Supply Chain Podcast Episode 6: How AI is revolutionising demand planning and supply chain operations, featuring Alan Gourdie—Co‑Founder and Executive Director of Quantiful. Based in Auckland with a focus on Australasian markets, Quantiful has developed QU, an AI-powered platform designed to produce highly accurate, bottom-up demand forecasts by blending customer data with external signals.
🔍 Key Takeaways
1. The Genesis of Quantiful
Founded in 2015, Quantiful began as a consumer trends consultancy and evolved into a SaaS demand-planning provider.
QU integrates sales, economic, social, and search data to enhance forecast accuracy and plug the gaps left by traditional spreadsheet-based methods.
2. AI as a Catalyst for Resilience
Alan emphasises that AI amplifies rather than replaces human planners: “AI gives professionals the information and insights they need to operate in today’s complex retail environments.”
This aligns with a broader trend in AI-driven S&OP, where automation supports decision-making without displacing talent.
3. Real-Time Responsiveness & Commercial Expansion
With real-time insights into demand drivers, businesses can swiftly respond to market changes, whether it’s new product launches or evolving consumer trends.
Quantiful’s partnership with IAG Firemark Ventures reflects confidence in QU’s ability to drive commercial expansion across Australia and Southeast Asia.
4. Commercial Impact & Customer ROI
QU aims to shift forecasting from historic trend-based intuition to predictive, data-rich planning, often influencing decisions worth millions.
Alan highlights how aligning forecasts with customer behaviours enables smarter inventory decisions, mitigation of stockouts, and maximisation of sales opportunities.
5. Human + AI Collaboration
Alan and the host explore the evolving dynamic between human expertise and AI: planners unlock new value by interpreting AI-driven forecasts, steering away from rote analysis to strategic thinking.
This mirrors Quantiful’s philosophy: AI should inform and empower, not supplant, the supply chain workforce.
Read Also: What do retailers and carriers need to know about the State of Shipping in 2025?
🎯 Why It Matters for Supply Chain Professionals
Faster, Smarter Forecasting: AI absorbs a variety of data streams, giving planners richer insights and sharper decision-making tools.
Risk Reduction: From overstock to stockouts, AI-powered demand planning helps businesses adapt quickly to changing environments.
AI-Enabled Teams: Rather than cutting jobs, AI frees planners to focus on higher-level strategy and stakeholder management.
Regional Relevance: With a deep understanding of the Australasian market, Quantiful offers tailored support to local enterprises.
🎧 Watch the Full Episode
To hear the full conversation and dive deeper into how AI is reshaping supply chains across the region, watch Episode 6 of the Supply Chain Channel Podcast featuring Alan Gourdie on YouTube:
Don’t miss this forward-looking discussion packed with practical insights for supply chain professionals embracing AI innovation.
Cejay is a Content Producer for Supply Chain Channel, Australia's learning ecosystem created to fill the need for information, networking, case studies and empowerment for everyone in the supply chain sector.
