End-to-End Demand Plan­ning Trans­for­ma­tion Saves Glob­al Retail­er Mil­lions Annually

The Problem

# Manual Demand Planning Process Preventing Adequate Inventory to Meet Demand

The reliance on manual processes for demand planning, the use of disconnected tools, and a lack of performance analytics to drive key strategic decisions had reached a breaking point for a Fortune 500 global retailer. As a result, over 590 planners worldwide were spending a collective 300,000 hours a year manipulating data in Excel to manage their global merchandising, forecasting, buy planning, and location planning. This was costing the client millions of dollars annually in lost revenue opportunities because they had the incorrect merchandise inventory to meet growing consumer demand.

The Approach

# A Transformation Project to Create Alignment and Define the Future of Planning

To begin, Propeller provided the client with its first fully dedicated resource devoted to standing up a transformed program. The Propeller team started by facilitating workshops with VPs across technology, demand and supply management, data and analytics, and strategic enterprise capabilities. From this effort, they helped the client create short and mid-term objectives, tracks of work, and a full roll-out roadmap, which, in turn, informed the required budget and resource needs. Next, the team cross-functionally assessed high-potential resources and oversaw individual R&R definitions to onboard individuals encompassing a 40-person leadership team who eventually managed a 250-person tech transformation organization. Propeller managed the portfolio budget, established the program management structure, and stood up each transformation project. Additionally, Propeller consultants oversaw each project manager, served as a business leader for Agile big room planning prioritization, and leveraged retail expertise to facilitate a host of global workshops that more clearly defined the future of planning across strategy, process, tech, and data.

# Services Provided

• Actionable Recommendations
• Agile Training + Coaching
• Data Integration + Vendor Management
• Portfolio Planning and Management
• Team Leadership + Development
• Technology Strategy Roadmaps
• Tech Implementation + Integration

Value Delivered

# A Planning Transformation Vision to Improve Demand Planning Strategy and Increase Revenue

Propeller consultants defined the transformation program from the ground up, leveraging their retail planning expertise to successfully deliver a positive outcome — despite a politically charged global team environment. The result was an alignment on the planning transformation vision, projects, and roles and responsibilities. Propeller ultimately held all roles accountable to their deliverables through effective end-to-end program management oversight. Project highlights include:

• A $1.1 billion, 10-year projected global revenue increase due to better products at the right place and at the right time to meet consumer demand, maximizing full-price sales.
• A $200M projected annual margin lift
• A transformed organization of 250 employees that was now able to open at least 40% capacity per planner to focus on the art of planning rather than data manipulation.