Planning Systems: The Next Tech Upgrade Fashion Brands Are Considering
Fashion brands, read this...
It’s a familiar sight. A fast-growing brand pouring millions into marketing, scaling product lines, and expanding into new regions – all while running their core buying plans in Excel. There’s nothing wrong with Excel. It’s flexible, familiar, and free at the point of use. But it only stretches so far before it snaps.
In recent months, we’ve seen more brands ask about planning systems. Not because they’re trendy, but because they’re tired of spreadsheet chaos. They’ve got their ERP. They’ve implemented a PLM. Now, they’re wondering: what’s next? For many, the answer is planning systems.
What are Planning Systems?
Planning systems sit between your PLM and ERP. Two main types come up in conversation:
Merchandise Financial Planning (MFP): Think of this as the big-picture numbers tool. It forecasts sales aligning views from finance and products and then plans OTB. It’s the system that helps merchants answer: how much stock do we need, when, and in what size ratios?
Assortment Planning (AP): While MFP sets the financial framework, AP makes the product decisions within it. It lets teams plan assortments, select products from PLM, set quantities and size ratios, and allocate them to stores or channels.
In theory, MFP is the more complex of the two. AP is often seen as a natural follow-on once financial planning is locked in.
Why Now?
Historically, planning has lived in Excel. Even major brands have run multi-million-pound buys off spreadsheets. It works – until it doesn’t. As brands scale, assortment complexity increases. Product drops become more frequent. Global rollouts mean more channels, currencies, and variables.
Many brands already have an ERP in place for finance and inventory, and a PLM to structure product data. Planning systems become the next logical step to connect strategy to execution.
But They’re Hard to Implement
Here’s the reality. Planning systems are not an easy win. Some brands start implementing MFP and find themselves stalled two years later. These tools are complex, and rollouts are long. They require data discipline, process change, and a shift in mindset for buying and merchandising teams.
They also cost money. For smaller brands, the ROI can be harder to justify. That’s why many sit in limbo: knowing they need better planning tools but unable to afford or prioritise them right now.
Best-of-Breed vs. Single Vendor Suites
A strategic question brands face is whether to choose best-of-breed point solutions or commit to a single vendor ecosystem.
Some vendors known for PLMs have expanded their offering by acquiring planning tools. Brands already using their PLM now have an obvious upgrade path into their planning modules. It’s a smart play – once you’re in their ecosystem, it’s easier to build onto it.
But there are trade-offs. A best-of-breed approach means you get the most specialised tools for each function. The downside? More integrations, vendors, and contracts to manage. Single vendor suites offer convenience and integrated roadmaps but may not go as deep in certain capabilities.
Where Do Planning Systems Fit in Your Roadmap?
If you’re still running your buys and forecasts in Excel, that’s fine – for now. But if your buying team is drowning in linked sheets, manual updates, and rework, it’s a signal you’re outgrowing them.
Planning systems aren’t your first tech investment. ERPs manage your stock, finance, and fulfilment. PLMs structure your product data and specs. Planning systems come after, bridging your product development to your trading strategy.
They’re not easy. They’re not cheap. But for brands serious about growth, profitability, and margin optimisation, planning systems unlock what spreadsheets can’t: one version of the truth, robust scenario planning, and the ability to plan with confidence.
At Commerce Thinking, we’re seeing planning systems shift from wishlist items to critical projects. If it’s on your radar, it’s worth exploring now – before your spreadsheet tabs reach breaking point.