Optiant, a vendor of inventory planning and optimization software, has created version 6 of its PowerChain application. The update features a new portal, which serves as a gateway to all PowerChain modules, centralizes authentication and security functions, and facilitates user maintenance. PowerChain Portal provides such common functions as logging, authentication and data layers. Customers can configure their PowerChain products and components with the help of a new database, which contains user profiles and configuration information for all installed modules. An executive dashboard allows users to connect directly to Optiant customer support and to the user community, where clients can communicate, collaborate and exchange ideas with the Optiant support team and other customers. Version 6 includes new rules, which specify limits and configure demand and forecast error more precisely. Demand characterization can be adjusted automatically for forecast error, based on forecast bias. Time periods can be ignored if demand history and historical forecast are zero. Supply-chain planners can accept or reject targets on a SKU-by-SKU basis, determining which items get exported to their advanced planning or enterprise resource planning systems, and which do not. In addition, target levels and supply periods can be adjusted for different items and time periods.
Optiant