Supply Chain Planning: Navigating IT Evolution and Process Education

02/20/2025

The supply chain planning landscape is evolving rapidly, driven by market consolidation, leadership shifts, and significant investments in new technologies. In her recent article, The Supply Chain Merry-Go-Around, Lora Cecere highlights key changes shaping the industry. From rebrandings and acquisitions to emerging platforms, these shifts demand that companies remain agile while ensuring their planning processes stay resilient.

The APICS CPIM (Certified in Planning & Inventory Management) education focuses on:

Planning methodologies
Process optimization
Operational strategies

However, it does not cover the technical intricacies of IT solutions. While technology enables data-driven decision-making, effective supply chain planning remains grounded in fundamental principles like demand forecasting, S&OP, and inventory management.

This leads to a critical question: How do companies balance increasing digital reliance with strong process-oriented planning?

Software solutions are evolving rapidly, but without a deep understanding of the processes they support, even the most advanced platforms may fall short. A well-structured S&OP process, for example, remains crucial—regardless of the software in place.

Here are three major trends shaping the future of supply chain planning:

1️ - Market Consolidation in Supply Chain Planning

The industry is witnessing a wave of acquisitions as larger firms absorb smaller or undervalued companies. A prime example is Aptean’s acquisition of Logility, which underscores the strategy of leveraging existing customer bases while expanding market reach. This consolidation may streamline solutions, but it could also limit innovation and reduce competition.

2️ - Leadership Changes and Talent Mobility

Executives are frequently moving between top supply chain software providers, including SAP, Blue Yonder, Kinaxis, and o9. The appointment of nine new chief officers at OMP raises strategic questions, while leadership transitions at Kinaxis and o9 reflect a constantly shifting competitive landscape.

3 - The Rise of New Platforms and Investments

Companies are pouring significant capital into advancing their supply chain planning capabilities:

Anaplan (now under Thoma Bravo) is investing $500 million in scenario planning and analytics.
Blue Yonder has committed $1 billion over three years to enhance its platform solutions.

These investments reflect an industry-wide push toward data-driven, intelligent planning tools that enhance agility and resilience.

To thrive in this evolving landscape, supply chain professionals will need both technical fluency and deep process knowledge. While APICS CPIM provides a strong foundation in planning principles, organizations must complement this with a clear IT strategy—choosing platforms that enhance, rather than dictate, decision-making.

Want to deepen your knowledge of supply chain planning? Join the APICS CPIM seminar: