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Telecom Operators

Connecting the Dots on 5G: How a Global Telecom Giant Mastered a 32,000-Component Supply Chain

When a major merger and a massive 5G rollout caused demand for new cell towers to explode, this leading global telecommunications provider hit a wall with fragmented planning systems. Discover how they partnered with o9 Solutions to move beyond spreadsheets, accurately forecast demand across complex multi-component builds, and accelerate their market response while drastically reducing inventory obsolescence.

This customer experienced challenges in demand and inventory planning for cell towers linked to the 5G rollout, coverage strategy, and the recent merger with Sprint.

Sustainability impact

Fewer transportation movements and a reduction of inventory

challenges

Complexity to Clarity

Challenge

This company had a multitude of different planning systems for demand and inventory planning. Due to the merger, demand exploded, but the company was unable to forecast this demand accurately. Demand Planning is complex as the company installs ~1,000 new cell towers, and each consists of ~32,000 components.

Solution

With o9, the company can connect the dots, forecast demand accurately, and plan for the right inventory at the right location.

Value Delivery

Systems Replaced

  • Excel
  • SAP
  • homegrown solutions

Key Functionalities Implemented

The o9 Enterprise Knowledge Graph was used for demand planning, supply planning, phase-in and phase-out planning, and IBP to move away from PPT and spreadsheets to data-driven planning and decision-making.

Customer Benefits

success factors

  • The o9 platform is able to bring all key planning workflows together, where data can be converted to knowledge. This knowledge, combined with analytics, drives planning and decision-making
  • The o9 platform being future-proof, e.g. connecting components of individual cell towers to the EKG and driving maintenance, service and replenishment decisions based on various inputs such as location, exposure to heavy weather, etc..
  • Ability to connect the entire value chain, from demand for new 5G cell towers to integration with critical suppliers.

KPI Impacted

  • Inventory reduction.
  • Reducing obsolescence through better managing phase-in and phase-out.
  • Faster response to market developments (e.g., faster rollout of new cell towers).
O9 whitepaper industrial telecom mockup

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