In today's complex, data-rich environment, the true effectiveness of any supply chain software is determined not just by its features, but by the quality of its inputs and the intelligence of its outputs. This is where Inventory Capital Solutions (ICS) by FDC excels, converting massive amounts of raw data into precise, actionable insights that drive strategic inventory management. By understanding the core data structure of the ICS platform, you can appreciate how it evolves beyond basic tracking to become a predictive and prescriptive strategic partner.
The Foundational Data: The System's Core Requirements
At its heart, ICS requires a robust and highly accurate set of core data to fuel its sophisticated calculations and ensure the reliability of its planning and forecasting:
Products and Stock: Comprehensive records for all items, including specifications, and real-time stock levels across every physical and virtual stocking location.
Transaction History: A detailed, verifiable record of historical sales transactions (demand), which is the bedrock for identifying patterns, trends, and true demand velocity.
Pending Movements: Clear information on all open orders, goods receipts, and inventory transfers, providing an accurate, forward-looking view of future stock availability.
Product Structure: Details on supersessions (product replacements) and complete Bills of Materials (BOMs), which are vital for ensuring accurate planning for assembled products and component inventory.
The Strategic Inputs: Unlocking Deep Predictive Value
While the foundational data supports routine operations, providing these optional inputs allows Inventory Planning Suite to deliver even more powerful, precise, and contextualized results, enriching the system's overall understanding of your market:
Demand Drivers: Known future events like promotions, seasonal forecasts, or confirmed large customer orders are integrated to fine-tune demand predictions.
Supplier Context: Detailed information on your supplier network, including performance metrics, custom calendars/schedules, and complex terms of trade, helps in optimizing procurement timing and cash flow.
Policy and Constraint Logic: Your business’s specific stocking policies (e.g., risk profiles, desired service levels) and order limitations (e.g., minimum order quantities) are integrated to ensure every recommendation aligns with your policies.
Inventory Integrity: Historical audit logs and detailed customer order data are utilized to reconcile discrepancies and continuously improve the accuracy of the underlying data set.
The Actionable Outputs: Prescriptive Intelligence
The ultimate value of Inventory Capital Solutions lies in its ability to quickly translate this data into clear, actionable outputs. These are not merely reports; they are prioritized, data-driven recommendations that empower your team to execute smarter, faster:
Execution Orders: Highly optimized and automated recommendations for Purchase Orders, Transfer Orders (to balance stock across locations), and Work Orders (for assembled products).
Cash and Demand Visibility: Detailed, accurate demand forecasts that serve as the foundation for all strategic planning, complemented by cash commitment forecasts that project sales and inventory positions 24 months out.
Capital Recovery Lists: Proactive recommendations for returning or scrapping excess and obsolete stock, helping you immediately unlock working capital and warehouse space.
Performance Tracking: Automated supplier scorecards and KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) provide a constant, high-level view of the health of your inventory, allowing you to track progress and measure success against strategic goals.
Inventory Capital Solutions functions as a sophisticated intelligence engine: consuming a wide spectrum of data inputs to produce a suite of highly valuable, prescriptive outputs. By dedicating effort to giving the system accurate and comprehensive information, you empower it to be a strategic partner that will enable you to thrive in today's competitive and often volatile market.