Lokad
Paris-based supply chain optimisation sold as a service: probabilistic forecasts, a scripting language called Envision and a team of supply chain scientists
Quick Overview
| Company | Lokad SAS |
|---|---|
| Category | Demand Planning Software |
| Headquarters | Paris, France |
| Founded | 2008 |
| EU Presence | Yes - France (EU) |
| Data Location | Microsoft Azure (region not stated on the pages read) |
| Open Source | No |
| GDPR Compliant | Yes |
| Self-Hosting | No, multitenant SaaS |
| Main Features | Probabilistic forecasting, Envision scripting, purchasing and sourcing, allocation and dispatch, assortment, planning and scheduling, pricing and promotion, dedicated supply chain scientists |
| Pricing | Flat monthly fee per module, quote-based; free trial account on request |
| Best For | Companies that want decisions automated by an outside team rather than a planning tool to operate |
| Replaces | Kinaxis, Blue Yonder, o9 |
Detailed Review
Lokad is an unusual entry in this category because the product is partly people. Its about page describes a team of supply chain scientists who accompany customers, and its home page promises purchasing, dispatch and pricing decisions automated every day. The company says it was created in Paris in 2008.
The French company register lists LOKAD, a simplified joint-stock company (SAS) at 83-85 boulevard Vincent Auriol, Paris 13e, created on 7 April 2008. The site footer reads Lokad Inc., so confirm the signing entity in your quote.
Decisions rather than dashboards
Lokad's pages describe forecasts as an input: the platform produces order quantities, allocations and price changes for each period. Retail networks, aeronautics, automotive, fashion, oil and gas, and manufacturing each have their own solution page.
The technology pages trace the forecasting approach from classic forecasts in 2008 through quantile and probabilistic forecasts to differentiable programming and latent optimisation.
How it is priced
Its contractual FAQ says most clients pay a fixed monthly fee, split into a platform fee and a support fee, charged per module, meaning a type of decision over a defined scope such as a country. There is no perpetual licence and no per-user charge, and a free trial can be requested by email.
Security and data
The security FAQ says Lokad hosts its solution on Microsoft Azure and asks clients not to send personal data, which it says it does not need for supply chain optimisation.
Limitations to Consider
Lokad is not a tool your planners open to adjust forecasts by hand; decisions come from scripts written by Lokad's team, so the working model is closer to outsourcing than to software you configure.
Fees are fixed per module, and the company itself notes that fixed fees may not suit fast-growing or acquisitive clients. The platform runs on Microsoft Azure, a US-parented cloud, and the region is not stated on the pages read. Teams that want an interface for planners to override numbers will find Slimstock or ToolsGroup closer to that.
Who Should Use Lokad
Retail, aviation, automotive and manufacturing companies with large, messy assortments that want an expert team to automate replenishment and allocation decisions.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Probabilistic forecasting since 2016, quantile forecasts since 2012
- Flat monthly fee with no per-user pricing
- Experts build and run the decision logic
- Registered French SAS since 2008
- Free trial account on request
Cons
- Scripts and decisions sit with Lokad's team, not your planners
- Hosted on Azure, region not stated
- Fixed fees can be awkward during rapid growth
- Footer names Lokad Inc., contracting entity to confirm
Alternatives to Lokad
Other European demand planning software worth comparing before you decide:
RELEX Solutions
Finland · Retail and supply chain planning platform from Helsinki
ToolsGroup
Netherlands · Probabilistic demand forecasting and inventory optimisation, Italian roots
OMP
Belgium · Unison Planning platform with demand, supply and S&OP modules
Sunstice (FuturMaster)
France · Supply chain planning and revenue growth management from Paris
See all European demand planning software or compare them directly against Kinaxis on our alternatives page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. The French company register lists LOKAD at boulevard Vincent Auriol in Paris, created in April 2008, and the site gives the same address.
The pages describe Lokad's own supply chain scientists building and running the logic for clients, who receive decisions each day.
Its contractual FAQ describes a flat monthly fee per module with a platform fee and a support fee, and no per-user charge.