Women and Manufacturing Host Tracy Coon: How Software Solutions Benefit Your Manufacturing Company
Women and Manufacturing podcast Episode 146 hosts Tracy Coon to solve big problems in supply chain inventory planning software.
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Manufacturing Talk Radio Explores Supply Chain Resiliency and Pricing Solutions in One Package
In this podcast, Manufacturing Talk Radio explores Planning and Pricing Solutions together in one package to create supply chain resiliency.
Read MoreToday’s Big News and What it Means for Supply Chain Planning and Pricing Solutions
Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Today we announced the acquisition of Inventory Investment AS (IIAS). This investment is the latest example of Blue Ridge’s capabilities, growth and efforts to expand our global presence. The investment extends business agility with AI and Machine Learning-Based Supply Chain Planning and Pricing solutions. For additional […]
Read MoreHARDI and Blue Ridge Present: 2021 State of The Distribution Supply Chain Webinar
HARDI and Blue Ridge Webinar to address Supply Chain & Inventory Planning Trends, Challenges, Best Practices: How to Right-Size Inventory and Maximize Customer Service Levels Amidst Disruption - plus 7 'wrong turns' and how to avoid them.
Read MoreWhy You Need Cloud-Native Supply Chain Solutions (Like Yesterday)
This Manufacturing Outlook article makes a pretty darn-good case for why you need cloud-native supply chain solutions. Stat.
Read MoreWine and Spirits Distribution Supply Chain Trends and Best Demand Planning Practices
The wine and spirits distribution trends of 2020 were a great reminder that best demand planning practices start with resiliency in supply chain planning.
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UPCOMING WEBINAR WITH UNIPRO: Inventory Planning War Stories in Food Distribution
Blue Ridge and UniPro proudly present the next inventory planning webinar in our “War Stories” series. This one’s for food distribution businesses that want to improve service levels with less inventory and risk.
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Robotics and Automation in Demand and Inventory Forecasting
2021 is the year when companies need earlier insights into new market opportunities, including what items consumers want, on what channel, how much they should stock, and how much they will pay for these products. The ability to compete in new areas with this level of agility will be the […]
Read MoreForecasting Automotive Aftermarket Parts: Industry Analysis
The global automotive aftermarket size was valued at USD $378.4 billion in 2019 and is expected to register a CAGR of 4.0% from 2020 to 2027. Want a bigger slice of that pie? Today we have a few insights from an automotive aftermarket industry analysis by Grandview Research. Thought you might enjoy learning what trends are driving increased demand […]
Read MorePricing Strategy #6: You Can’t Afford to Over-Rely on Cost-Plus Pricing vs. Science
Cost-plus pricing is an unwise strategy that ignores the science behind margins. Machine learning tools should be central to your post-pandemic pricing strategy.
Read More6 Noteworthy Trends the Dutch Food Industry is Finding from COVID Round 2 (Part 6)
Our food distribution trends wrap up today with a note about how ecommerce growth and politics are affecting inventory planning.
Read MorePricing Strategy #5: You Can’t Afford to Ignore Shrinking Revenue and Profits
A key pricing strategy you can't afford to ignore is price optimization software. This strategy offsets shrinking revenue and margins using pricing analytics
Read MorePricing Strategy #4: You Can’t Afford to Ignore Intelligent Pricing with SCP
With the pedal to the metal on ecommerce, competitive pricing and price transparency are making it difficult for retailers and distributors to find margins. Intelligent price optimization tools give much-needed relief.
Read More6 Noteworthy Trends the Dutch Food Industry is Finding from COVID Round 2 (Part 5)
Food distribution businesses can learn some good pricing strategies from these 6 food industry trends uncovered by the Dutch. Part 5
Read MorePricing Strategy #3: You Can’t Afford to Ignore Flexibility to Cost Changes
Today is about building flexibility into your pricing strategy so you can manage unpredictable cost changes and maintain control over margins.
Read MorePricing Strategy #2: You Can’t Afford to Ignore Competitor Pricing
Ecommerce growth in the pandemic means responding quickly to competitor prices. Learn how AI can measure price sensitivity to refine your pricing strategy.
Read More6 Pricing Strategies You Can’t Afford to Ignore: Strategy #1
Pricing strategies that used to work no longer work in the post-pandemic world. This 6-part series gives 6 pricing strategies you can’t ignore, if you want to get back on track for profitability.
Read MoreEven Santa Had to Rethink His Supply Chain this Year: Letter From an Elf
Hi, Eddie the Elf here. I must admit I am fanatic about planning. Some folks say I am OCD about it. I plan everything. From my green outfit and hat each morning to Santa’s entire year of shipments around the world that need to be delivered in one night! Seasonality, […]
Read MoreAmazon’s Holiday Logistics Nightmare
As I was sitting here, kicking my own butt for procrastinating my holiday shopping, I started to wonder about Amazon and what a monstrous holiday logistics nightmare their distribution operations must be. But hey, somehow they seem to have a handle on it mostly. It still makes me wonder… How […]
Read MoreHow to Build Supply Chain Resiliency Now and in 2021
Here we are in December 2020, after a pandemic we had no idea was coming. When will it stop? The only certain answer to that is that no one really has a clue. What we all do know is that we need real solutions to the supply chain uncertainty that […]
Read More6 Noteworthy Trends the Dutch Food Industry is Finding from COVID Round 2 (Part 4)
Part 4 of our 6-part series continues today to help the foodservice industry understand what food distributors are doing to manage inventory uncertainties. As a second wave of COVID-19 continues to spread in Europe, we’ve been gathering some intel from our Dutch customers that may prove useful in this area. So […]
Read MoreSome Good News for EU Retailers About Peak Season
If I had to come up with a theme to describe 2020, it is ‘The Year of Mystery’. Peak season is always a mystery for retailers during a normal year. So what do the insights and predictions say for this year? For one, e-commerce continues to run haywire. For those […]
Read MorePODCAST: Time to Gut-Check Your Distribution Facility Operations?
It’s getting harder – yet more critical – for distribution companies to be nimble and quick in their operations. Many are considering adding automation and next-gen solutions like robotics, autonomous sortation systems, and automatic storage and retrieval. Or in many cases, it’s just a matter of finding out whether you […]
Read MoreWhat is the Value of AI and Machine Learning in Supply Chain Management?
AI and machine learning technologies, such as Price Optimization software, are the future of forecasting. Need proof? DCVelocity reported this week that “Firms will derive between $1.3 trillion and $2 trillion a year in economic value from using AI and Machine Learning in supply chain management and manufacturing”. That’s no […]
Read More6 Trends the Food Industry Can Learn from Dutch Supermarkets (Part 3)
Part 3 of our 6-part series continues today to help the foodservice industry understand what food distributors are doing to manage inventory uncertainties. As a second wave of COVID-19 continues to spread in Europe, we’ve been gathering some intel from our Dutch customers that may prove useful in this area. […]
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Blue Ridge Career Diaries: Nader Ramadan
Career Diaries is back today with a guy who holds the title for “Best Beard” at Blue Ridge… Pre-Sales Engineer Nader Ramadan. This picture really doesn’t do it justice. Check back here later; maybe he will send me a post-pandemic one instead! 😂 “I joined Blue Ridge about 3 years […]
Read More6 Trends the Food Industry Can Learn from Dutch Supermarkets (Part 2)
Part 2 of our series continues today and I’m so glad you joined us. We’ve been talking about trends in the food industry and what food businesses are doing to manage inventory uncertainties. As a second wave of COVID-19 continues to spread in Europe, we’ve been gathering some intel from […]
Read MoreInside Chewy’s First Automated Fulfillment Center
Chewy’s, the pet supplies e-tailer that has grown YoY sales by 47% YoY for the last two quarters, opened its first automated fulfillment center to address 4 key priorities: Worker safety, cost structure, delivery speed, and minimizing product damaged during fulfillment and delivery. These are also key problems for many […]
Read MoreBlue Ridge Career Diaries: Jeff Jatcko
Jeff Jatcko, Blue Ridge Account Executive of the Atlanta office, tells his employee story in today’s Blue Ridge Career Diaries series: “I joined Blue Ridge in August of 2017, so I just crested my three-year anniversary. One of the things that attracted me to Blue Ridge was the quantifiable impact […]
Read More6 Noteworthy Trends the Dutch Food Industry is Finding from COVID Round 2 (Part 1)
Only 4 European countries are now measuring below a crucial level of COVID-19 cases, according the latest figures. For the food industry, fresh outbreaks mean more changes and more challenges. This series will cover 6 noteworthy trends we can learn from the Dutch food industry as COVID Round 2 makes its […]
Read MoreDemand Planning in ERP? I’d Rather Chew Broken Glass.
Why do demand planning teams despise their ERP? That’s an easy one. It’s totally impractical for supply chain planning in the distribution world! Despite what some ERP vendors tout, these systems cannot be all things to all customers. They do aid in making timely decisions around selling, accounting and purchasing. […]
Read MoreOnline Competition is Forcing Reckless Pricing (Here’s How to Avoid it)
Increased digital commerce is forcing retail and distribution businesses to dig deep for a better way to react to competitive prices. Pricing strategy is a huge sticking point for these companies as they sweat to figure out how to pivot from traditional channels to online demand on a dime. In […]
Read MoreWhat is Supply Chain Management?
More than 50% of companies believe that supply chain management is a source of competitive advantage for their organizations. Especially in a highly competitive market, supply chain management can be the difference between success and failure. So it’s not surprising that firms are willing to spend $4.8 billion worldwide on supply […]
Read MoreBlue Ridge Career Diaries: Ashley Hill
Today’s Blue Ridge Career Diaries series turns to Ashley Hill, Customer Success Manager in the Atlanta office: “I joined Blue Ridge on September 16, 2019. I’ve always been interested in the Supply Chain Industry and had experience working for other software companies. Blue Ridge combines the two! What initially drew […]
Read MoreWebinar Answers the Question: “What’s the ROI of Supply Chain Planning Solutions?”
Ask the manager of any demand planning team and they’ll gladly jump on the opportunity to implement modern planning technology, especially with the power of AI and machine learning pushing forecast accuracy upwards of 99%+. But then someone in a window office undoubtedly drops the dreaded question, “What’s the ROI […]
Read MoreHow is COVID-Related Urban Exodus Impacting Supply Chains?
Supply chain implications from COVID-19 are widespread, with many dimensions. We talk a lot about those in this blog. One angle that hasn’t received much attention until now is the urban exodus resulting from consumers moving outside of cities. It’s an interesting question: How is COVID-related urban exodus impacting supply […]
Read MoreAnd You Thought YOUR Job Was Stressful!
A great story ran in Valley News about “the unsung heroes of the pandemic“. Who would you peg at your distribution or retail company? In 2020, that’s an easy one… Supply Chain Managers. Aside from doctors and nurses, of course! For supply chain managers, things have always been topsy-turvy. A […]
Read MoreBlue Ridge Career Diaries: Kamal Sooch
Today we shift to our U.S. employees! Blue Ridge Career Diaries is a series dedicated to sharing employee stories about why they love working at Blue Ridge. These stories continue weekly to demonstrate our company’s dedication to creating a positive culture of “customer obsession,” teamwork, personal growth and recruitment of […]
Read MoreHow Machine Learning Eases Global Supply Chain Volatility
Supply chain volatility is causing distribution companies to invest in machine learning and pricing tools. Particularly for companies that source internationally, these technologies are crucial to managing strong fluctuations on the customer demand side – while softening the impact of costly issues on the supply side. These challenges are forcing […]
Read More28 Supply Chain Management Pros Weigh In on Challenges
What are the biggest challenges of supply chain management? 6 River Systems, a robotics company focused on revolutionizing fulfillment, put together a nice panel of supply chain pros to discuss the biggest challenges in supply chain management and how to overcome them. Here’s a sampling of what they listed: Not […]
Read MoreLet’s Talk Forecast Accuracy: The ROI of Forecasting Software, Quantified
Forecast Accuracy… Many companies underestimate the power of getting it right. Even more concerning is the fact that most believe the costs attached to inaccuracies are a necessary evil of the business. Untrue. If that’s the case, then we need to do a better job at quantifying the ROI of […]
Read MoreSupply Chain Trends and Predictions for 2020-2021
Did you know that 79% of companies with high-performing supply chains achieve above-average revenue growth within their industries? Let’s back up and answer the bigger question here, how do you create a high-performing supply chain? It all starts with understanding today’s supply chain trends, statistics and predictions. “By staying on […]
Read MoreBlue Ridge Career Diaries: Yashodhara Patankar
Today we continue our Blue Ridge Career Diaries series, dedicated to sharing employee stories of why they love working at Blue Ridge. These stories continue weekly to demonstrate our company’s dedication to creating a positive culture of “customer obsession,” teamwork, personal growth and recruitment of top talent. Today we hear from […]
Read MoreSCP and S&OP Solutions Put Norwegian Meat Producer Grilstad into Elite Competitive Position
“Planning production in a food processing company is a complex and fast-moving target,” said Terje Kløver, food retail supply planning manager at Grilstad, one of Norway’s largest meat producers. Supply Chain Planning (SCP) and Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) solutions can certainly solve these challenges. These solutions are a key […]
Read MoreYour Supply Chain Can’t Handle the Truth!
“I’d like an answer to the question, Judge”… “Colonel Jessup, did you order the Code Red???” The year 2020 has proven with brutal force that many firms’ supply chain applications ‘can’t handle disruption’! Forever 21, Toys ‘R Us, century-old Brooks Brothers and Lord & Taylor, and a growing list of […]
Read MoreBlue Ridge Career Diaries: Madhura Khaire
Today we continue our Blue Ridge Career Diaries series, dedicated to sharing employee stories of why they love working at Blue Ridge. These stories continue weekly to demonstrate our company’s dedication to creating a positive culture of “customer obsession,” teamwork, personal growth and recruitment of top talent. Today we hear from Madhura […]
Read More5 Supply Chain Disruptions Our Software Can Solve
The year 2020. OMG. Seems like everything could go wrong, did. All you read about these days is supply chain disruptions. The need to build resilience. I’m guilty; I’ve blogged a lot about it, too. And here I go again… Today is different, though. Let’s talk about how Blue Ridge’s […]
Read MoreHow’s Your Supply Chain Resilience Planning Going?
5 Recommendations for Supply Chain Cost Control & Sustainability Many manufacturers and retailers have experienced the stress, service problems and financial costs of business disruptions caused by unforeseen external events. In particular, of course, the worldwide recession caused by the pandemic has forced supply chain leaders to take calculated risks […]
Read MoreGartner Peer Insights Review of Blue Ridge: Accuracy Up, Inventory Down!
This Gartner Peer Insights review of Blue Ridge illustrates our commitment to providing a demand planning platform that works very well, AND can be implemented quickly and painlessly, to drive forecast accuracy up and inventory down: Simple Implementation Or as I like to call it: “Simplementation”. 😁 “We began implementing […]
Read MoreBlue Ridge Career Diaries: Pritam Deokule
Today we continue our Blue Ridge Career Diaries series, dedicated to sharing employee stories of why they love working at Blue Ridge. These stories continue weekly to demonstrate our company’s dedication to creating a positive culture of “customer obsession,” teamwork, personal growth and recruitment of top talent. Today we hear […]
Read MoreFuel for Choosing a Planning for NetSuite Software Provider
Doing a comparison of Planning for NetSuite software providers? There are many out there. One thing our customers say over and over again is that, when it comes to supply chain planning, S&OP and price optimization solutions, “A big name doesn’t mean jack. It’s the execution and domain expertise that […]
Read MoreWhat is the Economic Outlook for World Trade? Here Are Lots of Stats…
The World Trade Organization predicted in April that world merchandise trade would plummet between 13% and 32% this year. What are your thoughts now? Are we getting back to growth – and if so, when? What’s the economic outlook for global trade? Global Trade Magazine blogged that despite the widespread […]
Read MoreWho Doesn’t Love a Hot Pink Taco Truck?
Work Hard, Play Hard: Company Picnic on the Tails of BLUEPRINT After wrapping up a well-attended BLUEPRINT virtual conference last Thursday, we decided that hard work deserves hard play. Blue Ridge employees from the Atlanta Office gathered at East Cobb Park for some camaraderie and corn hole. I mean, REALLY??? […]
Read MoreTop 4 Drivers of Supply Chain Success
What are the best strategies that drive supply chain success? Ask a few people and you’ll get a lot of different answers. After all, opinions are like… Well, you know. Everyone has one. But when you break it down to its simplest form, there are really 4 things you need. […]
Read MoreBlue Ridge Career Diaries: Gauri Rajmane
Happy Almost Friday! If you’ve been following our Blue Ridge Career Diaries series, you’ve gotten a taste for what it’s like to work at Blue Ridge. We publish one employee story each week to illustrate the culture and growth opportunities offered by our Company – and our commitment to add […]
Read MoreWe Are Rolling with BLUEPRINT2020!
Lora Cecere of Supply Chain Insights and Jim Byrnes are rolling the conference kick-off. We have a great lineup of supply chain content in store for the next 2 days! We added 50 new seats in the final hours, after blowing away the capacity limit we originally set up in […]
Read More11 Benefits of Shifting Inventory Risk onto the Manufacturer
“Who should own inventory risk?” That question was posed – and answered – by SupplyChainBrain’s Think Tank. You can read their article here. In short, SCB Contributor M. Scott Moon proposes shifting inventory risk onto the manufacturer, rather than the seller. “The time is right to fundamentally change the way […]
Read MoreData Analytics: A Competitive Edge for Supply Chain Management
Organizations are finding that data analytics and related technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning hold the key to supply chain management excellence. How are analytics, AI and machine learning used in supply chain management? CIO magazine recently detailed how several organizations are putting data analytics to work […]
Read MoreLora Cecere and Adrian Gonzalez Join BLUEPRINT FREE Supply Chain Conference
Lora Cecere and Adrian Gonzalez – two of the most influential and knowledgeable thought leaders in the supply chain space – will speak at our virtual supply chain conference, BLUEPRINT 2020 next Wednesday and Thursday, Sept. 23 & 24. Learn more & sign up for FREE Navigating Chaos with Confidence […]
Read MoreBlue Ridge Career Diaries: Sanket Narkar
What’s it like to work at Blue Ridge? Let’s go straight to the source. Blue Ridge Career Diaries is a series of personal stories submitted by Blue Ridge employees on how and why they joined our team. We continue publishing weekly as long as the stories keep rolling in! Our team […]
Read More6 Statistics That Prove Supply Chain Visibility Matters
Yesterday we blogged about supply chain risk management and the crucial role that supply chain visibility plays in it. In a worldwide supply chain study by GEODIS, it is apparent that most companies just aren’t doing ‘supply chain visibility’ well. It’s not to say they don’t want to. Other things […]
Read MoreSupply Chain Risk Management: Are You Flying Blind?
Coronavirus has brought supply chain risk management into many boardroom conversations. To understand risk, we must first understand how much visibility companies have into their facilities and their extended supplier networks. It’s not much, says a study by Indago and TalkingLogistics. Many are flying blind in terms of how they […]
Read MoreA Great Comparison Chart of 6 ERP Solutions
Today’s ERP market is uber-competitive. These ERP solutions are constantly evolving to keep up with the needs of an increasingly complex business landscape, making it tough to decide which is the best ERP solution for your business. What all should you consider in ERP solution selection? To make that difficult […]
Read MoreHow to Improve Forecast Accuracy in Multi-Echelon Manufacturing Supply Chains
Forecast accuracy is a key stumbling block for manufacturing supply chains, as it continues to paralyze a variety of short-term operational decisions, such as production scheduling and inventory management. This is especially true where there are multi-echelon complexities – including poor collaboration, costly allocation of inventory between locations, and a […]
Read MoreBlue Ridge Career Diaries: Vedangi Lavekar
If you’re wondering what a career at Blue Ridge might look like, these diaries paint the picture. Blue Ridge Career Diaries is a series of personal stories submitted by Blue Ridge employees on how and why they joined our team. It started last month. We continue weekly as long as […]
Read MoreERP, Big Whoop! How Well Can You Really Track Your Supply Chain Costs?
Supply chain finance is always a thorn in companies’ sides. Right now it’s the entire rose bush, with very little information on how to track supply chain costs. While the guy or girl who wrote a check for that big ERP implementation says that’s the answer, it is most certainly […]
Read More6 Signs That Your Supply Chain Risk Just Shot Up
Worried about the reliability and security of your supply chain? Supply chain risk levels are not steady states, and can feel like walking a tightrope. Your systems and the systems of everyone touching your supply chain must be monitored. Software vendors, especially, should hold a reputable certification that their development […]
Read MoreTips to Stop Hemorrhaging Cash from Rising Retail Returns
Retail returns are on the rise. Yet, they are a costly reality to expect and prep for. What’s the going cost of retail returns? An article in today’s RetailTouchpoints reports $309 billion in lost sales for retailers last year to manage returns processing, incurred shipping costs, e-commerce adoption (it’s 8-10% […]
Read MoreBlue Ridge Career Diaries: Dhanashri Raskar
If you’re wondering what a Blue Ridge career might look like, you’ve landed in the right place. If you’ve been following our Blue Ridge Career Diaries, thank you! These are stories submitted by Blue Ridge employees on what it’s like to join our team. We’ve been publishing the first batch […]
Read MoreCOVID-19 is a Catalyst in Supply Chain Technology Adoption
If supply chain technology was a flickering item on the docket last year, this year it is a full-blown, 5-alarm fire. COVID-19 has lit a fire under the keister of retail, manufacturing and logistics leaders to implement supply chain technology. Where are these decision makers putting their supply chain technology […]
Read MorePainless Collaborative Planning and Forecasting in Manufacturing
I’d be willing to bet there are very few manufacturing companies that would describe forecasting and planning as “collaborative”, much less “painless”. Blame the pandemic. Blame e-commerce. Blame trade tariffs, transportation costs, supplier (mis)communication, or those stupid unreliable spreadsheets. Whatever it is, it all amounts to challenges and frustration. Manufacturing […]
Read MoreExciting New Additions to Our FREE Virtual Supply Chain Conference
Looking for the best free virtual supply chain conference deserving of your scarce time? You can stop now. It’s here. I’ll admit, I’ve learned in all my years that usually when something’s FREE, it’s lame. Not BLUEPRINT 2020! Worth every second of your time. Just Added Today we published some […]
Read MoreBlue Ridge Career Diaries: Milind Thakre
Looking for careers in supply chain software? This series is designed to help job seekers get a glimpse inside what it’s like to work at Blue Ridge. Earlier we launched the weekly series, Blue Ridge Career Diaries, continuing today with another employee story from our team in Pune, India — […]
Read MoreConstellation Research: Top 10 Solutions to Know for Order Management
Exciting news this week… Constellation Research’s Top 10 Solutions to Know for Order Management is here! Constellation Research has just published their ShortList™ for Matrix Commerce Order Management solutions, and guess who’s on it? Yep, Blue Ridge. About The ShortList About once a year, Constellation evaluates over 50 solutions categorized […]
Read More3 Ways to Create Resilient Supply Chains
Systemic shocks in global supply chains are here, but with the right resilience strategy, you can break through. It depends on how you manage the risk. [Or not]. Supply Chain Digital says you don’t need to be an Einstein to create more resilient supply chains. You just need these 3 […]
Read MoreWOW! 5 Teen Entrepreneurs Become Supply Chain Management Distribution Leaders
How did 5 teenagers from Alpharetta, Georgia, become some of the nation’s largest distributors of personal protective equipment (PPE)? Ingenuity, hard work and some help from friends. Forbes told the amazing story of their summer vacation and revelation about the future of supply chain management. They realized through ProjectParalink (a […]
Read MoreAmerican Business Awards® – Blue Ridge a Best Supply Chain Management Solution
Let us brag for a minute. Yep, this happened. Today Blue Ridge is honored to announce that we have won a shiny, new Stevie Award in the category of Best Supply Chain Management solution. The winners were determined by the average scores of more than 230 professionals worldwide in the […]
Read MoreWhat’s Next in Blue Ridge: Supply Chain Planning Release Webinar
We are pleased to have just wrapped up our most successful customer webinar yet, unveiling some exciting Supply Chain Planning updates in the coming release! A record number of customers registered, and very few dropped off of today’s event – with an additional 20% or so more people registering halfway […]
Read MoreBlue Ridge Career Diaries: Balaji Fugate
Looking for careers in supply chain software? This series is designed to help job seekers get a glimpse inside why we love our jobs here at Blue Ridge. We launched the Blue Ridge Career Diaries last week, and continue today with another employee story from our team in Pune, India. […]
Read MoreForecasting Seasonal Demand with Machine Learning Tools
Forecasting seasonal demand on today's complex supply chain management battlefield requires advanced machine learning tools.
Read MoreSupply Chain Optimization: European Insights from a Talk with Simacan
Supply chain optimization is a ripe topic for European distribution companies. Iris Westrik talks with Simacan to share strategies.
Read MoreWho Are The Top 100 Great Supply Chain Partners of 2020?
We're stoked to make this list! Top 100 Great Supply Chain Partners by SupplyChainBrain adds Blue Ridge for supply chain management.
Read More6 Benefits of Integrated Business Planning Software for Inventory Optimization
The benefits of Integrated Business Planning software are something that should be part of every company's inventory optimization strategy.
Read MoreBlue Ridge Career Diaries: Sanchit Limaye
Every Blue Ridge Career starts with great hiring. We're starting a weekly series of authentic stories from employees about our work culture.
Read MoreWhy Value-Based Pricing Should Top Your To-Do List
Is value-based pricing a priority? If not, then you've fallen into the cost-based pricing trap. Avoid margin erosion with pricing analytics.
Read MoreDifferences Between Demand Forecasting Yesterday vs. Tomorrow
There are some distinct differences between demand forecasting, which operates on historical sales data alone, and predictive analytics, where decisions are science-driven. There are huge benefits in the areas of agility, responsiveness and accuracy in demand planning.
Read MoreHow to Balance Inventory and Stop Giving Up Margins Immediately
Did you know the average distributor is sitting on $1.25 for every $1 they sell? Razor-thin margins are NOT an okay casualty of business, if you know how to balance inventory intelligently. Today's growing uncertainties around supply chain are totally fixable in just a few keystrokes. See how in this video.
Read MoreRetail Supply Chain Virtual Event to Address Consumerization Challenges
If you’re struggling with the consumerization of your retail supply chain, Retail Supply Chain Virtual USA is for you. With a killer lineup, talks will cover rebuilding your retail supply chain in a way that uses data and technology to get into consumers’ shoes. Particularly in the areas of inventory management and sustainability.
Read MoreThe Future of Digital Supply Chains
What does the future of digital supply chains look like? Industry 4.0 has uncertainty locked and loaded. With e-commerce creating (even more) unpredictable demand, it's time to embrace digitalization.
Read MoreDigitalization Technology is Key to Navigating COVID-19 Supply Shocks
Digitalization has accelerated the need for technology investments such as contactless deliveries. Case-in-point: J.B. Hunt. See why supply chain analytics and other digital investments should top your priority list right now.
Read MoreExample of Forecast Management Excellence During COVID-19
See how the Blue Ridge forecast management solution during COVID-19 helped a large HVAC distributor create 180% growth, with no layoffs or furloughs.
Read MoreHVAC Industry Trends Distributors Should Know About
In mid-July, the HARDI Pulse Survey revealed some insightful HVAC industry trends. These stats, which cover sales, inventory delays, employee health and customer delivery preferences, may be super helpful to HVACR and plumbing distributors who want to refine their demand forecasting strategies.
Read MoreSupply Chain Agility: Lessons from a Wine and Spirits Mastermind
While the supply chain agility strategy to retool production operations can be challenging, it can also present company history-changing opportunities. Strong supplier management will be key.
Read MoreIs Fewer Products on Retail Store Shelves the Answer Right Now?
Retailers are selling fewer products in store to recoup profits. But are supply chain planning and pricing solutions a better way to free up cash right now?
Read MoreHow to Balance Safety Stock: 4 Myths, Dispelled
Learning how to balance safety stock requires re-examining your inventory management strategy. Start by understanding these 4 myths about safety stock.
Read MoreSix 2020 Supply Chain Trends: Tech Reigns
The Next Tech gave six 2020 supply chain trends to have on your radar, and tech reigns them all. See what's coming up in the supply chain toolbox.
Read MoreOptimizing New Items: A Demand Forecasting Conundrum
Optimizing new items is one of the biggest conundrums in inventory optimization and demand forecasting. This PlanningPosts podcast with Tracy Coon reveals some LifeLine strategies to improve success with forecasting new-product demand.
Read MoreDistribution Strategy Group Presents The Wholesale Change Show
The Distribution Strategy Group hosts episodes of The Wholesale Change Show every Wednesday. Access past webinars and preview upcoming ones here.
Read MoreWEBINAR: Thriving in Supply Chain Disruptions
This webinar with The Vested Group says thriving in supply chain disruptions requires trading knee-jerk reactions for a longer-term approach to adaptability.
Read MoreLong-Term Supply Chain Shortages: Predictions from Daniel Stanton
Supply chain management expert Daniel Stanton shares what long-term supply chain shortages we can expect. Spoiler alert: it's not toilet paper.
Read MoreFun with Neural Networks
What are neural networks in demand forecasting? Today is a day for fun, as we look at Denis Shiryaev's use of neural networks in photorealistic art.
Read More6 Predictions as Firms Retool Their Supply Chains for Resilience
After global supply chains actually became leaner in 2019, predictions for post-pandemic supply chains are that this progress is being reversed by a reaction of stockpiling. Building resilience requires inventory reduction strategies.
Read More9 Growth Strategies for Manufacturing Industry 4.0
9 manufacturing growth strategies for NetSuite users to evolve for digitalization in the new Industry 4.0 where AI and customer experience reign.
Read MoreFood and Beverage Companies, Food Dive Needs Your Input
Food and beverage companies and manufacturers trying to navigate chaos in supply planning from coronavirus outbreaks can get some answers and weigh in here.
Read More8 Habits of Successful Direct-to-Consumer Retailers
These 8 habits of direct-to-consumer retail businesses will help you improve customer experience, forecast accuracy and profits during COVID-19 and beyond.
Read More3 COVID-19 Hangover Cures for Supply Chain Executives: Part 1
COVID-19 is forcing a hangover on supply chain executives. Part 1 of this series offers a cure to the symptom of supply extremes: supply chain visibility.
Read MoreA Handy Hack for Comparing Supply Chain Planning Solutions
Need a hack for comparing supply chain planning solutions? This handy 4-part guide simplifies your decision and accelerates ROI.
Read MoreSupply Chain Collaboration and S&OP Are Key to Unwinding Disruption
Supply chain collaboration and S&OP are crucial to unwind disruption. Use analytics to decide which strategic customer and SKU segments are most profitable
Read MorePredictive vs. Prescriptive vs. Cognitive Supply Chain Analytics
Supply chain analytics is a fuzzy area for many. Lora Cecere tells the difference between predictive analytics, prescriptive and cognitive analytics.
Read MoreFirms Will Drive $2T a Year in Value from Machine Learning in Supply Chain Management
The future of forecasting is machine learning, a binary of supply chain management and price optimization, which will drive $2T a year in value for firms.
Read MoreOffshoring vs. Reshoring in Supply Chain
What is reshoring? What are the pros and cons of offshoring vs. reshoring one's manufacturing operations in supply chain?
Read MoreThe 3 S’s Plaguing Your HVAC Customers: Part 3
The HVAC labor shortage is plaguing your HVAC customers. Learn why the shortage and how better demand forecasting can help you help them in their struggle.
Read MoreThe 3 S’s Plaguing Your HVAC Customers: Part 2
Forecasting seasonal HVACR demand is a pain for HVAC contractors, their customers and distributors alike. Learn the 3 "S's" plaguing the HVACR supply chain.
Read MoreThe 3 S’s Plaguing Your HVAC Customers: Part 1
Demand forecasting software empowers HVAC parts distributors to better serve their customers in times of stiff competition, seasonality and labor shortage
Read More3 New Mindsets for the Post-COVID-19 Growth Agenda
New CMO Mindsets are required to power the post-COVID-19 growth agenda including collaboration and supply chain analytics to fuel human connection.
Read MoreHighly Digitized, Agile Supply Chains Have an Opportunity to Seize
Highly digitized, agile supply chains have a far greater opportunity over competitors and it all comes down to supply chain planning for future crises
Read MoreHow to Shut Down the Bullwhip Effect in Supply Chain
The Bullwhip Effect in supply chain demand planning can be easily shut down with collaboration solutions that connect production to real-time retail data.
Read MoreWhat Causes the Bullwhip Effect in Supply Chain?
What causes the Bullwhip Effect in supply chain can also be easily fixed with real-time supply chain collaboration tools.
Read MorePerishable Order Management: Stabilizing ‘Yo-Yo’ Demand in Food and Grocery
Perishable order management solutions fueled by machine learning replenishment are highly effective in stabilizing food and grocery demand forecasting
Read More13 Consumer Habits of Interest to Foodservice Distributors Right Now
These 13 consumer habits are good inventory optimization and demand planning resources for foodservice distributors right now, from IFIC's survey during the pandemic
Read MoreMulti-Channel Pricing Strategies MUST Get Smarter
Price Optimization software enables multi-channel retail and distribution companies to get smarter with their pricing strategies to offset net profit loss.
Read MoreSupply Chains Are Rethinking Their Low-Cost Focus
As supply chain management feels the burn of COVID-19, supply chain agility has become a core focus. Supply chains are rethinking their low-cost focus.
Read More3 Capabilities Essential to Supply Chain Agility
These 3 capabilities are essential to bring supply chain agility and integrated business planning at a time when exceptions are the new normal.
Read More10 Eye-Popping Statistics About Retail Inventory Planning
Here are some statistics about retail inventory planning and related ebook: Does Your Demand Forecasting Strategy Still Fit?
Read More4 Pricing Strategies You’ve Probably Never Tried
Here are 4 price optimization and pricing strategies that retail and distribution businesses can use to balance prices and profits
Read MoreInventory Reduction is Strong Business Defense Against COVID-19
Why is inventory reduction the best defense against COVID-19? Inventory is your most expensive asset. Here's how to reduce inventory right now.
Read MoreCOVID-19 Supply Chain Resources and Recovery Strategies
Inbound Logistics put out an article of supply chain resources and recovery strategies for COVID-19, in which Cliff Isaacson shares why price optimization software is critical right now.
Read More3 Supply Chain Risk Planning Areas Forever Changed by COVID-19
Supply chain risk planning with a shoot-from-the-hip approach is deadly in today's COVID-19 stricken environment. Consider re-evaluating these 3 areas.
Read MorePricing Products is an Iterative Sport
Pricing products needs to be an iterative sport in today's uber-competitive, rapidly evolving world. Price optimization software helps flex with the changing needs of consumers.
Read MoreThe Power of AI in Supply Chain Analytics
AI is driving value in supply chain. Ask these questions to understand the power of supply chain analytics and AI in your distribution or manufacturing business.
Read MoreIsola’s Leap into Cloud-Based Supply Chain Planning Solutions
Isola selected Blue Ridge Supply Chain Planning solutions to gain control over its supply chain. Read their story in Supply & Demand Chain Executive.
Read MoreCoronavirus Economic Effect on Supply Chain: We’re Not All on the Same Page
What is Coronavirus effect on supply chain? Not all agree. The global economic sentiment for the next normal varies by region and by industry.
Read MoreRetail Pricing Strategies to Reverse Margin Erosion
These retail pricing strategies can reverse margin erosion. See how machine learning algorithms help retailers strategically shape demand & profits.
Read MoreDistribution and Supply Chain Management Best Practices: Stuff We Can Learn from Lean Manufacturing
Distribution companies can learn supply chain management best practices from lean manufacturing. A TCO-focused approach to forecasting gets big results.
Read More5 Reasons Execs Nix the Budget Request for SCP Software (and How to Change Their Minds)
The benefits of SCP software are a no brainer to demand planning teams. But when it comes to execs, the hammer comes down. Uncorking these 5 bottlenecks
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Useful Shortcut Map for Supply Chain Software in Europe
SCM's IT Subway Map offers a useful shortcut for selecting supply chain software solutions in Europe. Blue Ridge made this year's map; download here.
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What is Order Cycle Optimization?
What is order cycle optimization? Learn how software can help manage supplier constraints and build the most economic order cycle for replenishment.
Read MoreHurricane Season: Tips for Supply Chain Disaster Preparedness
June 1 begins hurricane season. Learn supply chain disaster preparedness tips and strategies from Proctor & Gamble, DHL and others to prep for the next one.
Read MoreWhy Supply and Demand Chain Executives Seeking Agility Need IBP
Supply and demand chain executives seeking supply chain agility need IBP to create one seamless process for S&OP
Read MoreCreating Agile Supply Chains through S&OP Solutions
S&OP solutions like Blue Ridge Integrated Business Planning (IBP) create agility in supply chains.
Read More5 Tips for Renegotiating Your Supplier Contracts
Proactive supplier management is a great way distributors can free up cash. Here are 5 tips for renegotiating your supplier contracts in a pandemic or in any supply chain management disruption.
Read MoreWill this COVID-19 Pandemic Change Supply Chains Forever?
Will this COVID-19 pandemic change supply chains forever? Talking Logistics says yes, in these 4 ways. A supply chain planning solution builds resiliency.
Read More5 Supply Chain Industry Trends Emerging from COVID-19
These 5 supply chain industry trends are emerging from COVID-19, according to research from MDM and Baird. Inventory reduction is key.
Read MoreWhen Does Forward Buying in Supply Chain Make Sense?
Wholesalers and retailers live on thin margins. First tariffs and now the pandemic certainly aren't helping things. However, many companies are using forward buying in supply chain to effectively drive margin improvement through cost reduction.
Read MoreNever Trust an ERP or WMS Solution for Supply Chain Planning
If you think your company’s ERP or WMS solution can handle supply chain planning, you've got some big problems headed your way. This widespread problem was recently addressed in a great podcast with Supply Chain Now and Mike Mills, Blue Ridge Director of Business Consulting.
Read More7 Steps to Set Up Your Supply Chain Management ‘New Normal’
f your job is to be in charge of supply chain management, you're well aware that the "new normal" is that there is no normal. Seems like forever since we saw anything resembling normal. Even though we don't know what the post-pandemic "new normal" will look like, experts believe that whatever it is, it will be here to stay.
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Supply Chain Management Disruption: To Prepare, or Not Prepare?
Supply chain visibility is something all distributors need, but most don’t have. A crisis such as the big “C” word that we’re in now is a huge wake-up call in the supply chain management department. Harvard Business Review recently wrote about supply network mapping and the expensive, reactive and uncoordinated hoops companies are going through to secure supply.
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Now More Than Ever: Supply Chain Analytics for Demand Forecasting
Traditional demand forecasting strategies no longer work because they look at demand where the purchase happens, NOT at the point of fulfillment.
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Managing Your Coronavirus-Stricken Business: 7 Logistics Impacts on Supply Chain
Coronavirus cases in China are declining. China is starting to get back online with warehouse capacity on manufactured goods. The whole world hopes to follow suit sooner rather than later. But now, the global supply chain faces an aftermath of logistics problems...
Read MoreManaging Your Coronavirus-Stricken Business: Supply Chain Analytics
Welcome to Part 2 of our series! IBF’s alarming statistic that 44% of businesses do not have a plan for managing Coronavirus got us thinking, “How can we best help the market, whether folks are using our demand planning software or someone else’s?"
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The 3 Amigos of Science in S&OP
“They aren’t perfect, but they facilitate collaboration by everyone to accomplish the goal.” Science in S&OP facilitates collaboration and synchronization between “The 3 Amigos” … Demand Forecasting, Inventory Optimization, and Price Elasticity Supply chain planning relies heavily on science and algorithms for better demand forecasting and inventory management. This includes forecasting […]
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6 Quick Fixes to Your Demand Forecasting Strategy
These forecasting strategies will improve your company’s service, overstock and image Ever stopped to examine the planning misconceptions which, very likely, are ripping you off? Today we’ll highlight the top 6, along with quick fixes that will keep your customers coming back and save your organization an S-ton in carrying […]
Read MoreOrder Validity Analysis: 7th Essential Step to Expert Demand Planning
Today we wrap up our 7-part series with Step #7, Order Validity Analysis. The final piece of the demand planning pie — where profitable, efficient orders happen. Order Validity Analysis allows you to place an order that makes sense for your receiving team, keeps your line in balance, and ensures […]
Read MoreReplenishment Optimization: 5th Essential Step to Expert Demand Planning
Manage Replenishment So That it Doesn’t Manage YOU Maintaining a proactive, accurate order quantity is the end result of great inventory component management. Thanks to replenishment optimization technology, what used to be a function of tireless hours spent each day manually constructing orders is now a swift and efficient part […]
Read MoreSpecial Order Analysis: 6th Essential Step to Expert Demand Planning
You’ve taken care of your customers’ needs. You’ve created your replenishment order, but you left a few stones unturned… What about those Special Orders? Before you send the replenishment order to your supplier, don’t overlook the opportunity to boost revenue and cut costs in these 3 Special Order areas: Events […]
Read MoreService Level Management: 4th Essential Step to Expert Demand Planning
Wouldn’t it be nice if calculating safety stock wasn’t such a crap shoot? The biggest conundrum in demand planning is Service Level Management and how to calculate safety stock so that the company can meet its service level goals — without sabotaging margins, that is. That’s the topic of today’s post […]
Read MoreOrder Cycle Optimization: 3rd Essential Step to Expert Demand Planning
Happy Friday and Welcome Back to the Series! We’ve been talking about the 7 components it takes to get demand planning right. Today it’s Step #3, Order Cycle Optimization. Before we get started, we need to get something off our chest… The Golden Rule of Order Cycle Optimization is that “Undisciplined Buying […]
Read MoreLead Time Forecasting: The 2nd Essential Step to Expert Demand Planning
Welcome back to our ‘7 Essential Steps’ Series! We hope you enjoyed last week’s post on demand forecasting. Today it’s onto the 2nd essential step of ‘getting it right’ in the purchasing process… Lead Time Forecasting! Lead time forecasting is a critical and often overlooked component of demand planning and replenishment. […]
Read MoreDemand Forecasting: The 1st Essential Step to Expert Demand Planning
Let’s face it. When you are out of stock, it’s the buyer’s fault. When you are overstocked, it’s the buyer’s fault. And should anything go right, it is thanks to the Sales Department! You can change that image and build a more satisfied, efficient demand planning team by understanding the purchasing […]
Read MoreKicking the Expensive Habit of Fixed Cycle Buying
Fixed Cycle Buying is the silent producer of excess inventory. Your suppliers that have been set to replenish on a fixed cycle like ‘every Monday’ or ‘every other Wednesday’ are tying up 20% or more in dollars that could be invested more profitably. Today we’ll show a replenishment breakdown, talk […]
Read MoreHow to Manage Long Lead Times, Slow Movers and Other Profit Stealers – Part 2 of 2
We’re all hyper-aware of how erratic demand and long lead times impact profitability. No one wants to be a cost center, but these and other problems force inventory analysts to carry high safety stock — which is one of the most crippling profit stealers of all. We recently gave the […]
Read More7 Habits of Today’s Top Inventory Management Teams
What can you learn from the habits of today’s top inventory management teams? We’ve been collecting insights from blue-chip inventory analysts over the years and the results have become more and more consistent. Today we’ll share those insights, along with our analysis, so you can learn from these leaders and […]
Read More11-Point Checklist for Perishable Inventory Management
Today’s consumers are busier and more health conscious. They want fresh grocery delivery, meal kits and even temperature-sensitive products like pharmaceuticals. Several retail trends are making it difficult for distributors to manage perishable inventory in a profitable way: Fresh product segments such as produce, eggs, refrigerated meat and poultry, and […]
Read MorePricing Strategies for Distributors
Leveraging Your Switzerland Position Distributors sit in a zone we call Switzerland… the middle of the supply chain between the manufacturer and the final customer, which increases the complexity and scope of what they must manage. If you’re a distributor, you can actually use this position to your advantage! In […]
Read MoreManaging Inventory Chaos During Distribution and Wholesale M&A
What the ‘M&A boom’ is doing to distributors’ purchasing teams is more than just an annoyance. It’s a big cash problem. One that’s easily solved with technology.
Read MoreHow to Manage Erratic Demand (Profitably): Profit Stealers Part 1 of 2
While there are many guilty parties in inventory analysis, high demand deviation is the one that’s adding more to your expenses than to your profit. So today’s topic: how to manage erratic demand profitably. Sales may be up, but erratic demand kills margins A crime is happening right under your […]
Read More5 Ways to Reduce Inventory Right Now
Teams that use this strategy and mindset to reduce inventory will free up incredible amounts of capital for their organizations.
Read MoreSpecialty Retail Series: Part 4 of 4
Inventory Optimization Strategies for Retail CX Domination Welcome to the final post in our “Specialty Retail Series.” In case you need a refresher, Part 3 covered “Where to Put Your Retail Tech Investment in 2020,” which was all about being adaptable in your replenishment forecasting. Today we’ll wrap up with […]
Read MoreThink Like an Inventory Investor, Not a Buyer
In the old world of replenishment, retail and wholesale inventory teams worked to keep store shelves stocked, holes filled in the warehouse, and hoped they could stay out of trouble and avoid attention. My, how times have changed! Today’s savvy inventory professionals are no longer just buyers. They welcome the […]
Read MoreNever Take Your Eyes Off this Demand Forecasting Metric
If you only look at one demand forecasting metric ever, it should be demand deviation. As you’ll see in this video tutorial, demand deviation is the #1 value influencing your profitability. Take a look at some of the most successful and strategic supply chain planning professionals in the world, and you’ll […]
Read MoreSpecialty Retail Series: Part 1 of 4
Modern Retail is Shrinking Our Ability to Make Balanced Inventory Decisions
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