced analytics for global retailers at some of the world’s most visible speciality, luxury, and consumer products brands.
IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:
[03.26] An overview of the changing retail supply chain landscape, the biggest emerging trends, and how these developments are reshaping the way retailers need to plan.
“Every cycle, we think retail – which has relentless change – can’t possibly get any crazier. Yet, somehow, it always seems to…!”
“The desire for rapid decision-making was always there but, historically, the amount of data actually expanded the lead time you’d need to make it.”
[05.50] The findings from research with Incisiv on the cost of slow decision-making in retail, exploring the drivers of the ‘latency tax’ and where delays are causing retailers to lose the most value.
[09.07] How retailers can break down silos between operational, finance and commercial teams through connected, real-time planning, bringing data and decision-making together to reduce friction, improve visibility and enable faster, more informed business decisions.
“Teams might come together in a meeting. But, inevitably, you’d get into a deep conversation around: “Where did you get that number, because my numbers don’t look like that.” Bringing everybody together onto the same data structure and data set is the place to start.”
“Data is the currency to make decision-making better.”
[13.00] The opportunities and challenges for European retailers looking to scale internationally, and how to translate Europe’s heritage, craftsmanship and brand strength into successful global retail operations.
“It’s next to impossible to scale globally if you have a European model and think you can just deploy that elsewhere. It doesn’t translate as perfectly as you might hope.”
“Think globally, plan regionally, execute locally.”
[16.49] Why a one-size-fits-all approach to global retail expansion falls short, and how successful retailers balance global brand consistency with local market differences in customer expectations, experiences, regulation and compliance.
“If you start with a global playbook, it ignores the complexity sitting at the local level… We’re headed to a decentralised model with proof and information sharing back and forth as rapidly as possible.”
[21.43] The importance of granular, SKU-level demand forecasting in retail, and why category- or product-level planning may not be sufficient to balance inventory, minimise excess stock and prevent missed sales opportunities.
[26.19] How better planning helps retailers manage demand uncertainty and make informed inventory decisions ahead of seasonal orders, when opportunities to react are limited.
“Making decisions when they actually need to be made is critical.”
[29.35] The current reality of AI adoption in retail, where it’s delivering tangible value in day-to-day operations, and where practical applications still lag behind the hype.
“You can see the AI hype cycle happening, but we lean into practical AI. For us, it’s machine learning, optimisation and acting as a partner to the planner, merchant or supply chain teams to help make decisions as rapidly as possible.”
[32.47] The importance of a strong underlying data foundation in AI-driven planning, and the impact of planner trust on the adoption of AI recommendations.
[35.56] The difference between deterministic and probabilistic forecasting, and how combining probabilistic AI with deterministic planning engines can improve retail inventory, replenishment and safety stock decisions.
“You can get highly accurate, auditable numbers that are financially viable and mathematically precise.”
[40.09] Practical advice for retailers looking to get started with AI and connected planning – where to focus first and how to take the initial steps towards successful adoption.
RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED:
Head over to Anaplan’s website now to find out more and discover how they could help you too. You can also connect with Anaplan and keep up to date with the latest over on LinkedIn or YouTube, or you can connect with Michele on LinkedIn.
If you enjoyed this episode and want to hear more from Anaplan, listen to:
- 568: Operationalizing AI in Planning: Go From Experimentation to ROI, with Anaplan
- 514: Turn Strategic Planning Into Retail Profitability, with Anaplan
- 499: Navigating the EV Revolution, with Anaplan
- 4: Eliminating the Latency Tax: Get Smarter, Connected Retail and Supply Chain Planning in APAC, with Anaplan
Check out our other podcasts HERE.
