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Hi there,

Welcome to the August edition of bops newsletter.

We know you're enjoying the Labor Day Weekend, so this edition should only take you 125 seconds to finish.

Let's get into it!

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Sweet Resilience: A bops Production

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Lisa, a dedicated CPFR manager finds herself at the crossroads of chaos and creativity, as unpredictable consumer demand wreaks havoc at her chocolate bar brand.

Chapter 1: Chocolate Bar Surge

Lisa's Excel spreadsheets dance across her computer screen. Messages from her team members keep buzzing on her phone.

Demand for her company’s signature chocolate bars spirals out of control at certain locations.

As if scripted by fate, Alex, a soccer player for the New York Bopers, mentioned the chocolate bars in an Instagram post, triggering a surge in demand.

But, the excitement quickly turned to disappointment as shelves emptied within hours, leaving behind a trail of frustrated customers.

Chapter 2: Bullwhip Strikes

As the viral surge dominated headlines, Lisa’s supply chain encountered another unexpected challenge.

A seemingly minor disruption in the supply of a critical ingredient spiraled into a chain reaction of chaos.

The procurement team, fearing prolonged scarcity, hastily placed expedited orders for replacements.

Simultaneously, the production team, seeing the surge in orders, increased manufacturing levels without having access to actual demand signals.

This chain reaction echoed across the supply chain, resulting in millions in excess inventory, turning a small hiccup into a full-blown supply chain crisis.

Chapter 3: The Power of Flowcasting Unleashed

Lisa takes center stage in a conference room. Amidst the chaos, she makes a presentation on why using “outside-in thinking” could be a game-changer.

She outlines the power of sharing real-time consumer demand data across the supply chain - empowering each partner in the supply network with information about what consumers are actually buying today.

As demand surges yet again due to a TikTok mention from Alex, Lisa and her team decide to put this new approach to the test.

Chapter 4: Mastering the Waves of Supply and Demand

With the support of open-minded colleagues who see the merit in Lisa’s approach, the pilot project is initiated.

Now, sales, production, and distribution teams start sharing data in real time. This dynamic exchange of information gives birth to insights that would have otherwise remained hidden.

The fragmented pieces of the supply chain puzzle begin to fit together, eliminating the guesswork of how many chocolate bars to produce, and where to stock them during this surge.

Chapter 5: Supply Chain Serenity

As delivery trucks come and go, the harmony of a well-balanced supply chain is evident.

Demand shifts continue, but Lisa and her team navigate the fluctuations with confidence, guided by an accurate view of current consumer demand.

Months later, as Lisa attends a supply chain conference, she realizes that what her team had unknowingly embraced and practiced was the essence of flowcasting.

The term provided a name to the journey they had undertaken – from chaos to order, from traditional forecasting to real-time collaboration, and from the bullwhip effect to stability.

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Your invited: CPFR 2.0 this Thursday!

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Save your seat here.

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Who's hiring for their supply chain team?

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Don’t forget to forward this newsletter to your friends so they don't miss out.

Have an amazing Labor Day weekend!

Till next time,

bops team

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