Lokad

Lokad takes a different route than most forecasting tools: instead of a single demand number, it produces full probability distributions for every SKU, so planners can weigh the actual dollar risk of stockouts against carrying cost. Its Envision scripting language lets supply chain scientists encode business rules like MOQs, supplier price breaks, and multi-level BOMs directly into the optimization. The trade-off is that it is a specialist tool — you get strong results but it usually needs a Lokad scientist or a trained in-house team to get the models right, and pricing is a custom monthly subscription.

1. Sign up at lokad.com and start a pilot project
2. Upload historical sales, purchase, and stock data (CSV or via connector)
3. Work with a Lokad supply chain scientist to configure Envision scripts
4. Review probabilistic forecasts and replenishment recommendations
5. Connect back to your ERP for automated ordering