Century Pacific adopts AI tool to optimise supply chain planning

Century Pacific Food has decided to implement Blue Yonder's AI-powered Demand and Supply Planning solution as part of a wider digital transformation strategy for its supply chain.

Century Pacific Food produces and distributes a broad range of branded marine, meat, milk, coconut, and plant-based products, and has significant market presence in the Philippines alongside growing international operations. The company is also a key exporter of private-label tuna and coconut products from the Philippines.

As the company's portfolio continues to expand, and in response to ongoing supply chain disruptions, Century Pacific stated its aim to optimise inventory and improve the accuracy of its demand and supply forecasts through the adoption of Blue Yonder's cognitive solutions.

Planning with AI

Blue Yonder's solution is designed to help companies like Century Pacific generate more precise forecasts by applying a mix of machine learning algorithms and statistical analysis to multiple demand drivers. This approach enables planners to gain insights into the factors influencing demand, without being constrained by predefined causal relationships.

The Blue Yonder solution incorporates an AI-powered Inventory Ops Agent, intended to help planners identify supply and demand mismatches, address systemic supply chain issues, and respond to disruptions in real time. The agent also makes recommendations such as alternate sourcing, expedited shipping, or demand reallocation, with the ability to adjust plans rapidly in changing conditions and communicate these changes across the supply chain.

Included within the platform is a collaborative planner workspace, which aims to harmonise activities across supply and demand units, improve resource utilisation, and drive engagement and productivity amongst planners. Planners are also able to conduct scenario analysis, allowing them to answer strategic 'what-if' questions to support effective risk management and business continuity.

Cost control and forecasting

Another key goal of the project is to support efficient inventory management. Blue Yonder's system allows for dynamic segmentation and multi-echelon inventory optimisation, which the parties expect to reduce operational costs, tackle waste, and enhance inventory turnover throughout the supply chain.

By integrating demand planning and inventory optimisation with supply planning, Century Pacific expects to align its teams on common data, support accurate forecasting, and improve inventory positioning to support its business objectives.

"As we continue to expand our product portfolio and grow our business, we needed a solution that could help us make fast and precise planning decisions," said Chad Manapat, chief financial officer, CNPF. "We look forward to adopting Blue Yonder's AI-driven Demand and Supply Planning solution because it has the potential to transform our approach to inventory, demand, and supply management. It can support our growth strategies and aid our company in navigating supply chain volatility and disruptions."

Blue Yonder's Demand and Supply Planning solution sits on a cloud-native architecture through the Blue Yonder Platform, with an emphasis on scale and access to advanced artificial intelligence tools, supporting digital transformation projects for retailers and manufacturers globally.

Supply chain goals

"CPG brands are increasingly focused on building speed, agility and resilience into their supply chains to effectively streamline operations and manage sourcing and production disruptions. We are excited to be working with Century Pacific to help them enhance their supply chain and demand planning processes using our Blue Yonder Demand and Supply Planning solution," said Antonio Boccalandro, president, APAC, Blue Yonder. "By connecting demand sensing to supply planning, CNPF can achieve accurate forecasts and optimal inventory placement, allowing them to operate smoothly as they expand and grow in the Philippines and beyond."

Century Pacific Food brands are currently available in Australia, with the company continuing to grow both its local and international presence in the food and beverage sector.