Author: Niels

Niels has 20 years of experience in supply chain and business planning and enjoy writing a thing or two every now and then. I'm on the advisory board of Foresight: The International Journal of Applied Forecasting and had the honour to have been labelled as "one of Foresight's most visionary authors." My articles cover company culture, strategy execution, S&OP, IBP, automation, augmentation and human centricity in business planning. As children's book author, publisher and mental toughness advocate, I hope to make a positive contribution by helping children learn about confidence, resilience and a positive mindset. My book series 'My Strong Mind' has been published in 10 languages.
decision intelligence, S&OP

Revolutionizing Supply Chain Decision-Making with Decision Intelligence

In the fast-paced world of supply chain management, the ability to make timely and informed decisions can spell the difference between success and failure. One crucial aspect of this decision-making process occurs in the sales and operations execution horizon—a critical 13-week window where key stakeholders gather weekly to navigate the complexities of demand planning, supply management, inventory allocation, and more. Traditionally, these meetings involve a … Continue reading Revolutionizing Supply Chain Decision-Making with Decision Intelligence

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decision intelligence, Digital supply chain

Planners, Embrace your Biased Judgements

The content discusses the limitations of forecasting and the evolving role of forecasters/planners. It emphasizes the need for integrating human judgment and predictive analytics in the digital supply chain, highlighting the advantages of machine detection and correction of human bias. It suggests using decision checklists to counteract human biases, and encourages collaboration between humans and machines for improvement. Continue reading Planners, Embrace your Biased Judgements

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decision intelligence, Leadership

Think Decision first, Data and AI later

“Companies with flaky master data would be wise to cleaning that up first before embarking on DI.”, a comment on my last blog about Decision Intelligence said. I surely agree, data is absolutely important when implementing technology. It already was when I was implementing ERP and APS systems 20+ years ago. And it still is. Garbage in is still garbage out indeed.   Maybe more … Continue reading Think Decision first, Data and AI later

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decision intelligence, Digital supply chain

Decision Intelligence, a Natural Step in the Planning Evolution

Decision Intelligence (DI) is a natural evolution in supply chain planning technology. It closes the planning and execution automation gap which has been left by ERP and APS, both technologies that have reached the maturity phase for their functional aims. 7% of companies have started to adopt autonomous end-to-end planning. 3% of companies use autonomous execution to enhance their supply chain resilience. Prediction are that … Continue reading Decision Intelligence, a Natural Step in the Planning Evolution

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decision intelligence, Digital supply chain, S&OP

A Case for a More Decision Centric IBP

Although Integrated Business Planning (IBP) is designed to make high-impact business decisions, little attention has been given to the quality of decisions in an IBP cycle. In my latest Foresight article, I argue that to continuously learn from and improve IBP decisions, decision processes ought to be integrated with the traditional IBP process and supported by Decision Intelligence technology that goes beyond existing transactional and … Continue reading A Case for a More Decision Centric IBP

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Digital supply chain, S&OP, Supply Chain

The Intelligent IBP Manifesto – 50 principles for a new planning paradigm

The IBP paradigm has hardly changed for 30 years, the decision needle has not moved enough. We’ve entered an AI era where 74% of work can be augmented or automated and 26% eliminated. Planning will not be excluded from this evolution. However, only 3% of companies apply automated execution and 7% autonomous end to end planning. 2% of managers apply best practice decision methods. Hardly … Continue reading The Intelligent IBP Manifesto – 50 principles for a new planning paradigm

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decision intelligence, Digital supply chain, S&OP

Reimagining IBP in the Age of AI

What would a Martian expert in supply chain planning and technology think when looking back at earth? With all technology available on earth would it continue with a 30+ year old, sequential, cascading, rather sluggish, manual planning process with a lack of focus on decision digitisation, decision quality and decision learning? Or would it start with a blank sheet and reimagine IBP? Closing the planning … Continue reading Reimagining IBP in the Age of AI

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decision intelligence

Don’t master AI. Be a Master of Your Business Process!

Seeing through the AI razzle dazzle Everything seems to be AI these days, which can become overwhelming when you have to think about how it can be used in your industry or business process. All whilst the market is screaming from all directions with their AI message. The AI razzle dazzle will continue. It will probably accelerate. Expect a ChatGPT every one or two years. … Continue reading Don’t master AI. Be a Master of Your Business Process!

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decision intelligence, Digital supply chain, S&OP

Intelligent IBP: A Need for Decision Centricity

At the core, the IBP process must facilitate executive decision making.

However, it lacks focus on using best practice decisions models to facilitate #decisionquality and #decisionlearning.

We can solve these traditional IBP decision gaps, enable a reduction in decision time and analytics waste, whilst increasing employee engagement with the decision process.

#Decisionintelligence technology can digitize decisions and decision context, create a system of records for decisions and develop a decision memory that helps continuously improve #decisionquality.

This is the fifth in a series of blogs, where I describe how #intelligentautomation and #decisionintelligence can help create a more #intelligentIBP and change the future of work. Continue reading Intelligent IBP: A Need for Decision Centricity

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decision intelligence, Digital supply chain

The Limitations of Forecasts and Plans on Decision Making

Forecasters and planners are involved in decision making, but make limited decisions with direct business impact themselves. A forecast is an insight or a foresight, a plan is an intent. A decision is only made when resources are irrevocably allocated to the execution of the decision. Without this, multiple forecast and planning options – as advanced as they may be – remain calculations, maybe insights … Continue reading The Limitations of Forecasts and Plans on Decision Making

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