Downstream data have been electronically available on a weekly basis since the late 1980s. But most companies have been slow to adopt downstream data for planning and forecasting purposes. Let's look at why that is. Downstream data is data that originates downstream on the demand side of the value chain. Examples
Capital investment in production capability is the weakest link in the business value chain. It always has been and likely always will be. It’s the driving force behind the tendency towards cartels, collusion and monopolies. While it can make the first entrant into a brand new market, in the long
Foundation and domain models are transforming how businesses approach technology. These powerful tools are moving beyond the hype of GenAI, offering real solutions for a variety of tasks – whether generating text, creating visual content or even composing music. A new global survey of 1,600 organizations revealed critical insights into
Large language models (LLMs), like ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot, have moved quickly out of the novelty phase into widespread use across industries. Among other examples, these new technologies are being used to generate customer emails, summarize meeting notes, supplement patient care and offer legal analysis. As LLMs proliferate across organizations,
Retailers face unprecedented challenges with supply chain volatility, inflation, oil price fluctuations, labor shortages and geopolitical activities, making it difficult to plan across the organization. With retail evolving, coupled with persistent supply chain issues, this adds complexity to anticipating and planning for shifts in consumer demand. The emergence of an
Many executives may be feeling supply chain anxiety. The pace of disruptions – weather events, aggressive marketing techniques, transportation bottlenecks, and more – remains high, and there are already signs of consumer uncertainty in 2024. To manage the unknown and keep supply chains strong, some organizations are employing intelligent, real-time
Manufacturing remains a transformative process at its core, converting raw materials into valuable products. While the fundamental essence of manufacturing has endured for centuries, the methods and technologies employed have undergone significant evolution, driven by innovation and the ever-shifting demands of consumers. As we enter 2024, the manufacturing industry is
As the holiday season approaches, businesses may be bracing for what’s been all too common in recent years – supply chain disruption. Retail and consumer goods industries have been hit with disruptions from every direction: profound shifts in consumer preferences, materials shortages, weather events, and geopolitical activities, to name just
At a time when data has become the center of innovation, the utility industry finds itself at a crossroads. Utilities worldwide are challenged by the ever-increasing demand for efficient energy consumption and the pressing need for sustainability. Balancing these priorities is not easy, nor is it cheap. In 2022, London
As the world moves toward a low-carbon future, the power and utilities industry faces significant financial and reputational risks due to the potential stranding of resources and assets. This transition to carbon-free energy sources could render carbon-intensive assets – such as coal- and gas-fired power plants, coal mines and hydrocarbon
