Inventory optimization has emerged as a crucial enabler of success for businesses worldwide as it ensures that customer expectations are fulfilled efficiently, which in turn leads to increased profitability. Following the need to enhance customer service while simultaneously minimizing both inventory and supply chain costs, Slimstock helps organizations strike the precise balance between working capital, operational costs, and optimal service levels. As the leading inventory optimization specialist in the world, Slimstock offers specialized consultancy, helpdesk technical support, and constant training for a winning supply chain strategy. “With a unique and passionate team of inventory management specialists, we aim to help our customers exceed their inventory optimization goals,” states Eric van Dijk, CEO of Slimstock.

Founded in 1993, Slimstock is trusted by more than 950 customers and 7500 users in 50 countries worldwide. The key to its success lies in the combination of possessing both knowledge and experience in order to translate theoretical findings into practical solutions and expert advice with hands on approach. While the company caters to stockholding businesses from all industries, its primary focus is on wholesale, automotive, spare parts and recent growth in complex retails projects.

Slimstock’s flagship offering, Slim4, is an integral solution designed for forecasting, demand planning, and inventory control.

Using a variety of tried and tested statistical methods; Slim4 analyzes up to five years of historical demand data and develops a robust forecast for the complete assortment. Based on the Management by Exception (MBE) principles, Slim4 notifies the inventory analysts, buyers and management of any detected anomalies in demand and supply patterns, enabling them to focus their time and attention on where it is required the most. Slim4 takes into account various factors including the minimum order quantity and the desired service level to determine the optimal safety stock and order level. This information helps better position supply teams to make decisions that lead to reduced inventories and supply chain costs while customer service levels continue to increase.

Slim4 balances out the working capital invested in inventory. As a result, excess stock is eliminated while out-of-stock situations become scarce. On average Slimstock customers experience reduced stock outs by 50 percent and an increase in product availability. Slim4 is designed to seamlessly integrate with enterprise resource planning systems in the market, and consequently, implementation projects are delivered on time and on budget with zero risks. “We only offer our Slim4 software to companies when we can prove that return on investment will be positive within a year,” claims van Dijk.

While Slimstock supports a diverse group of customers, van Dijk narrates a particular customer success story with Auto-Camping, Canada’s leading distributor of OEM and high-quality replacement parts and lubricants for European vehicles. Prior to adopting Slim4, Auto-Camping had been using a legacy system that was designed to handle parts distribution, forecasting, and supply planning. Most of the items were sourced from European vendors, and with long lead times, supply planning was very reactionary, leading to the stock piling of wrong inventory items. Since implementing Slim4, Auto-Camping has increased sales by almost 10 percent without growing inventory levels or compromising on service. Further, Paul Wilkes, VP of Operations, Auto-Camping adds, “Slim4 gives us clear visibility into our entire inventory, and we proactively know exactly how purchasing decisions will impact our business.”

Slimstock has recently launched a workflow-driven platform and intends to utilize artificial intelligence, machine learning, and deep learning to a greater extent for optimizing inventory management. The company’s plan is to connect the entirety of product supply chain, integrating all the players ranging from a manufacturer to a retailer. Sharing its expertise and experience with customers, Slimstock is the global knowledge partner for forecasting and inventory optimization.