Supply Chain Planning.
Transform your planning processes to drive resilience, efficiency, and growth.
25+
years of expertise
80+
successful engagements
33
cities across 28 countries
Westernacher Consulting empowers organizations worldwide to strengthen their supply chain planning with market-proven methodologies and deep SAP expertise.
With over 25 years of experience across diverse industries and regions, Westernacher Consulting follows an end-to-end approach that combines strategic consulting, SAP best practices and advanced planning technologies to deliver measurable outcomes, such as agility, higher forecast accuracy and sustained performance.
Westernacher Consulting helps you to achieve a competitive advantage in every market you serve.
Why does Advanced Planning matter?
Rapid demand volatility
Increasingly complex global supply chains
Massive data volumes requiring automated planning capabilities
Accelerate decision-making
Operate with greater precision and agility
Why invest in Supply Chain Planning?
Planning investments deliver measurable returns while strengthening a company’s ability to operate confidently in uncertain conditions.
Effective planning goes far beyond producing better predictions; it builds the capabilities, systems, and processes organizations need to respond quickly and intelligently to both risks and opportunities.
What are the key benefits of Advanced Planning?
Resilience
& Agility
1
Build the ability to respond quickly to disruptions and market changes through
- Faster reaction to disruptions
- Quick evaluation of alternative scenarios
- Less firefighting and ad‑hoc decisions
- Stronger risk identification and mitigation
Operational Excellence
2
Improve inventory efficiency and customer service by
- 5–30% lower inventory while maintaining service levels
- 10–40% better forecast accuracy
- Improved synchronization across planning horizons
- More effective asset and capacity usage
Financial Performance
3
Strengthen profitability by
- Reduced working capital
- Lower operational costs through optimized planning
- Increased revenue from better availability
- More accurate financial forecasts and budgets
- Clear comparison of alternative scenarios
Strategical Alignment
4
Connect planning across sales, operations, and finance to give decision-makers full visibility into tradeoffs and resource needs.
- Integrated planning across key business functions
- Clear understanding of constraints and options
- Aligned objectives and performance metrics
- Better resource allocation and prioritization
Our Supply Chain Planning expertise.
Supply chain planning leads to proactive decision-making. Westernacher Consulting’s end-to-end expertise spans S&OP, demand forecasting, inventory optimization, and real-time control tower visibility—powered by SAP IBP and built around your business.
The result:
up to 30% less inventory, 10–40% better forecast accuracy, and stronger on-time delivery. Across your entire supply network.
up to 30% less inventory, 10–40% better forecast accuracy, and stronger on-time delivery. Across your entire supply network.
Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP)
Westernacher Consulting establishes effective S&OP processes by aligning demand, supply, and financial planning within one framework. This ranges from building core meeting routines and cross-functional collaboration to implementing advanced IBP capabilities such as real-time orchestration, scenario modeling, and continuous plan reconciliation.
Demand Planning & Forecasting
Westernacher Consulting enhances forecast accuracy by implementing statistical models, demand sensing, collaborative planning, and specialized methods for new products and promotions.
Supply Planning & Optimization
Westernacher Consulting transforms supply planning into proactive, constraint-based optimization using SAP IBP. Implementations help balance service levels, costs, and capacity while improving material availability through advanced techniques, automated exception handling, and real-time scenarios.
Inventory Optimization
Westernacher Consulting applies data-driven inventory methods to achieve significant inventory reductions while protecting service levels. Capabilities include multi-echelon optimization, statistical safety stock, and segmented stocking strategies that account for demand variability and service targets.
Spare Parts &
Aftermarket Planning
Westernacher Consulting delivers specialized planning for spare parts using SAP eSPP, addressing irregular demand patterns, large assortments, and high service requirements.
Control Tower &
Supply Chain visibility
Westernacher Consulting creates real-time visibility across planning and execution, enabling faster disruption response and better collaboration. Control tower solutions provide automated alerts, root-cause insights, and coordinated resolution workflows.
Our Planning implementation approach.
Westernacher Consulting follows the proven Activate+ Methodology, a four-phase implementation approach spanning discovery, design, deployment, and continuous optimization, to deliver supply chain planning projects with clear milestones and incremental value delivery.
We accelerate project implementations through proprietary accelerators built from previous engagements and AI-powered tools, while embedding long-term planning capabilities and organizational change management throughout each phase.
SAP Planning technologies we specialize in.
Westernacher Consulting implements the full SAP planning platform landscape, including cloud-based SAP Integrated Business Planning (SAP IBP) for comprehensive demand, supply, and response planning, SAP Service Parts Planning (SAP SPP) for aftermarket optimization, SAP Customer Activity Repository (SAP CAR) for retail planning, and SAP Master Data Governance (SAP MDG) for planning data management.
SAP Integrated Business Planning
(SAP IBP)
SAP IBP is a comprehensive cloud-based planning platform that unifies demand, supply, inventory, and S&OP planning in a single solution with real-time collaboration capabilities.
Integration between Volume & Financial plan
Westernacher Consulting integrates strategic, operational, and financial planning processes into a closed-loop framework that connects budgeting, target setting, and volume planning.
APO to SAP IBP transformation
We support organizations in transitioning from SAP Advanced Planning and Optimization (SAP APO) to SAP Integrated Business Planning (SAP IBP), with 2026 marking the critical window to begin this transformation ahead of SAP APO end-of-life.
SAP embedded Production Planning & Detailed Scheduling (ePP/DS)
SAP Embedded Production Planning and Detailed Scheduling (SAP ePP/DS), built into SAP S/4HANA, is a core area of expertise for Westernacher Consulting.
SAP Service Parts Planning (SPP & eSPP)
Specialized solutions for spare parts and aftermarket planning, designed to handle the unique challenges of intermittent demand, large SKU portfolios, and critical service level requirements.
Customer Success Story.
Westernacher Consulting has delivered measurable planning transformation results across industries, including significant improvements in forecast accuracy, inventory reduction, and financial performance. These documented client outcomes demonstrate the impact of Westernacher’s supply chain planning implementations on key performance indicators such as service levels, working capital optimization, and operational efficiency.
Process Industries
Successful go-live of synchronized planning with SAP IBP and SAP ePP/DS at Bachem.
Discrete Manufacturing
Global packaging leader Amcor Specialty Cartons wrap up long plans with SAP IBP.
Why choose Westernacher for Supply Chain Planning?
Westernacher Consulting brings more than 25 years of dedicated supply chain planning experience and a holistic approach that integrates process excellence, modern technology, and strong people enablement. Our methodology combines deep SAP expertise with industry best practices and effective change management to deliver sustainable, long-term planning transformation.
Proven Expertise
With decades of experience Westernacher Consulting provides the practical know how needed to solve complex planning challenges.
- 25+ years of supply chain planning specialization
- 80+ successful transformations across industries
- SAP Expert Partner with strong planning competencies
- Global presence in 33 cities across 26 countries
- SAP-certified planning consultants‑consultants
Comprehensive Approach
We don’t simply deploy tools—we strengthen your entire planning capability.
- Design best-practice planning processes tailored to your industry
- Implement and integrate SAP’s planning solutions effectively
- Build planning culture through structured change management
- Support continuous improvement and planning maturity growth
- Ensure full knowledge transfer to make your team self-sufficient
Industry Expertise
Our consultants combine planning knowledge with deep sector-specific insight, ensuring solutions match real-world requirements. world requirements.
- Discrete manufacturing
- Process industries
- Consumer goods, retail, and fashion
- Life sciences and regulated industries
- High‑tech and electronics
- Logistics, 3PL, and distribution
Partnership Approach
We act as a long-term partner focused on your sustained success—not just a software implementer.
- Transparent collaboration and proactive knowledge sharing
- Engagement models tailored to your needs
- Commitment beyond go-live with ongoing support
- Innovation partnerships using the latest SAP planning capabilities
- AMS and continuous optimization programs available
Time-to-Value Solutions for supply chain planning.
Fast Solution
“Demand Planning”
Accelerate your forecasting transformation with our Demand Planning Fast Solution.
In just 12 weeks from kickoff to go-live, we help you move from any legacy demand planning solution to a fully integrated, automated SAP IBP Demand Planning environment that delivers both quick wins and long-term value.
12 weeks
Fast Solution
“SAP IBP S&OP”
Break down silos and unify your planning process with our S&OP Fast Solution package.
In just 18 weeks, Westernacher Consulting will implement a best-practice SAP IBP solution that transforms your Sales & Operations Planning into a strategic, data-driven process. This package replaces spreadsheet-based or legacy processes with a cloud-based, best-practice IBP solution for Sales and Operations Planning. SAP IBP S&OP Fast Solution is natively integrated with SAP S/4HANA Private Cloud or SAP ECC.
18 weeks
APO-to-IBP Discovery –
Assessment accelerator
Still using SAP APO? Our APO-to-IBP Assessment supports your transition to SAP IBP in a structured and low-risk way.
In one week, Westernacher Consulting’s experienced consultants review your current APO landscape and provide a clear, actionable migration roadmap, focused on maximizing business value while limiting disruption.
5 days
Get started with Supply Chain Planning transformation.
Organizations can begin their supply chain planning transformation with Westernacher Consulting through a structured three-step engagement model: an initial inspiration workshop to assess current maturity and identify opportunities, a business case development phase to quantify expected value and define the transformation roadmap, and a full implementation program to deploy optimized planning processes and SAP technology across the organization.
Your journey
begins here.
Schedule an Inspiration Day workshop
An interactive half-day or full-day workshop where Westernacher Consulting experts gather your key stakeholders to explore modern planning capabilities and build consensus on your transformation vision.
What Westernacher Consulting covers:
- Explore modern planning capabilities through use cases and demonstrations
- Discuss your specific planning challenges and strategic goals
- See SAP IBP demonstrations relevant to your industry
- Build consensus on vision, priorities, and expected benefits
- Define concrete next steps and potential quick wins
Who should attend:
Supply chain leadership, planning managers, IT stakeholders, and executive sponsors
Whitepaper
From APO to SAP IBP. Shaping the future of Supply Chain Planning with AI Innovation.
What you’ll learn:
- Understand the full potential of SAP IBP and its role in modern supply chain planning.
- Discover how advanced planning capabilities are delivered with simplicity and flexibility.
- Learn how AI is reshaping planning processes and decision-making.
- See how SAP IBP enables scalable, AI-driven planning with minimal complexity.
- Gain a clear framework to define your roadmap toward AI-powered planning maturity.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ).
Frequently asked questions about supply chain planning transformations, covering supported industries, typical implementation timelines, expected ROI, SAP technology options, and post-go-live support and continuous optimization services.
We serve all industries with particular expertise in discrete manufacturing, process industries, consumer goods, retail, life sciences, high-tech, and logistics. Our consultants combine deep planning expertise with industry-specific domain knowledge to address your unique challenges.
Timelines vary by scope:
- Fast Solutions: 9-24 weeks for focused implementations (e.g., single module or process)
- Department-level implementations: 4-6 months for single business unit or function
- Enterprise-wide transformations: 9-18 months for global, multi-module implementations
- Continuous improvement: Ongoing optimization and capability advancement
We focus on delivering incremental value throughout the journey, not just at final go-live.
Typical benefits our clients achieve include:
- 5-30% inventory reduction across the network
- 10-40% forecast accuracy improvement
- 20-50% planning cycle time reduction
- 30-70% reduction in manual planning effort
- Improved service levels and customer satisfaction
Most organizations achieve payback within 12-24 months, with benefits continuing to grow as planning maturity increases.
Absolutely. We believe change management is critical to planning transformation success. Our methodology includes:
- Organizational readiness assessment and stakeholder analysis
- Targeted stakeholder engagement and communication planning
- Role-based training and enablement programs
- Adoption monitoring with corrective actions
- Continuous improvement facilitation and capability building
We specialize in APO to IBP migrations, helping organizations transition smoothly to the cloud-based planning platform. With APO mainstream maintenance ending in 2027, we recommend starting your migration planning in 2026 to ensure adequate time for a well-executed transformation. We can help you evaluate the next steps through an initial assessment of your planning processes in SAP APO and the definition of a potential roadmap towards SAP IBP.
If you’re currently on APO, 2026 is the critical year to begin your migration planning. Complex migrations typically require 12-18 months, and starting in 2026 allows you to complete migration before APO mainstream maintenance ends in 2027. Early planning also secures budget, resources, and allows for a strategic transformation rather than a rushed technical upgrade.
Yes, we offer multiple support and continuous improvement options:
- Application Management Services (AMS): Ongoing system support and maintenance
- Continuous Optimization Programs: Regular reviews and improvement initiatives
- On-Demand Consulting Support: Expert help when you need it
- Training and Enablement: Ongoing skill development for your team
- Technology Upgrade Support: Help with SAP updates and new feature adoption
Connect with our Planning experts.
Multiple ways to connect with Westernacher Consulting planning experts—from scheduling an inspiration workshop to downloading resources or finding your local office.
Ready to transform your supply chain planning? Let’s start the conversation.
