Smart Software is pleased to announce the award of US Patent 11,656,887. “System And Method to Simulate Demand and Optimize Control Parameters for a Technology Platform.”

The patent directs “technical solutions for analyzing historical demand data of resources in a technology platform to facilitate management of an automated process in the platform.” One important application is optimization of parts inventories.

Smart Software named a Microsoft Co-sell-ready partner as a leading demand planning and inventory optimization solutions provider.  Microsoft customers leverage Smart’s web-native platform for Inventory Planning and Optimization (Smart IP&O) to develop consensus forecasts, manage demand, and optimize stocking policies.

We are so grateful to announce Smart Software’s 40th anniversary. Forty years of Innovation for Demand Forecasting, Inventory Planning, and Supply Chain Analytics. Smart, Hartunian, and Willemain was incorporated in June 1981 by Charles Smart, Thomas Willemain, and Nelson Hartunian, our visionary founders.

Supply and Demand Chain Executive 2020 Online Magazine features an article about inventory optimization at BC Transit, entitled “Optimizing Parts Management at BC Transit.”  Eric Nelson, Director for Supply Services at BC Transit explains how Smart IP&O has helped ensure that they have the right part in the right place at the right time to equip their entire service network with 35 repair locations.

Don’t Be a Victim of your Forecast Models – Special Section in Foresight Magazine. In this feature section, Tom Willemain provokes a good deal of thought about the role of statistical models in supply chain forecasting, a field that he believes lags far behind finance in embracing algorithms over gut instinct. Download Special Section on Forecast Modeling in Spring 2019 Issue of Foresight Magazine

Right-Sizing Inventory with Demand Forecasting,” interview with Chief Material Officer at Metro-North Railroad.
Supply & Demand Chain Executive — June 26

See “Four Steps to Service Level-Driven Inventory Planning” in SupplyChain Management Review.
SupplyChain Management Review — April 12, 2015

Minnesota’s Metro Transit adopts service-level driven method of inventory planning from Smart Software.
Mass Transit Magazine — February 2015

Video Interview with SupplyChainBrain, “Service Level-Driven Demand Planning”
SupplyChainBrain — June 30, 2014

Conquering Supply Chain Variability at Rev-A-Shelf,” in Supply & Demand Chain Executive Online
Supply & Demand Chain Executive — April 9, 2014

Now You See It, Now You Don’t Inventory,” New technologies to address intermittent demand, in Aviation Week Online
Aviation Week — April 7, 2014

Webinar Replay: Agile Demand Forecasting, the Rev-A-Shelf Experience.
SmartSoftware Inc. — January 2014

Feature Article: MCI’s Parts Planning Excels with Smart Software” in BusRide Maintenance Magazine
BusRide Maintenance Magazine — September 2013

Webinar replay: CFO View of Demand Forecasting, with Bud Schultz, NKK Switches. Originally broadcast 9/26/2013.
SmartSoftware Inc. — September 2013

Featured Review: “Smart Software for Service-level Driven Forecasting” by Technology Evaluation Centers.
Technology Evaluation Centers — May 2013

Feature Article: “Forecasting – It’s More than Inventory Management,” in Supply & Demand Chain Executive.
Supply & Demand Chain Executive — February 2013

Feature Article: “Small Operational Changes Bring Big Cost-Cutting Results for Transit Agencies” in APTA Passenger Transport Magazine
APTA Passenger Transport Magazine — June 2012

Feature Article: “Meeting the Service Parts Inventory Planning Challenge” in BUSride Maintenance Magazine
BUSride Maintenance Magazine — April 2012

SmartForecasts Review: “Smarter Inventory Management: Forecasting public transportation needs with the complete software package” in APICS Magazine
APICS magazine — January/February 2012

Transit Talk Blog: “How to Discover Hidden Cost Savings in Your Transit Operations”
Mass Transit Magazine — September, 2011

Cover Story: A Northeast Commuter Railroad Struggles to Optimize Its Spare Parts Inventory
SupplyChainBrain — May/June 2011

“Prestolite Charges up Its Inventory Management”
When retirements drained its planning expertise and a bad mix of too much inventory put a strain on cash flow, the company brought in a new forecasting tool to power its planning process. S&DCE Aug/Sep 2010

“How to Survive the Economic Crunch”
Current economic conditions are challenging everyone’s business. This is especially true for companies in the manufacturing and distribution sectors that have a large percentage of their supply chain resources tied up in inventory. With credit tight, these companies are looking for ways to preserve as much cash as possible. Because inventory is cash sitting on the shelves, a prime way to reduce costs and increase cash flows is to improve the forecasting and planning of inventory requirements. SDCExec.com May 2009

“Smooth Ride: Forecasting solution improves product deployment and reduces transportation costs”
See how Prevost Parts, a division of Canadian bus manufacturer Prevost Car, has used SmartForecasts to improve inventory allocation and distribution effectiveness in the North American aftermarket for its 25,000 motorcoach and urban bus parts. Learn about Prevost Parts’ evaluation criteria in selecting SmartForecasts over five other applications considered, and the importance of Smart’s unique intermittent demand forecasting capability in solving Prevost’s forecasting and safety stock estimation problems. APICS May 2005

“Prevost Parts increases replacement part availability and reduces inventory through improved demand forecasting” by Alex Daudelin.
Read an article about how Prevost Parts, the parts division of Canadian bus manufacturer Prevost Car, uses SmartForecasts to more effectively distribute replacement parts for the North American motorcoach and transit bus markets. Learn why the company selected SmartForecasts over SAP’s demand planning application and now expects both a 25% increase in forecast accuracy and close to a 20% reduction in inventory stocking levels. Geston Logistique March 2004

“The Right Tools” by Charles Smart, president of Smart Software.
Learn how the right statistical forecasting tools combined with collaborative inputs from management, salespeople and customers can greatly improve forecast accuracy and streamline a company’s demand planning process. APICS May 2003

“Forecasting-As Important as Ever” by Charles Smart, president of Smart Software.
Read why demand forecasting is still essential in this new manufacturing age. APICS Nov/Dec 2001

“A better crystal ball” by Charles Smart, president of Smart Software.
Read a Web-exclusive article about how forecasting applications are adapting to shorter product life cycles and build-to-order trends. manufacturingsystems.com Nov 2001

“Bootstrap Your Way to Better Forecasts” by Charles Smart, president of Smart Software.
Learn about Smart Software’s new forecasting method to address the multi-million dollar problem of planning intermittent, slow-moving demand. Midrange Enterprise Jan 2001