Neogrid restructures DRP solution and expands its flexibility to meet new profiles in retail and industry

To assist retailers and manufacturers in overcoming challenges such as unbalanced inventory, product shortages, and difficulties in purchasing and distribution planning, Neogrid – a technology and data intelligence ecosystem that develops solutions for consumer chain management – has revamped its Distribution Requirements Planning (DRP) solution. The new modules offer greater flexibility and precision in inventory management, ensuring continuous supply without compromising cash flow.

The new model features a redesigned interface organized into two journey formats (Purchasing and Distribution) with four package levels (Starter, Business, Full, and Corporate). Another novelty are the three innovative functionalities to optimize strategic processes: supply of similar products; released volume; and the new cockpit.

The development of the new functions was driven by the desire to resolve companies' main pain points, such as inefficient inventory management and stockouts. The current version integrates numerous procedures by offering flexibility in inventory management and generating real value for the customer, addressing requests more efficiently and reducing the decentralization of information and unhelpful dashboards that hindered the connection between data and actions.

In the first journey, called DRP Purchasing, the solution ensures optimal product availability without affecting cash flow and optimizes purchasing and replenishment. Among the other benefits are algorithm-based demand forecasting and the automation of techniques and indicators – with purchasing suggestions and statistical estimation, simplifying decision-making. This journey allows for the adjustment of inventory policies, such as parameterization of lead time and delivery frequency, providing flexibility and efficiency, in addition to greater budgetary control.

Meanwhile, the second journey, called DRP Distribution, performs inventory balancing, assisting with local demands and ensuring the continuous availability of products without compromising operational efficiency. This system is capable of making accurate forecasts to optimize replenishment planning between branches, enabling versatility in adjusting the urgencies of each unit. In this way, it automates the suggestion of transfers between units, improving product flow in an agile and efficient manner.

In both journeys, Neogrid integrated four package levels: Starter; Business; Full; and Corporate. This flexible structure allows the solution to be acquired in a modular and tailored manner, perfectly adapting to each client's wishes. With this, it is possible to cover a wide variety of specific demands, enabling customized solutions that resolve the particular pains of each business.

New functionalities optimize operational processes

In addition to segmentation, Neogrid introduces new functionalities for the DRP with specific solutions for different challenges faced by retail and industry. One of them is supply of similar products, which allows a continuous and grouped flow of orders of the same type. This functionality was developed to optimize the individual inventory management of each product, ensuring a faster and more efficient response to variations in demand.

Already the released volume enables the allocation of purchase orders based on the authorized quantity for the item, according to the supplier information addressed by the client. This helps prevent stockouts and increases agility in the management and fulfillment of demands, solving the problem of lack of flexibility to efficiently control purchasing. It also reduces the difficulty customers have in replicating purchasing practices within the platform, providing a more intuitive experience aligned with business needs.

The solution also gained a new look on the main screen, with an updated cockpit that offers a quick and comprehensive view of planning and inventory management. The DRP now features indicators and dynamic charts, allowing for customization in data visualization, which facilitates decision-making and analysis. This improvement solves a common limitation in other platforms, which often present dashboards ineffective dashboards without generating real value for customers or promoting connection with necessary actions.

“Imagine the moment of frustration when a customer abandons a shopping cart, whether physical or online, due to a lack of available products. In competitive retail, every second counts, and an abandoned cart can mean a lost sale. For retail and for industry, the DRP redesign reflects our commitment to offering solutions that truly focus on the specific demands of each customer, whether in retail or industry. With the new package levels and customizable journeys, we ensure more flexibility and efficiency in supply chain management,” says Dionaldo Passos, director of the Supply Chain business unit at Neogrid.

What is DRP?

Distribution Requirements Planning (DRP) is an advanced solution used by retailers and manufacturers to plan and control where, when, and how much of each product should be shipped throughout the supply chain. This helps avoid both excess inventory, which can tie up capital unnecessarily, and stockouts, which can lead to lost sales and dissatisfied customers. With DRP, companies can ensure that products are available to consumers without incurring overproduction or excessive storage costs, optimizing cash flow and improving customer satisfaction.