Retail inventory planning software

Inventory planning is all about the data
Phocas provides a retail inventory planning software solution by pulling ERP data + other sources into one centralized platform. It's fast and easy for everyone to tap into sales, purchase order and inventory-level data. Helping to optimize inventory planning and improve demand forecasting.

Seamless retail inventory planning
- Manage stock: ensure optimal inventory levels with a clear, up-to-date view of what’s moving and what isn’t
- Forecast: use budget Vs actuals to accurately forecast demand; see which products need replenishment, liquidating or to be moved between locations
- Trend analysis: quickly pull together purchase history, sales forecasts, seasonal and market trends to accurately predict stock levels needed months in advance
- Maximize profitability: with accessible, up-to-date data, purchasing and inventory teams can control pricing and improve supply chain planning

Trusted by companies worldwide
The Phocas platform empowers over 3,000 businesses who make, move and sell products. 97% of customers stay with us year-on-year because our platform gives people the confidence to run their businesses better.
- Asko
- Bayer
- Bupa
- Fuji Xerox
- Gazman
- Repco
- Sistema
- Thermofisher
- Hoyts
- KYB
- Husqvarna
- Johnstone Supply
- Karcher
- WD-40
- Yamaha
- Bunzl
Accurately forecast demand
- Detailed: analyze patterns for different market segments such as customer demand by product class, geography, sales channel, purchase history
- Reforecast: easy access to live actuals empowers teams to adjust forecasts to align with changing inventory needs
- Seasonal: tap into historical data and analyze your seasonal retail trends to create more accurate inventory forecasts
- Review: easily review your forecast accuracy by comparing it to actuals

Clear inventory visibility

Customer quote
Sage + Phocas customer
Self-serve ad-hoc reporting
- Easy: create and automate profit & loss, balance sheet and cashflow statements for cross-functional teams in minutes
- Accurate: reports update automatically with data pulled directly from your ERP + any other source
- Self-serve: drill down into transaction-level data and drive improvements by branch, division, sales rep, product, customer
- Customize: add visualizations or calculations such as revenue and gross profit per rep, or days stock cover that auto update

Streamlined budgets & forecasts
- Time-saver: a user-friendly planning tool that speeds up budgeting and enables you to get more detailed
- Accurate: use live actuals pulled from your ERP to accurately forecast your future balance sheet position and financial health
- Consolidate: connect plans across the business in one place; financial budgets, sales forecasts, headcount and demand planning
- Collaborate: improve cross-functional input and accountability with robust workflows and user-based permissions

Smart purchasing and holding
- Review order quantities against purchased stock levels
- See which departments, categories or product lines are the most profitable inventory investments
- Ensure products are in the right locations and distribution centers based on customer demand
- Quickly see what you're holding and selling by location, quantity, value

Customer quote
Improve customer service levels
- Proactively improve supply chain management with up-to-date visibility into supplier performance, lead times, and order fulfilment processes
- Regularly reviewing supply chain performance on a cloud-based platform allows you to optimize procurement processes and mitigate risks associated with supply chain disruptions

See how Phocas stacks up against the competition
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View data any way you like
- Unlimited custom dashboards provide high-level overviews, enhancing multi-echelon (locations) inventory optimization
- Drill into underlaying dashboard data to identify areas such as excess inventory on slow-moving unprofitable stock
- Add customized calculations that make sense for your inventory planning such average inventory COGs over 12 months.

Simplify inventory management with one platform
Frequently asked questions
Retail inventory planning is a strategic approach to managing stock levels, ensuring that the right products are available at the right time, and in the right quantities. It's a balancing act that combines data analysis, forecasting, and inventory control to meet customer demand without overstocking, which can lead to markdowns and reduced profits.
At its core, retail inventory planning is about understanding customer buying patterns, predicting future sales, and aligning inventory levels accordingly. It involves a series of steps, including:
Demand forecasting: Using historical sales data, market trends, and seasonal fluctuations to predict future product demand.
Inventory optimization: Determining the optimal stock levels to maintain for each product to meet anticipated demand without tying up too much capital in inventory.
Replenishment strategies: Establishing when and how much to reorder, considering lead times and supplier reliability.
Stock allocation: Allocating inventory across various sales channels and locations to maximize sales and minimize stockouts or overstock situations.
Inventory turnover: Monitoring how quickly inventory sells and adjusting purchasing decisions to improve turnover rates and reduce carrying costs.
Effective retail inventory planning can lead to increased sales, improved customer satisfaction, and a healthier bottom line. It's a dynamic process that requires continuous monitoring and adjustment to adapt to changing market conditions and consumer preferences.
With Phocas, retailers can harness the power of their data to make informed inventory decisions, streamline their operations, and stay ahead of the competition. Our platform simplifies the complexity of inventory planning, giving you the insights you need to plan better and grow your retail business.
When selecting the best retail inventory planning software for your business, there are several key aspects to consider. These features will help you manage your inventory effectively, make informed decisions, and ultimately enhance your retail operations:
Integration capabilities: The software should seamlessly integrate with your existing systems, such as ERP, POS, and e-commerce platforms, to centralize data and provide a unified view of your inventory.
Real-time data access: Access to real-time inventory data is crucial for making timely decisions, responding to market changes, and avoiding stockouts or overstock.
Advanced analytics and reporting: Look for software that offers robust analytics and customizable reporting tools to analyze sales trends, track inventory performance, and forecast demand accurately.
User-friendly interface: The platform should be intuitive and easy to use, enabling users across your organization to understand and interact with inventory data without extensive training.
Automated replenishment: Automated ordering and replenishment features can save time, reduce human error, and ensure you maintain optimal stock levels.
Scalability: As your business grows, your inventory planning software should be able to scale with you, handling increased data volume and complexity without performance issues.
Collaboration tools: The ability to collaborate within the software can improve communication and coordination between teams, leading to more cohesive inventory management.
Customization and flexibility: Every retail business is unique, so the software should offer customization options to tailor the system to your specific needs and processes.
Mobile accessibility: Being able to access inventory data on the go through mobile devices can provide flexibility and agility to your team, allowing for quick decision-making from anywhere.
Support and training: Ensure the software provider offers comprehensive support and training resources to help you maximize the benefits of the platform.
Security and compliance: Strong security measures and compliance with relevant data protection regulations are essential to protect your sensitive business information.
Phocas offers a comprehensive solution that ticks all these boxes, providing retailers with a powerful tool to optimize their inventory planning. Our platform is designed to empower businesses to connect, understand, and plan their inventory with confidence, backed by data-driven insights and user-friendly technology. With Phocas, you can feel good about your inventory planning and focus on what you do best – growing your retail business.
Understand the past, operate better today, and plan well for the future
