Planejamento de estoque: melhor Excel ou software?

Inventory planning: better Excel or software?

For almost all business professionals, their relationship with spreadsheets began when they were still in school. Over time, they become familiar with the intricacies of the tool. As a result, spreadsheets are often the default program for every analysis needed.

However, many companies rely too much on these simplistic data processing tools. While spreadsheets are easy to use, they simply don't have the necessary processing power, standard structure, or robustness. This is especially true in supply chain management, where almost every decision must be supported by effective analysis of potentially thousands of rows of data.

Here we compare the differences between Excel and demand planning software:

1) Efficiency

To keep up with the dynamic nature of today's complex marketplace, supply chain teams must be able to respond quickly to changes. How can the company remain responsive if the spreadsheets in question need to be completely reinvented every time a change occurs?

By enabling companies to automate inventory management processes across the vast majority of their assortment, supply chain teams can focus their attention on the most critical issues. By letting inventory control software do the “heavy lifting,” supply chain teams can focus their time and attention where it’s truly needed.

2) Reliability

Given that even a minor problem, such as incorrect data entry or formulas, can have a profound impact on the outcome of any analysis, spreadsheets are not the most robust solutions. Plus, when you consider that spreadsheets require constant refinement and human intervention, it's very easy to lose track of which version is most up-to-date.

Through the use of proven forecasting models and robust data structures, an effective inventory control solution will minimize the risk of errors while ensuring analysis is consistent. The result: solid insights that you can confidently base supply chain decisions on.

3) Growth

When a business starts, spreadsheets are probably enough. However, as demand grows and the organization expands to include multiple locations, the complexity of the operation will increase dramatically. If you try to manage it with just spreadsheets, the number of rows of data and formulas needed to keep everything under control would be simply staggering!

Effective inventory control software must not only support growth, but also actively leverage complexity to provide businesses with meaningful insights.

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