ToolsGroup
Demand planning built on probabilistic forecasting, from a company founded in Italy in 1993 and now contracting as ToolsGroup B.V. in Amsterdam
Quick Overview
| Company | ToolsGroup B.V. |
|---|---|
| Category | Demand Planning Software |
| Headquarters | Amsterdam, Netherlands |
| Founded | 1993 |
| EU Presence | Yes - Netherlands (EU) |
| Data Location | Not stated on the pages read |
| Open Source | No |
| GDPR Compliant | Yes |
| Self-Hosting | Not stated on vendor pages |
| Main Features | Probabilistic demand forecasting, demand sensing, demand shaping, collaborative demand planning, multi-echelon inventory optimisation, S&OP and IBP, price and promotion optimisation, retail planning |
| Pricing | Not published; demo on request |
| Best For | Manufacturers, distributors and retailers with long-tail or intermittent demand |
| Replaces | Kinaxis, Blue Yonder, SAP IBP |
Detailed Review
ToolsGroup starts from the idea that a single-number forecast hides the risk that matters for stock. Its demand planning page describes probabilistic modelling for intermittent, seasonal, long-tail, lumpy and promotion-driven demand, and says the platform models uncertainty directly so inventory and service-level decisions can use it.
The company's anniversary page dates its founding to 1993, when two founders started it after a train journey between Milan and Genoa. Today the privacy policy names ToolsGroup B.V., Teleportboulevard 110, Amsterdam as the controller, and the locations page lists offices in the Netherlands, Italy, Spain and North America.
Forecast, then plan around the uncertainty
The product line runs from demand planning through supply planning (multi-echelon inventory optimisation, replenishment, production planning) to strategic planning with S&OP, IBP and network design. Demand sensing and demand shaping sit in the demand module.
The ToolsGroup page claims forecast accuracy gains of 5 to 15 points with AI forecasting; those are vendor figures and depend on your data.
Industries it names
The site organises solutions around aftermarket parts, manufacturing, food and beverage, wholesale distribution and retail, with retail planning modules for merchandise financial planning, assortment and store allocation.
That breadth is also a reason to run a pilot: modules are bought separately, and your scope decides how much of the suite you use.
Entity and offices
The controller named in the privacy policy is a Dutch B.V., which is what the EU contracting test looks at. ToolsGroup also runs North American offices in Boston and Aliso Viejo, so ask which entity signs your order form and where the platform is hosted, because neither is stated on the pages read.
Limitations to Consider
ToolsGroup does not publish prices, so cost comes only after a demo. The pages read do not state the hosting region or whether the software can run outside the vendor's cloud. It is a full planning suite, which is more than a team needs if the only job is a monthly forecast; for that scope look at Vekia or Flowlity.
Who Should Use ToolsGroup
Mid-size and large manufacturers, distributors and retailers with intermittent or long-tail demand who want a probabilistic forecast tied directly to inventory targets.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Probabilistic forecasting described as the core method
- Demand, supply and strategic planning in one platform
- Dutch B.V. named as controller in the privacy policy
- Industry modules for aftermarket, retail and food
- Thirty years of product history
Cons
- No published pricing
- Hosting region not stated on the pages read
- Suite scope can exceed a small team's needs
- North American offices alongside the EU entity
Alternatives to ToolsGroup
Other European demand planning software worth comparing before you decide:
RELEX Solutions
Finland · Retail and supply chain planning platform from Helsinki
OMP
Belgium · Unison Planning platform with demand, supply and S&OP modules
Lokad
France · Quantitative supply chain decisions programmed in a custom language
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
Its privacy policy names ToolsGroup B.V. in Amsterdam as the controller, and its anniversary page says it was founded in Italy in 1993. It also has offices in North America.
The platform models demand as a range of possible outcomes instead of one point forecast, and uses that range to set inventory and service-level decisions, according to its demand planning page.
No. The site offers a demo request and no pricing page was found.