TBInternational's Urban Classic and Ecko Unltd Inventory Gets AI Lift
Global fashion wholesaler and retailer TBInternational, which manufactures for brands like Urban Classic, Ecko Unltd, Southpole, and Roca Wear, is elevating its inventory planning, implementing AI-powered demand forecasting and operations.
The effort will help ensure stock availability across 15,000 retail locations and 100 e-commerce channels, and for 24-hour order-to-ship timelines. It will increase visibility across the supply chain by introducing data-driven planning processes, as well as improve efficiency via automations in forecasting, ordering, inventory management, and production allocation.
Johannes Rudenko, managing director of logistics and IT at TBInternational, said the company was looking to solve the challenge of meeting consumer expectations in a rapidly changing market environment, which requires next-generation planning tech.
It will help drive more accurate predictions of demand through enhanced forecasting abilities, Rudenko added. Following a six-month implementation, the company saw significant improvements in aligning supply parameters with demand patterns.
"This will help us better meet customer demand, while optimizing service and inventory levels. Furthermore, this is a key milestone on our strategic roadmap to become a fully data-driven company,” said Rudenko.
The company has partnered with AI software company o9 to support a digital transformation grounded by Google’s cloud infrastructure to move from siloed business planning processes to a streamlined and optimized resource management system.
The technology company reports that TBInternational should see a reduction in weeks of supply, minimized excess inventory and associated costs, and more proactive decision-making and risk mitigation due to customized inventory alerts.
