How to run an efficient operations planning in your company

Operations planning is one of the central points in the success of a company, so having a proper strategy can make a significant difference in the effectiveness of each of the processes inside your operations.

There are different pillars that support a correct operations planning, and it is necessary to know each one of them, since they can enhance the growth of a business in an efficient way.

In this article we are going to know the most important services that you should take into consideration to increase the profitability of your organization.

Plan your operations with London Consulting Group

In London Consulting Group excellence in each of the services is a priority, so it has a model for each of the pillars that we have mentioned above in order to meet your goals.

The growth and success of your organization requires tools and solutions that facilitate each of the processes.

1. Lean 4.0

Lean 4.0 is a methodology and philosophy that is applicable to any type of business and aims to accelerate product innovation to improve quality, reduce costs, eliminate waste and improve the value proposition for customers.

Companies can adapt to a constant market while improving efficiency and quality. It also has some elements that differentiate it from a traditional quality control model.

• Integration of technology and philosophy: it integrates technologies such as IoT, AI and Big Data into its processes.
• Mass hyper-customization: products and services can be customized on a large scale.
• Agility and adaptability: helps to respond nimbly to market changes.
• Agile leadership and collaborative work: promotes an adaptive leadership style.
• Customer experience orientation: aims to meet the highest standards in user experience.

On the other hand, there are benefits such as:

• Reduced waste and improved efficiencies.
• More informed decisions through data analysis.
• Customer satisfaction and massive personalization.

2. Operational Experience (OX)

Operations planning is the process of making decisions aimed at balancing market demand with an organization's production processes. All this through efficient communication among the company's areas.

It is a dynamic process that requires constant adjustments to adapt to a changing market, so it is of utmost importance to have a tool that allows this management in a simple way.

Among the benefits that can be obtained:

• Increase in the level of customer service.
• Reduction of lost sales.
• Increase in profitability.
• Reduction in production downtime.
• Reduction in transportation costs.
• Improved operational efficiency.
• Reduction in warehousing costs.
• Macro model.
• Demand, supply, production and logistics planning.
• Innovation and digitalization.

3. Sales and Channels

Companies of all sizes face challenges in managing their sales and distribution channels, which can lead to inefficiencies, poor customer segmentation and poor service models.

An optimal sales and distribution system is key to improving business intelligence, marketing strategies and, ultimately, customer satisfaction.

London Consulting Group's goal is to optimize sales operations for maximum customer satisfaction by developing customized strategies, pricing plans and differentiated service levels for each customer segment.

The focus is on improving customer service, optimizing resource allocation, fostering teamwork and increasing sales.

Also, with the advent of generative AI, the aim is to create dynamic marketing campaigns, optimize customer service and gain deeper customer insights.

As more companies adopt AI, maintaining transparency and integrity will be crucial to gaining and retaining customer trust.

4. CRM

A CRM or Customer Relationship Management is a necessity for businesses today, as it allows to better understand the needs of consumers and adapt to this in a simple and effective way.

Thanks to this, it is possible to improve communications and sales strategies to strengthen customer retention and loyalty, while improving profitability and making decision-making more effective.

Among the functions that CRM fulfills within a company are the following:

• Effective customer segmentation.
• Automation of sales processes.
• Data analysis for decision making.
• Improved customer service.
• Coordination between teams.

5. Marketing Strategy (Go to Market)

In an increasingly competitive market, companies need a solid Go to Market strategy to ensure the success of their products and services. It defines how a company will reach its target customers, communicate its value proposition and generate sales.

Among the benefits of a go-to-market strategy, we can highlight the following:

• Greater efficiency in the use of resources: by focusing on the most profitable market segments and the most appropriate distribution channels, the company can optimize its investment in marketing and sales.
• Higher product launch success rate: helps to identify customer needs and develop products that meet those needs, increasing the chances of a successful launch.
• Increased sales growth: by reaching the right customers with the right message, the company can increase sales and market share.

To develop an effective strategy, companies must:

• Conduct an in-depth market analysis.
• Define their marketing and sales objectives.
• Identify their target market segments.
• Develop a compelling value proposition.
• Select appropriate distribution channels.
• Develop a marketing and sales plan.

Implementing an effective strategy can be a complex process, but it is a worthwhile investment for companies that want to succeed in today's marketplace.

6. Supply Chain Management

The supply chain is a key element for any business, as it allows for the proper management of organizational processes, ensuring that products and services flow properly.

The supply chain has different phases ranging from planning to distribution, in a process that involves suppliers, manufacturers, distributors and even retailers.

Among the benefits are:

• Increased service level.
• Cost optimization.
• Competitive advantage.
• Business resilience.
• Innovation and continuous improvement.

London Consulting Group offers supply chain 4.0, which has the characteristic of integrating and adopting several advanced technologies that transform supply chain management.

Among the advantages granted by London Consulting Group's solution are:

• Blockchain
• IoT
• AI
• Big Data
• RPA
• KPI Automated Dashboards

7. Inventory Management

Inventory management is critical to the profitability of a business, as it is common to observe that poor inventory management generates high costs, while hindering internal collaboration and negatively affecting the customer experience.

Good inventory management reduces operating costs, optimizes the supply chain and improves customer satisfaction, which means there will naturally be an increase in sales and overall company profitability.

London Consulting Group's focus is on optimizing inventory control for companies, as the aim is to enable businesses to simplify their processes, reduce costs and improve efficiency.

By working together, we seek to develop customized strategies that adapt to the specific needs of a constantly changing market.

Among the benefits of proper inventory management are the following:

• Cost and expense reduction.
• Optimization of working capital.
• Improved sales and service levels.
• Operational excellence.
• Data-driven decision making.
• Improved supply chain management.

8. Distribution

Distribution management is one of the most important elements within the supply chain of any organization, as success depends to a large extent on the planning, implementation and control of the flow of goods from the origin to the point of consumption.

The ability to adapt to the constant changes that are occurring within the market make distribution an essential part of a business, as it offers competitive advantages that transform the company's processes.

• Cost reduction.
• Increased sales.
• Improved profitability.
• Customer satisfaction.
• Competitive advantage.
• Flexibility.
• Improved cash flow.

The elements that are key to the distribution business solution and are focused on maintaining world-class distribution management for the success of your business are:

• Routing model optimization.
• Delivery scheduling models.
• Staff training.

9. Shared Services Unit & Back Office Support

Managing different businesses under a corporate network can be a complicated task, since duplication of processes, fragmentation in information systems and lack of coordination of tasks produce inefficiency and high costs that are a problem for companies.

Therefore, centralizing and standardizing each of the functions of the different areas should be one of the goals, since by implementing shared services and consolidating the back office, it is possible to take advantage of economies of scale while improving quality and reducing costs.

London Consulting Group maximizes a company's resources by centralizing the business functions of each department through a team that aims to consolidate activities and operations into a central focus.

The benefits are as follows:

• Collaboration with management: working closely with all managers in the centralization processes.
• Customized design: management unit that is tailored to the needs of a business.
• Reduced costs and increased efficiency: driving the growth of the organization by saving capital.
• Strategic focus: strategies are created to streamline processes and eliminate superfluous expenses.

10. Certifications

In companies that are focused on food, one of the first level needs are quality and safety, since the welfare of consumers and the reputation of the companies must be guaranteed.

Thus, food safety becomes the management of effective systems to ensure food safety throughout the entire supply chain process. In this aspect, the certifications provided by London Consulting Group are elementary.

Thanks to the business solution, not only the quality and compliance of each of the processes is enhanced, but also doors are opened to other markets and other customers.

Among the features offered by London Consulting Group are the following:

• Gap analysis
• Detailed documentation
• Comprehensive training
• Supervised implementation
• Internal audits

It also has competitive advantages to increase the potential of any type of business:

• Global recognition.
• Operational efficiency.
• Risk reduction.
• Improved food safety culture.
• Development of multidisciplinary teams.

11. Financial Planning and Execution

In today's market, financial planning and execution are fundamental pillars for the competitiveness and success of any company, and one of the serious problems is to ignore these aspects that can generate high costs and financial expenses, hindering profitability and growth.

The solution proposed by London Consulting Group aims to boost your business through a financial plan focused on profitability by implementing strategies that transform your finance department, providing you with real-time information on cash flow, key indicators and accurate projections.

The methodology consists of working together with the managers of an organization, so that each aspect of the model is adapted to the goals and objectives of each company.

Among the tools available to London Consulting Group in this aspect we have the following:

• Accounting structure and balance sheet.
• Order to cash.
• Order to pay.
• Banks and cash.
• Intercompany.
• Cash flow tools.

Conclusion

Carrying out a correct operations planning is a compendium of resources and processes that you must take into consideration if you want to achieve success in your business, and with the business solutions that London Consulting Group has at your disposal it will be a very simple task.

Learn more about how London Consulting Group can help you optimize operations planning and start on the road to efficiency in your organization.