Supply chain consulting firm GRA partners with Officeworks to implement flagship software GAINS for better business planning

After achieving much success with its retail planning implementation, Australian supply chain consulting firm GRA has again partnered with Officeworks to develop the business’s planning function, including significant improvements to processes and systems, with the integration of GRA’s flagship forecasting and planning software, GAINS, and its IT platforms.

With revenues of $1.5 billion and 150 stores, Officeworks is Australia's leading retailer and supplier of office products and solutions for home, business and education needs, and has joined GRA’s extensive list of blue-chip clients. Officeworks is Australia’s largest office supplies retailer, catering for households and businesses of every size with around 15,000 products across a range of departments. Officeworks provides customers with three easy ways to shop - in store, online or by phone.
GRA Partner Luke Tomkin said: “We’re excited to help another retail client implement a truly demand-driven supply chain; especially one with such a significant footprint across Australia’s retail landscape.  Officeworks offers its customers what they need, when they need it and at the lowest prices. Just in implementing this solution demonstrates its ongoing commitment to this promise.
“For a company like Officeworks, demand planning every product at every location uniquely equates to more than 1.8 million forecasts on a daily basis, no small feat. So it requires both sophisticated business processes and planning systems,” he continued.
“Couple that with Officeworks’ customer service promise and multiple channels to market and you have a big challenge, but one that offers big rewards.  What Officeworks has achieved with GRA’s help will substantially improve the customer experience whilst reducing operating costs and excess inventory.
“Competitive pressures mean supply chains need to become increasingly responsive to customer needs, and enabling a bottom-up demand driven planning process is critical in achieving this,” he said
  “As with all our clients, we look forward to a long term partnership with Officeworks.  This is just one step in optimising Officeworks’ supply chain and planning functions.  It is an exciting journey.  Delivering results is what drives our culture, and for Officeworks that means ensuring they meet their customer service promise; what you need, when you need it and all at the lowest prices,” Mr Tomkin concluded.

Photo credit: Grant Cochrane www.freedigitalphotos.net