Inventory planning is a daily balancing act. You’re looking at demand, stock levels, lead times, supplier performance, and hundreds of individual SKUs. Then, you need to decide what needs attention and what action to take.
Netstock brings those decisions into one workflow by connecting to your ERP, and layering sales, purchasing, and supplier data into AI-driven planning insights ontop of the data in your ERP.
This guide walks through the full workflow, from initial setup to daily use, so you can see exactly how Netstock fits into your planning process and supports decisions that benefit the business and your customers.
Key takeaways
- Netstock connects to your ERP and automatically pulls item data, sales history, and supplier lead times to generate dynamic forecasts and replenishment recommendations.
- The platform classifies inventory by sales value and demand variability, so planners focus on the SKUs that matter most.
- AI-powered recommendations surface stock-out risks, excess inventory, and supplier issues before they become problems.
- One-click ordering creates purchase, production, and transfer orders that sync directly back to your ERP.
- Most organizations see measurable results within weeks of going live, with full implementation typically completed in 90 days or less.
What Netstock software is and how it supports inventory planning
Netstock classifies inventory based on performance, flags excess items or potential stock-outs, and generates optimal purchase or production orders. The platform sits on top of your existing ERP data rather than replacing it, adding forecasting and AI capabilities that most ERP systems lack out of the box.
The platform covers the full planning cycle:
- Demand planning and forecasting: Automatically selects the best forecasting model for each SKU based on historical patterns and seasonality
- Inventory planning and policy setting: Groups items by sales value (ABC) and demand variability (XYZ) to prioritize planning effort
- Order execution and replenishment: Generates recommended purchase, production, and transfer orders based on current stock and forecasted demand
- Monitoring and analysis: Tracks forecast accuracy and supplier performance to refine policies over time
Layered across every phase, AI Opportunities acts as a decision-support guide. A core capability of Netstock’s AI, AI Opportunities surfaces critical issues and recommended actions, prioritized for planners to know where to act first.
Once the Netstock onboarding process is complete, planners report spending less time gathering data and more time making decisions that affect service levels and cash flow.
“What used to take weeks to refresh and review our data now takes a fraction of the time and allows us to make more timely decisions. We have more time on our hands to scale our business and focus on other challenges.” – Dan Watterson, Global Head of Operations, Zhik Australia
Netstock vs. manual spreadsheets for inventory planning
Spreadsheet-based planning works fine when you have a small number of SKUs and one warehouse. Once complexity grows, the cracks start to show. Version control becomes a headache, data goes stale between updates, and formula errors creep in unnoticed.
Take it from Jack Mills, Software Integration Specialist at Eastern Warehouse Distributors. “Human errors through the use of spreadsheets can be costly,” said Mills. Before implementing Netstock, he says, “We ordered a whole shipment of incorrect products due to the incorrect VLOOKUP being selected.”
The bigger issue is that spreadsheets can’t adapt to unpredictable demand or unreliable suppliers the way a dynamic inventory management plan can. A static reorder point doesn’t account for a supplier who suddenly takes two weeks longer to deliver, or a product that’s selling twice as fast as last month.
| Planning task | Spreadsheets | Netstock |
| Demand forecasting | Manual calculations, one model fits all | Automatic model selection per item |
| Reorder decisions | Static reorder points, manual review | Dynamic safety stock with AI recommendations |
| Multi-location visibility | Separate files per warehouse | Unified dashboard across all locations |
| Order generation | Copy-paste into ERP | One-click order creation synced to ERP |
| Exception handling | Hunt through rows to find problems | Prioritized alerts surface critical items first |
The deeper shift that users experience goes beyond errors on a spreadsheet. Day-to-day processes and mindset are changed.
With spreadsheets, planners have to remember to check things. Their time is filled with manually scanning rows, cross-referencing tabs, and hoping nothing was missed. With Netstock, the system does the watching for them. The planner’s job becomes thinking critically to resolve issues with the software flags instead of hunting for what might be wrong.
How to use Netstock for inventory planning
Netstock’s supply chain inventory planning software eliminates the challenges that come with manual spreadsheets. Getting started with Netstock is easy. Onboarding is personalized and hands-ons and typically completed within 8-12 weeks, with most businesses seeing a return on investment within months, not quarters.
“We got a full payback on the software and implementation in about two months.” – Conmed Corporation
1. Connect Netstock to your ERP
The first step is linking Netstock to your existing ERP system. Netstock integrates with Sage, NetSuite, Microsoft Dynamics, SAP Business One, Acumatica, MYOB, Cin7 Core, and SYSPRO. Netstock integrates with over 60 ERPs in the market.
Once connected, ERP data flows into Netstock automatically. Item master lists, sales history, open orders, and supplier lead times all sync without manual uploads. Depending on your data readiness, you can live within 4-6 weeks. Once setup is complete, you’ll have live data flowing, key planning workflows will be active, and your team will be ready to start making decisions.
2. Review your Netstock inventory planning dashboard
The dashboard is your central workspace. It displays prioritized KPIs and surfaces the SKUs that require immediate attention, whether that’s a potential stock-out, excess inventory building up, or a supplier falling behind on deliveries.
This is what Netstock calls “manage by exception.” Instead of reviewing every SKU manually, you focus only on the items the system flags. The rest are handled automatically based on the policies you’ve set.
In practice, this capability changes both how a planner starts their day and how they think throughout it. Instead of opening a spreadsheet and using valuable focus to find anomalies, planners open the dashboard to a prioritized list already narrowed down to what matters most. Their priority now is applying their judgement and supply chain instinct to act on situations with the business’s best interests in mind.
Take a look at the Netstock Dashboard.
3. Classify items by sales value and velocity
Netstock handles the next step automatically by assigning ABC and XYZ classifications to every SKU. ABC classification groups items by their contribution to total sales value. XYZ classification groups items by how predictable their demand is.
Classifications update as demand patterns change. A slow-moving item that suddenly picks up velocity gets reclassified, and its planning parameters adjust accordingly.
4. Set inventory policies and safety stock rules
With classifications in place, you define target service levels and safety stock rules for each group. High-value, predictable items might warrant a 98% service level. Low-value, erratic items might get a lower target to avoid tying up working capital.
Netstock calculates dynamic safety stock based on demand variability and lead time risk. If a supplier becomes less reliable, safety stock adjusts automatically. You can also set policy overrides for items that need special treatment, like seasonal products or items with expiry dates.
5. Generate and approve recommended orders
Based on forecasts and policies, Netstock creates prioritized purchase orders, production orders, and transfer orders. The system factors in supplier lead times, minimum inventory ordering quantities, and container constraints.
For import shipments, the Container Builder module automatically packs orders into containers based on item volume and weight, then optimizes how space is used to reduce waste and improve shipping efficiency. Orders can be exported as single shipments or split per container, depending on ERP requirements, taking into account standard container sizes and supplier defaults. Both standards and defaults are easily managed in the system’s settings.
Netstock’s Container Builder applies intelligent strategies to handle partially filled containers, too. The module will maximize utilization, minimize excess, or prioritize business impact when adjustments are needed. As with all recommendations, however, planners still make the final judgment call.
Furthermore, once the containers are packed, planners can refine allocations at an item level to improve future Container Builder recommendations. The system learns from planner insights and supplier behavior over time to refine strategy and streamline future builds
Container Builder turns order recommendations into shipment-ready containers that maximize space and reduce hours of manual planning.
Get to know Netstock’s Container Builder.
6. Sync orders back to your ERP
Approved orders flow back into your ERP automatically. There’s no rekeying, no copy-paste, and no risk of transcription errors. Your ERP remains the system of record while Netstock handles the planning intelligence.
7. Measure forecast accuracy and refine policies
Netstock runs monthly forecast accuracy assessments. The system learns from actuals and adjusts buffer stock and risk levels based on how well forecasts matched reality.
You can review accuracy by item, category, or location. If certain product lines consistently underperform, you can adjust policies or investigate root causes.
8. Review AI opportunities and recommendations
Netstock’s AI Opportunities are real-time, actionable recommendations surfaced by Netstock’s AI engine. Each recommendation highlights a specific issue: potential stock-outs in the next two weeks, excess inventory that’s been sitting too long, or slow-moving items that might become obsolete. Each recommendation includes the financial impact, so you can prioritize based on what matters most. Planners can vote on recommendations to improve the AI over time.
“We like the AI Opportunities because someone with no training can log in to Netstock on day one and do something useful. It gives them a sense of control and makes them feel successful. This saves our company hours of training, allowing our team to focus on the more strategic needs of the organization.” – Jacob Moody, Bargreen Ellingson
Key features of Netstock for inventory optimization
Beyond the core workflow, several inventory management features differentiate Netstock from basic planning tools. Plus, there are specialty modules to explore. The Container Builder module helps importers optimize shipments. Expiry Dates tracking prevents write-offs for perishable goods.
Real-time inventory visibility across warehouses and locations
Planners can see stock positions, incoming supply, and demand signals across all warehouses in one view. No switching between systems or consolidating spreadsheets. Everything is unified and visible within your supply chain planning software.
Not only can you see what’s going on through real-time visibility, but you also know the next step to take. The Excess Redistribution module identifies inventory sitting idle in one location while another location faces a shortage. Netstock delivers transfer recommendations to help balance stock across the network before you place new orders.
Automated demand forecasting with model selection
Netstock analyzes historical sales, seasonality, trends, and promotions to generate forecasts. The system automatically assigns the best forecasting model for each SKU.
Planners can adjust forecasts manually and run “what-if” scenarios to see how changes affect inventory requirements.
Dynamic safety stock calculations
Safety stock is recalculated daily at the SKU and location level, helping you balance availability, service levels, and inventory cost. Netstock then adjusts safety stock automatically based on forecast accuracy, demand variability, and lead time reliability. This differs from static safety stock in spreadsheets, which requires manual updates and often lags behind reality.
Supplier performance analysis and tracking
Netstock’s supplier performance analysis capabilities monitors lead time reliability and delivery performance over time. This data feeds directly into safety stock and reorder timing decisions. If a supplier’s performance degrades, the system compensates automatically.
Custom reporting with Report Builder
Report Builder lets you create custom .xlsx reports for stakeholders without IT involvement. You can build executive dashboards for SIOP meetings or detailed operational reports for the warehouse team.
How Netstock integrates with your ERP
Netstock offers a wide range of ERP integrations. Supported systems include Sage (multiple versions), NetSuite, Microsoft Dynamics 365, SAP Business One, Acumatica, MYOB, Cin7 Core, SYSPRO, and Unleashed.
The integration processes ERP data automatically and syncs order recommendations back. Your ERP remains the system of record for transactions, while Netstock adds the planning intelligence layer.
Business outcomes planners can expect from Netstock
The value of inventory planning software shows up in operational metrics and financial results that are easy to see in Executive Dashboards. Intuitive, custom dashboards provide comprehensive visibility into business performance, helping improve collaboration and future planning initiatives.
Faster ordering cycles and released working capital
Planners spend less time on manual data gathering and order creation. More agile ordering cycles help businesses cut down on unnecessary inventory holding, too, often while improving service levels.
Take Becco, for example. “Within about nine months to a year, we had a double-digit percentage reduction in inventory holding,” said Omar Ibrahim, Head of Operations.
As inventory was being cut by 10-15%, freeing up significant working capital, service levels jumped from ~80% to 95%+ in just six months.
Fewer stock-outs
Proactive alerts and dynamic safety stock reduce missed sales from stock-outs. For IRONMAN 4×4, the result was more than $500,000 in reduced stock-outs. Alongside this reduction, Netstock helped IRONMAN 4×4 strengthen product availability across all channels.
Lower excess inventory
AI identifies slow-moving and overstocked items for action. One notable use case of this is Redmond Life, which reduced excess inventory by 45% in less than a year after implementing Netstock.
While keeping inventory lean, Redmond is still confident that it can handle potential volatility or risk stock-outs. “Netstock acts as a safety net, so we don’t have to remember hundreds of SKUs or guess what to order or when, even as the business continues to grow rapidly,” says Tanner Whitworth, Supply Chain Analyst at Redmond Life.
Get smarter inventory planning with Netstock
Netstock turns ERP data into actionable planning decisions. The platform is designed for fast time to value, with most organizations fully operational in 90 days or less.
