In a world where uncertainty is the norm, forecasting alone is no longer enough. “Black boxes” that apply algorithms to historical data are useful… but limited when it comes to cleaning data, collaborating, simulating, and making decisions.
Colibri goes further: an end-to-end S&OP platform that combines reliable data, human-augmented AI, and cross-functional collaboration to turn forecasting into a performance driver.
Why Calculators Are No Longer Enough
Many tools focus solely on generating forecasts:
- Quick implementation, but very limited use and poor scalability.
- Item-by-item processing, with no real aggregation logic.
- Minimal collaboration: hard to integrate sales, marketing, finance, and supply. Result: a raw forecast, often disconnected from reality (promotions, stock-outs, launches, substitutions) and barely actionable.
Colibri: An End-to-End S&OP Platform
First, Reliable Data
Before calculating, Colibri prepares the data to avoid “training” models on biased inputs:
- Correcting anomalies and historical accidents
- Excluding one-off effects (promotions, stock recovery)
- Managing substitutions and delistings
AI + Experts: Augmentation, Not Replacement
Colibri combines statistical models and AI algorithms with planners’ expertise. The goal: automate repetitive tasks to free up time for analysis, collaboration, and decision-making.
Collaboration at the Core
A good plan is collective. Colibri enables consensus among sales, marketing, finance, purchasing, production, and supply chain:
- A shared, credible, and actionable vision.
Working at the Right Aggregation Levels
Reliability often increases with aggregation. Colibri lets you adapt granularity by:
- Family / range / brand
- Geographic area / channel
- Customer segment / key account
- Lifecycle (launch, replenishment, end-of-life) Tailored granularity based on product nature (best-sellers, seasonal, slow movers) for more robust forecasts.
Anticipating Change: Launches, Substitutions, Promotions
Colibri includes advanced features to move from observation to anticipation:
- Launches: mimicry models / AI based on analogues
- Substitutions / delistings: controlled demand transfer
- Promotions & pricing: simulated scenarios and impacts (volumes, capacity, stock)
From Demand Planning to S&OP: Full Coverage
Where a calculator stops, Colibri continues the entire cycle:
- Budget planning: aligning forecast with financial targets
- Capacity & load: industrial feasibility, bottlenecks, prioritization
- Scenarios: sensitivities, backup plans, quantified trade-offs
- Inventory: target levels, overstock/stock-out risks, tied-up cash
- Operations/Execution: production, procurement, inter-site redistribution
From calculation to decision, continuously.
Tangible Benefits Observed
Numerous client feedbacks available here: [Trustfolio site]
Speed & Simplicity of Deployment
Thanks to its cloud architecture and intuitive interface, Colibri is deployed in under 3 months in most contexts, without heavy maintenance programs.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Forecast Calculator | Colibri S&OP |
|---|---|---|
| Data preparation & quality | Limited | Optimized (switches, launches, stock-outs, promos…) |
| Granularity & aggregation | Mostly item-level | Flexible (family, region, customer, lifecycle) |
| Collaboration | Low | Multi-function consensus |
| Scenarios & capacity | Rare | Integrated (inventory, capacity, finance) |
| From forecast to decision | No | Yes, full S&OP |
| Deployment | Fast | Fast (< 3 months) |
Forecasting is not an end: it’s the starting point of a collaborative, scenario-driven, and managed process.
Calculators produce numbers. Colibri builds decisions.
In summary, Colibri delivers:
- A global vision: from forecast to full S&OP
- Smooth collaboration: everyone aligned on one plan
- Smart technology: AI + human expertise
- Rapid implementation: weeks, not years
- Measurable results: reliability, inventory, service
