Atheon Analytics is proud to partner with UpClear to enhance BluePlanner with automated retail sales data. This case study by UpClear showcases how Spindrift Beverage Company benefits from this integration.
Faster updates, little maintenance, new insights
In a digital transformation of their gross-to-net revenue management process, Spindrift Beverage Company deployed the UpClear BluePlanner Trade Promotion Management (TPM). This facilitated building a bottom-up sales forecast in a more structured, standardised, and detailed way than the spreadsheet-based planning method that was previously used. It also enabled faster access to more detailed business insights.
Beyond planning, BluePlanner TPM also actualises the plan by importing actual sales data, including manufacturer shipments, distributor shipments, and retail sales. This is enabled in multiple ways including, APIs, flat file interfaces, and self-service uploads.
In collaboration with long-time partner, Atheon Analytics, UpClear recently launched a new capability for BluePlanner clients, turn-key integration of retail sales and inventory data. This is facilitated by Atheon’s SKUtrak, a capability that automatically retrieves and transforms retail sales data. A connector to BluePlanner automatically loads the retail sales data every day.
This new capability was presented to the team at Spindrift. They quickly saw four big benefits of this integration and automation:
- Improved analysis of the relationship between shipments and consumption
- More efficient trade spending forecasting
- Daily data updates minimised latency issues
- Improved efficiencies for resources managing data
Fast value
Spindrift now has access to both shipments and retail sales in BluePlanner that is updated daily. Reporting that presents the data together enabling fast identification of differences between consumption and shipments. This facilitates quick collaboration with buyers to address issues that are found.
“We believe the integration of retail sales and inventory data not only helps manufacturers improve the accuracy of spending forecasts and anticipate short-term retailer purchase behaviour, it also identifies longer-term patterns in replenishment for more accurate sell-out to sell-in forecast conversion. We are excited to continue to help Spindrift excel in both.” – Andrew Dentinger, Product Management Director at UpClear.
Our partnership with UpClear
Atheon Analytics and UpClear have partnered to integrate SKUtrak data seamlessly into BluePlanner, providing brands with accurate, daily retail sales data—without the traditional integration burden. BluePlanner users can leverage Standard Integration for automated EPOS data flow or Advanced Integration, powered by Atheon’s TruDemand engine, to enhance promotional analysis and forecasting.