How to Select and Implement Supply Chain Planning Software

The Challenge of Selecting the Right Supply Chain Planning Software

Did you know that Gartner experts predict that by 2026, 92% of companies will have failed to enable full e2e resiliency in their supply chains? Selecting the right software is a critical business decision, but ensuring a smooth implementation is what truly drives long-term success.

With so many vendors, features, and integration requirements to consider, the selection process can feel overwhelming. Traditional RFPs often waste time and resources without guaranteeing the best solution. Even when the right tool is selected, a lack of proper implementation planning can lead to low adoption and missed ROI.

So, how can you ensure you’re choosing the right solution and implementing it effectively? Let’s break it down into two key steps:

How to select the right supply chain planning software
How to implement it successfully for long-term ROI and partnership

Step 1: Select the Right Supply Chain Planning Software

Define Your Business Needs

Before reaching out to vendors, take time to clearly define your business challenges and must-have features. Ask yourself:

Do we need better demand forecasting to manage volatility?
Is our biggest issue inventory optimization or production planning?
Do we need AI-driven insights, better real-time collaboration, or automated workflows?

Creating a “must-have” vs. “nice-to-have” checklist ensures that your evaluation process stays focused on solutions that address your most pressing challenges.

Go Beyond the Traditional RFP Process

Many organizations invest months in long, generic RFPs, only to receive canned vendor responses that don’t provide real insights into product capabilities. Instead of relying solely on RFPs, consider a more practical approach:

Shortlist 3-5 vendors that align with your industry and business needs.
Request proof-of-concept (POC) demonstrations based on your actual use cases rather than generic software walkthroughs.
Speak directly with existing customers who use the tool to understand real-world experiences.

🔹 Common Mistake to Avoid: Don’t select software based on a flashy user interface alone—dig deeper into its functionality and real-world performance.

Key Criteria for Vendor Evaluation

When assessing vendors, go beyond surface-level features and focus on:

Functionality & Scalability – Can the tool adapt as your business grows?
User Experience & Adoption – Is it intuitive for your team to use?
Integration Capabilities – Does it seamlessly connect with ERP, CRM, and existing systems?
Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) – What are the long-term costs beyond the initial purchase?
Customer Support & Training – Does the vendor provide strong onboarding and ongoing support?

✔️ Tip: Instead of forming a large selection committee, assign a dedicated project champion who understands business goals and technical requirements. This will streamline decision-making and vendor communication.

Step 2: Implement Supply Chain Planning Software Successfully

Selecting the right software is only half the battle—ensuring a smooth implementation is just as critical. Without proper planning, even the best solution can fail due to poor adoption, data issues, and misalignment with business processes.

Prepare Your Data in Advance

Data quality is one of the biggest barriers to successful implementation. Incomplete, inconsistent, or unstructured data can lead to delays and inefficiencies. Before starting implementation, ensure that:

You identify where your data lives (ERP, spreadsheets, data lakes, etc.).
Critical data sets are cleansed and validated before migration.
Your new software integrates seamlessly with existing systems.

Did You Know? Poor data readiness is a top reason for implementation delays—getting ahead of this can save months of troubleshooting later.

Invest in Change Management & Training

Even the most advanced software won’t deliver value if your team isn’t trained properly or doesn’t adopt the system. Ensure success by:

📌 Engaging key stakeholders early in the process to gain buy-in.
📌 Conducting hands-on training sessions tailored to your team’s workflows.
📌 Setting up feedback loops to refine processes after go-live.

🔹 Common Mistake to Avoid: Don’t rely solely on vendor-provided training materials, customize training based on your company’s specific needs.

Measure Success & Track ROI

To assess whether your new supply chain planning software is delivering value, define clear Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), such as:

Forecast accuracy improvements (% reduction in errors)
Reduction in stockouts/overstock (% improvement in inventory efficiency)
Increased on-time deliveries (% improvement in service levels)

Once the software is live, schedule regular check-ins to measure adoption and identify areas for continued training and/or support.

Common Pitfalls in the Selection & Implementation Process

❌ Relying solely on RFPs instead of testing vendors in real-world scenarios.
❌ Choosing a tool without considering integration challenges.
❌ Skipping change management, leading to low adoption and wasted investment.

Avoiding these mistakes will help ensure that your supply chain planning solution is not only the right fit but also fully utilized to its potential.

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Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its research publications, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner’s research organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.