Retail and consumer goods: Share data, collaborate, and react in real time with IBP

Q: My inventory-planning team is on top of things, but we often have no idea what the supply chain and promotional teams are forecasting. How can we increase visibility among departments to improve the accuracy of our forecasts?

A: An appropriate IBP strategy enables real-time information-sharing and collaboration across teams. IBP is usually supported by preconfigured reporting and dashboard capabilities that help planners understand current performance and monitor forecasting activities across teams and divisions. When one planning team updates a forecast, all stakeholders can review the changes and update their forecasts accordingly. 

Long-term impact: IBP can help planning stakeholders unify their efforts across functions to bolster the accuracy and sharing of forecasts. Planners will be able to work from a single script to break down functional silos and ultimately cultivate a business culture based on collaboration.

Q: My company is struggling to grasp the impact — if any — of recent trade tariffs on our pricing and profit margins. Is there a way we can understand and plan for tariffs and trade-war uncertainties?

A: Retailers don’t directly pay tariffs in trade skirmishes, but that doesn’t mean they are protected from collateral damage. When hit with import taxes, a distributor might absorb the costs, or pass some or all to customers. It’s an opaque process that most retailers cannot factor into business forecasting. An IBP solution incorporates analytic capabilities that enable planners to track market conditions and pricing. If tariffs raise product costs, IBP can allow retailers to identify alternate sourcing and maximize supply-chain efficiencies.

Long-term impact: Analytic models help retailers understand the impact of tariffs on costs and quickly take action when necessary. IBP helps retailers better align their planning with suppliers and quickly adjust pricing to account for costs. It also enables planners to enhance business capabilities unrelated to tariffs, including improved cash-flow management, liquidity, and margins.

Intelligent sourcing, supply chain management, and inventory planning are fundamental to predicting costs and performance; they are also constantly evolving. Businesses need integrated analytics to understand and quickly respond to internal and external changes in today’s volatile retail and consumer goods landscape.

In addition to boosting visibility, IBP can help connect teams across your organization, boost your planning and forecasting agility, and enhance your processes and performance. Register and download our full report to learn how.

Marisa Garcia, CPA, Partner, Advisory, Integrated Business Planning (IBP) Leader

646.601.7786

Stephen Wyss, CPA, Partner, Assurance, Consumer Industry Leader

646.625.5758