Scott Sheldon has merged with Argon & Co. Learn More →   |    Read the Press Release→

scottsheldon teal@2x
Let's Talk!

Blog

Our blog is a hub for insights, expert knowledge, best practices, and inspiration. Tap into our consultants’ expertise to help you grow and achieve your goals.

The Future of Planning: From Systems to Autonomous Decision Networks

Supply chain planning is approaching an important crossroads. Artificial intelligence, new planning architectures, and evolving operating models are forcing organizations to rethink how planning capabilities should be built and maintained. In this final article in the series, we explore how planning is evolving from traditional systems into continuously operating decision

AI Buzzwords in Supply Chain Planning: What They Really Mean

Artificial intelligence is transforming supply chain planning, but it is also introducing a growing number of new terms into technology discussions. Cognitive planning, digital twins, autonomous planning, decision intelligence, and Agentic AI are now commonly used to describe modern planning platforms. For supply chain leaders evaluating technology, understanding what these

AI in Supply Chain Planning: Real Intelligence or Just Better Algorithms?

Artificial intelligence has become one of the most widely used terms in supply chain technology marketing. Nearly every planning platform now claims to offer AI driven capabilities, from machine learning forecasting to Agentic AI. For supply chain leaders, the challenge is separating genuine artificial intelligence from traditional planning algorithms that

What Is Planning as a Service and Why AI Makes It More Advantageous

Artificial intelligence is transforming supply chain planning and increasing the pace of change in planning technology. As organizations adopt machine learning forecasting, scenario simulation, and advanced analytics, many are rethinking how planning capabilities should be delivered and maintained. Planning as a Service is emerging as a model that combines modern

Planning as a Service: The Emerging Model for AI Driven Planning

Artificial intelligence is transforming supply chain planning, but it is also increasing the complexity of planning systems and analytical models. As organizations adopt machine learning, scenario simulation, and advanced analytics, many are rethinking how planning capabilities are delivered and maintained. Planning as a Service is emerging as a model that

The Case for Replacing Legacy Planning Platforms in the AI Era

Artificial intelligence is transforming supply chain planning, but not every planning platform can support these capabilities. Many legacy systems were designed for sequential planning cycles and struggle to handle the real time data, advanced analytics, and scenario modeling required today. This article explores the signs that your planning platform may

AI Add Ons: When Extending Your Planning Platform Makes Sense

Artificial intelligence is creating new opportunities to improve supply chain planning, but replacing existing systems is not always the right first step. Many organizations are exploring how AI capabilities such as machine learning forecasting, AI copilots, and decision intelligence tools can enhance their current planning platforms. This article examines when

The AI Planning Crossroads: Replace, Extend, or Rethink Your Platform?

Artificial intelligence is quickly changing how supply chain planning decisions are made. As new capabilities emerge, many organizations are evaluating whether their existing planning platforms can evolve to support them. Should companies extend current systems with AI, replace legacy platforms, or rethink the operating model entirely? This article explores the

Why Forecast Accuracy Alone Isn’t the Measure of Planning Maturity

Forecast accuracy has long been treated as the primary measure of planning success. But as organizations grow and complexity increases, accuracy alone is no longer enough. True planning maturity is defined by decision confidence, scenario readiness, and the ability to respond effectively when assumptions change.

The Hidden Cost of Staying in the Same Planning Stage Too Long

Planning processes often appear stable long after they stop supporting the needs of the business. When organizations remain in the same planning stage too long, hidden costs begin to accumulate through slower decisions, increased risk, and growing strain on teams. This article explores why planning maturity must continue to evolve

What Planning Maturity Looks Like Across Demand, Supply, and Finance

Planning maturity does not develop evenly across an organization. Demand, supply, and finance often evolve at different speeds, creating gaps that limit effective decision-making. This article explores what true planning maturity looks like and why alignment across these functions is critical for confident, enterprise-level decisions.

Why Monthly Planning Cycles No Longer Work

Monthly planning cycles were built for a more stable world — one where demand, supply, and costs changed slowly and predictably. Today’s supply chains operate in constant motion, making rigid planning cadences increasingly ineffective. This article explores why monthly planning no longer works and what organizations must consider as they

When Excel Stops Working and Why That Moment Matters

For many organizations, Excel works well in the early stages of planning. Over time, as complexity increases and decisions require broader alignment, spreadsheets begin to fall short. The moment Excel stops working is not a failure. It is a signal that planning maturity must evolve to support the needs of

The Difference Between Planning Data and Planning Decisions

Many organizations have more planning data than ever before, yet still struggle to make timely and confident decisions. The challenge is not visibility. It is the gap between having information and knowing how to act on it. Understanding the difference between planning data and planning decisions is a critical step

Why Your Planning Problems Are a Maturity Issue, Not a People Problem

Many planning challenges are not caused by poor performance or lack of effort. They emerge when a business outgrows the way it plans. As complexity increases, capable teams are often asked to operate within planning models that no longer support the decisions leaders need to make.

AI Is Changing Planning. Where Do Humans Fit Now?

As AI becomes more embedded in supply chain planning, many leaders are asking an important question. Will human planners still be part of the team tomorrow? The answer is yes, but their role is evolving from running numbers to interpreting insights and guiding decisions.

You Have SAP IBP. So Why Are You Still Planning in Excel?

SAP IBP promises integrated, cloud based planning, yet many teams continue to rely on Excel to make real decisions. The issue is not adoption or training. It is whether the planning environment truly enables scenario driven, cross functional decision making at the pace today’s supply chains demand.

Technology’s Role in IBP — And Why Excel Won’t Get You There

Excel may help you build a plan but Integrated Business Planning requires the capability to make decisions. As planning expectations rise, spreadsheets struggle to support real-time scenarios, cross-functional alignment, and financial tradeoffs. IBP isn’t about buying more software; it’s about enabling a new way of planning.

The Crawl-Walk-Run Path to IBP for Mid-Sized Companies

Integrated Business Planning (IBP) isn’t just for global enterprises—it’s achievable for mid-sized companies, too. The key is taking it one step at a time. This post outlines the Crawl–Walk–Run journey to IBP maturity, showing how to strengthen core S&OP, integrate finance, and build enterprise-level agility without overwhelming your teams or

The 5-Year Outlook: How AI Will Reshape Supply Chain Roles (and When)

AI is already influencing how supply-chain teams plan, forecast, and respond—but the real transformation is still ahead. This blog outlines a five-year roadmap for how roles in planning, procurement, and logistics will evolve as AI matures—highlighting what companies should prioritize, what employees need to learn, and how to build a

Reskill, Don’t Replace: How to Prepare Your Supply Chain Team for the AI Era

AI is transforming supply chain planning—but success isn’t about replacing people with technology. It’s about helping your existing team evolve alongside it. This post explores why reskilling beats rehiring, which core competencies to build for the AI era, and how leaders can develop adaptable, insight-driven teams ready to thrive as

From Excel to Insight: The Skills Supply Chain Teams Will Need in the Age of AI

AI is changing more than supply chain systems—it’s changing what skills matter most. Tomorrow’s top performers won’t be the fastest spreadsheet users; they’ll be the communicators, interpreters, and strategic thinkers who can bridge data and decisions. This post highlights the five essential skills rising in value as AI becomes part

Top Questions to Ask Before Choosing a Planning Solution

Choosing a planning solution can feel like navigating a maze of promises and platforms. Mid-sized companies don’t need bloated enterprise systems or lightweight bolt-ons—they need solutions that fit now, grow later, and deliver measurable value fast. This guide outlines nine essential questions every mid-market leader should ask before investing in

Why Mid-Sized Companies Delay Planning Investments—And What It Costs Them

Many mid-sized companies delay upgrading their supply chain planning—telling themselves they’ll get to it “next quarter.” But waiting comes with hidden costs: tied-up capital, wasted labor, missed revenue, and rising risk. This post breaks down why mid-market leaders hesitate to modernize, what that delay is really costing them, and how

Planning Is Not Just for Planners

Most supply-chain transformations don’t fail because of technology—they fail because leadership treats planning as a back-office task. In today’s volatile market, planning is how your business navigates risk, drives growth, and makes faster, smarter decisions. This post explores why executive buy-in is the catalyst for real transformation—and how leaders can

How AI Is Changing the Daily Work of Supply Chain Roles—One Task at a Time

AI isn’t replacing supply chain jobs overnight—but it is transforming them, one task at a time. From forecasting and exception handling to reporting and scenario analysis, AI is automating the manual work and elevating the human work. The result? Planners, buyers, and logistics managers are spending less time in spreadsheets

How to Build a Business Case for Advanced Supply Chain Planning

Your spreadsheets are maxed out. Your ERP is too rigid. And your team spends more time firefighting than planning. The need for a modern supply chain planning solution is clear—but the bigger challenge is getting executive buy-in. This guide walks mid-market leaders through building a strong business case for advanced

Why Mid-Sized Mining Companies Are Leading the Way in Supply Chain Innovation

Mid-sized miners are rewriting the playbook: fewer layers, faster decisions, and best-of-breed planning tools. By uniting production, inventory, and logistics on one plan, they gain speed, resilience, and ROI the giants struggle to match.

Budgeting in the Dark: How Legacy Planning Systems Leave Finance Guessing

If your inputs aren’t real-time, your budget’s already wrong. Tie Finance to live production, inventory, and logistics data, shift to rolling forecasts, and co-plan with the field to turn guesswork into guidance.

From Pit to Port: Closing the Gaps in Mine-to-Market Planning

Your edge isn’t just what you mine—it’s how you move it. Link plans pit → port, run scenarios, see inventory everywhere, and plan with partners to boost speed, resilience, and margin.

Financial Blind Spots in Supply Chain Trade-Offs

If Finance hears about trade-offs after they happen, it’s already too late. Build one source of truth, add financial impact to every scenario, and seat Finance at the planning table to turn reactive accounting into proactive performance.

Why Forecast Accuracy Still Fails in Mining — and How Finance Feels the Pain

Accuracy = Credibility = Advantage. This piece shows how Finance can own forecast risk in Mining & Metals—replacing disconnected assumptions with one source of truth, rolling forecasts, and what-if scenarios that link decisions to revenue, cost, and cash.

How to Build a More Resilient Mining Supply Chain

Resilience isn’t a buzzword—it’s a capability. With site-level visibility, scenario playbooks, right-sized stockpiles/MRO, and one plan across functions, mining companies restore operations faster, protect service, and defend margin when shocks hit.

Remote Sites, Real-Time Decisions: Why Visibility Is Your Competitive Edge

In mining, distance is unavoidable—disconnection isn’t. Learn how real-time visibility turns blind spots at remote sites into manageable exceptions, speeding decisions, improving asset utilization, and reducing emergency freight and reschedules. Plus: practical steps to build a control-tower view that Operations, Logistics, and Commercial can act on—together.

3 Hidden Costs in Mining Supply Chains — and How to Fix Them

Mining runs on thin margins—and the biggest leaks rarely show up on a budget line. They hide in disconnected plans, site-by-site spreadsheets, and the gap between plan and reality. This post spotlights three silent drains on performance—misplaced inventory, avoidable expedites, and underused transport assets—and shows how modern supply chain planning

From Disruption to Evolution: How AI Is Redefining Roles in the Supply Chain

AI is transforming supply chains—but it’s not just about technology. The real challenge is reimagining the role of supply chain professionals as AI takes over routine tasks. This blog explores how planners can evolve from data wranglers to strategic decision-makers and how companies can support their workforce through this shift.

Crawl Before You Run: A Mid-Market Roadmap to Supply Chain Planning Success

Struggling with supply chain planning but hesitant to dive into a big project? Learn how mid-sized companies can start small, deliver quick wins, and scale confidently using modern planning tools like Kinaxis Planning One. Discover the crawl-walk-run approach that minimizes risk, drives fast ROI, and builds lasting value.

Using Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central? Here’s How to Add the Planning Power You’re Missing

Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is a powerful ERP for mid-sized companies—but when it comes to supply chain planning, it can quickly reach its limits. As complexity grows, native tools fall short on forecasting, inventory optimization, and scenario planning. Learn why extending Business Central with specialized planning solutions is essential

From Data Overload to Data Insight: Prioritizing What Matters in Supply Chain AI

In supply chain AI, more data doesn’t always mean better decisions. Flooding your models with all available information can create noise and confusion, leading to unreliable insights. Success comes from prioritizing the right data—clean, relevant, and contextualized—to align with your business goals. Learn how focusing on quality over quantity transforms

Avoiding the Point Solution Trap: The Hidden Costs of Fixing One Piece at a Time

Fast-growing mid-market companies often patch planning gaps with standalone tools—forecasting apps, supplier portals, inventory optimizers—each solving a symptom but not the system. This patchwork leads to slower decisions, misaligned teams, and costly complexity. True growth demands a connected planning platform that unites data, breaks down silos, and scales with your

Netsuite Is Your System of Record – Here’s How to Make It a System of Action

NetSuite is a strong ERP backbone—but its built-in planning tools often fall short as your business grows. Relying on spreadsheets and manual workarounds slows decision-making and creates disconnects. You don’t need to replace NetSuite—you need to extend it with advanced planning tools to get real-time insights, scenario modeling, and smarter

From Reaction to Resilience: It’s Time for Proactive Supply Chain Risk Management

In a world of constant disruption, reacting after the fact isn’t enough. This blog explores how supply chain leaders can move from reactive planning to proactive resilience—using scenario planning, cross-functional alignment, and smarter decision frameworks to prepare for what’s next.

Data Is Your Supply Chain’s Fuel – and AI Doesn’t Run on Fumes

Everyone wants AI in their supply chain—but few are ready for it. In this post, we break down why AI only works when your data is clean, structured, and connected. If you’re running on fumes, no algorithm can help. Here’s how to fuel your supply chain the right way.

What Mid-Market Supply Chains Need in a Planning Tool

Mid-sized businesses need planning tools built for their reality—not scaled-down enterprise systems or outdated spreadsheets. This blog explores the must-have features, deployment strategies, and integration needs that help mid-market supply chains gain visibility and agility—without unnecessary complexity or cost.

5 Signs Your ERP Isn’t Enough for Supply Chain Planning Anymore

ERP systems were never designed for today’s volatile supply chains. If you’re still relying on your ERP for planning, you may be facing delays, workarounds, and missed opportunities. This blog outlines five clear signs it’s time to augment your ERP with a modern, purpose-built planning solution—and how to make the

Advanced Planning Tool, ERP, or Spreadsheet?

As mid-sized companies grow, spreadsheets and ERP modules often fall short. This blog compares the strengths and limitations of each planning approach and offers practical guidance to help you decide when it’s time to upgrade—and how to do it without overhauling your entire tech stack.

Do You Really Need IBP—Or Just Better S&OP?

Integrated Business Planning (IBP) is everywhere—but not every company is ready for it. This blog explores how to evaluate your S&OP maturity and determine whether you need a full IBP transformation or just a better foundation. Avoid costly missteps and make smart planning decisions that fit your business today.

Why Mid-Sized Companies Struggle to Get IBP Off the Ground

Many mid-sized companies want Integrated Business Planning (IBP)—but struggle to get started. In this post, we explore the five most common roadblocks that stall IBP initiatives, from siloed ownership to overreliance on Excel. More importantly, we share practical steps to move forward and start building a planning process that’s aligned,

What’s the Difference Between S&OP and IBP – and Why It Matters Now

S&OP and IBP are often used interchangeably—but they’re not the same. This post breaks down the key differences between operational alignment (S&OP) and strategic business planning (IBP), and explains why understanding that distinction is critical for mid-sized companies looking to grow with confidence.

From Automation to Autonomy: How Agentic AI Is Evolving in Supply Chain Planning

Agentic AI is the next evolution in supply chain planning — building on automation and orchestration to deliver intelligence, speed, and agility. Learn how it fits today and why it’s essential to prepare for its growing role in the future.

Is Your Supply Chain Ready for Agentic AI? How to Build a Strong Foundation for Success

Agentic AI promises to transform supply chain planning — but is your organization ready? Learn the essential steps to prepare your data, processes, technology, and people so AI can deliver real business value.

Your Supply Chain Should Run Like a Pit Crew — Here’s Why

In racing, pit crews work together in real time to keep cars moving and win races. Why should supply chain planning be any different? Traditional sequential methods slow decisions and create costly delays. Discover how concurrent planning synchronizes your teams for faster decisions, greater agility, and winning results.

The Case for Concurrent Planning in Modern Business

Traditional planning methods can’t keep up with the speed and complexity of modern business. Concurrent planning offers a smarter, more dynamic approach — enabling real-time collaboration, faster decisions, and improved agility. Discover how this transformative method helps companies reduce costs, improve customer satisfaction, and turn uncertainty into opportunity.

Revolutionizing Supply Chain Management with Concurrent Planning

Traditional supply chain planning can no longer keep up with today’s fast-moving, disruption-prone environment. Concurrent planning breaks down silos and enables real-time collaboration, helping companies reduce costs, improve agility, and make smarter decisions.

Agentic AI in Supply Chain: Accelerate Results Without Sacrificing Control

Agentic AI is changing the supply chain game — moving beyond recommendations to make autonomous decisions that drive speed, agility, and resilience. But autonomy brings risk. Without clear guardrails and organizational readiness, agentic AI can create as many problems as it solves.

Six Things to Consider When Evaluating Supply Chain Planning Software 

Discover the key factors to keep in mind when evaluating supply chain planning software for your business.

Transform Your Organization’s Supply Chain with Scott Sheldon’s Team of Experts

Discover how Scott Sheldon can guide your organization through successful transformation and achieve long-lasting results.

Kinaxis Planning One is Right Sized for Your Mid-Sized Company

Discover how Kinaxis Planning One is the perfect fit for mid-sized companies looking for efficient supply chain planning solutions from a Gartner recognized leader.

Understanding Probabilistic Multi-Echelon Inventory Optimization (MEIO)

Multi-Echelon Inventory Optimization (MEIO) is a strategy used to manage inventory across different levels or "echelons" of the supply chain. Learn more on our blog!

Overcoming Excel Constraints: Embrace S&OP Software Solutions

Discover how S&OP software solutions can help your business break free from Excel limitations and achieve greater success.

Thriving in Real-Time: How Growing Companies Shine in Demand Planning

Discover how successful growing companies surpass their competition by utilizing real-time data and advanced demand planning strategies.

Unleashing Growth: The Benefits of Demand Planning Software for Mid-Sized Companies

Discover how implementing demand planning software can revolutionize your mid-sized business and drive growth.