Contact Us

Key Takeaways

  • Control Tower provides predictive visibility showing projected inventory positions 30-90 days into the future
  • Implementation timeframes range from 2-5 days for basic configuration to 1-2 weeks for advanced features
  • AI-powered Predicted Risks analyzes up to 2 years of historical data to forecast order delays
  • Simulation capabilities enable testing "what-if" scenarios without affecting live operational data
  • Cloud-based architecture scales seamlessly from single-location to multi-warehouse global operations

Understanding NetSuite Control Tower for Inventory Management

NetSuite Supply Chain Control Tower fundamentally changes how businesses view inventory—shifting from backward-looking reports to forward-looking simulations. Unlike traditional inventory tracking that shows what you have today, Control Tower provides predictive visibility showing what you'll have in 30, 60, or 90 days based on current orders, production schedules, and demand patterns.

The platform creates interactive "snapshots" that use current NetSuite transaction data at the time the snapshot is generated:

  • Sales orders representing future customer demand
  • Purchase orders showing incoming supplier inventory
  • Transfer orders moving stock between locations
  • Work orders consuming raw materials and producing finished goods
  • Demand plans forecasting expected consumption

These snapshots deliver day-by-day projections of inventory balances, enabling supply chain teams to identify potential stockouts, overstocks, or production bottlenecks weeks before they impact operations. The system supports standard inventory items, complex assemblies with bill of materials (BOM), and even lot-numbered or serial-numbered inventory—providing the granular visibility needed for sophisticated supply chain planning.

What separates Control Tower from basic inventory reports is its ability to answer "what if" questions. Planners can create hypothetical scenarios—adding a simulated purchase order, adjusting production schedules, or testing different allocation strategies—without affecting live data. This simulation capability transforms inventory planning from reactive firefighting to proactive optimization.

The Importance of Demand Planning in Supply Chain Optimization

Demand planning serves as the foundation for effective inventory simulation. Without accurate forecasts of customer demand, even the most sophisticated supply chain tools deliver misleading projections. Organizations face constant pressure balancing two opposing risks: stockouts that lose sales and damage customer relationships versus overstocking that ties up working capital in idle inventory.

Historical data analysis reveals patterns that inform future demand:

  • Seasonal trends showing predictable spikes during holidays or industry cycles
  • Promotional impacts demonstrating how marketing campaigns affect consumption
  • Market dynamics reflecting economic conditions or competitive pressures
  • Customer behavior indicating changing preferences or buying patterns

The consequences of poor demand forecasting compound quickly. Retailers experience lost revenue from empty shelves during peak seasons. Manufacturers halt production lines when critical components arrive late. Distributors pay expedited shipping fees to cover planning gaps. These operational disruptions create financial impact far exceeding the direct costs.

NetSuite Control Tower integrates demand planning directly into supply simulations, allowing businesses to test forecasting assumptions against projected supply constraints. This closed-loop approach ensures demand plans remain achievable given actual vendor lead times, production capacity, and logistics constraints.

Leveraging Control Tower for Accurate Demand Forecasting Methods

Control Tower supports multiple forecasting approaches tailored to different business models and data availability. Organizations can implement statistical models analyzing historical sales patterns, leverage predictive analytics incorporating external market signals, or build scenario-based plans testing various demand assumptions.

The platform's AI-powered Predicted Risks feature reviews fully received orders from the last two years of activity to forecast order delays with confidence levels. Predicted Risks estimates the probability (%) that orders will miss their due dates, based on historical data.

Key forecasting capabilities include:

  • Trend analysis identifying growth or decline patterns across product lines
  • Seasonality adjustments accounting for predictable demand fluctuations
  • Promotional planning modeling the impact of marketing campaigns
  • New product introductions estimating demand for items without sales history
  • Customer-specific forecasts predicting consumption for major accounts

Businesses achieve best results combining multiple forecasting methods. Statistical models provide baseline projections, while manual adjustments account for known future events like new customer wins, product launches, or market shifts. Control Tower's simulation engine tests whether forecasted demand aligns with available supply, surfacing conflicts before they become operational crises.

Configuring NetSuite Control Tower for Supply Simulation

Getting Control Tower operational requires systematic configuration across several NetSuite modules. The setup process focuses on ensuring accurate data flows into simulations and establishing parameters that reflect real-world supply chain constraints.

Step 1: Enable the Control Tower Feature

Go to Setup > Company > Enable Features > Items & Inventory, then check Supply Chain Control Tower. After you save, the feature becomes available in your account (it may take a few minutes to appear)

Step 2: Configure Item Master Data

Supply simulation accuracy depends entirely on item-level configuration. For each inventory or assembly item, populate critical planning fields:

  • Lead Time: Days between order placement and receipt
  • Safety Stock Level: Minimum inventory buffer to prevent stockouts
  • Reorder Point: Threshold triggering replenishment
  • Preferred Stock Level: Target inventory for optimal operations
  • Replenishment Method: Choose between Reorder Point, Time Phased, or MRP planning

This configuration process takes 30-60 minutes per item for manual entry, though businesses with large catalogs should leverage CSV import capabilities to bulk-update item records efficiently.

Step 3: Set Up Multi-Location Configuration (Optional)

Organizations managing inventory across multiple warehouses or distribution centers configure location-specific parameters. Each location can have unique lead times, safety stock levels, and reorder points reflecting local operating conditions. For businesses using Predicted Risks, enable this feature at the location level to activate AI-driven delay forecasting for transfer orders.

Step 4: Configure Vendor Lead Times

Vendor master records should include realistic lead time data reflecting actual supplier performance. Control Tower uses these values when simulating purchase order arrivals. Organizations leveraging Predicted Risks enable this setting on vendor records, allowing the AI to analyze historical purchase order data and predict future delivery delays.

Practical Steps to Simulate Inventory Scenarios in NetSuite

Once configuration completes, supply chain planners can generate their first Control Tower snapshot in minutes. The process transforms abstract data into actionable projections revealing future inventory positions.

Creating Your First Snapshot

Go to Lists > Supply Chain > Supply Chain Snapshot Simulations and create a new snapshot. Select the specific item requiring analysis, choose relevant locations if managing multi-site inventory, and define the forecast horizon—typically 60-90 days for most businesses.

NetSuite's simulation engine immediately processes all relevant transactions:

  • Open sales orders representing confirmed customer demand
  • Purchase orders in flight showing incoming supplier shipments
  • Planned transfer orders moving inventory between locations
  • Active work orders consuming components and producing finished goods
  • Demand forecasts from planning modules

The resulting snapshot displays an interactive grid showing each day's projected inventory balance. Planners see incoming supply, outgoing demand, and the running on-hand calculation—revealing exactly when inventory might go negative (stockout risk) or climb excessively high (overstock concern).

Interpreting Snapshot Results

Effective snapshot analysis focuses on identifying actionable problems before they impact operations. Review the projection grid looking for specific red flags:

  • Negative inventory balances indicating projected stockouts requiring expedited orders
  • Unusually high inventory suggesting excess stock tying up working capital
  • Component shortages for assemblies that would halt production
  • Location imbalances showing one warehouse overstocked while another faces shortages

Each data point in the snapshot links back to underlying transactions, enabling drill-down analysis. If Tuesday shows a projected shortage, click the cell to view which sales orders are creating demand and which purchase orders should arrive to cover it.

Creating What-If Scenarios

Control Tower's simulation capabilities extend beyond analyzing current projections to testing hypothetical changes. Supply chain teams create what-if scenarios by manually adding simulated transactions—testing how an additional purchase order, expedited production run, or inventory transfer would affect future balances.

This scenario planning proves invaluable for strategic decisions:

  • Testing new vendor relationships by simulating purchase orders with different lead times
  • Evaluating production schedule changes to understand component consumption impacts
  • Optimizing transfer strategies to balance inventory across locations
  • Assessing promotion plans by adding forecasted demand spikes

Multiple scenarios can run simultaneously, enabling side-by-side comparison of different supply strategies before committing resources.

Analyzing Simulation Results to Optimize Inventory Supply and Demand

Raw simulation data becomes valuable when transformed into operational decisions. Supply chain managers use Control Tower projections to drive specific actions across procurement, production, and distribution.

Key Performance Indicators to Track

Control Tower simulations reveal performance metrics that benchmark supply chain effectiveness:

  • Projected stockout frequency: Number of days showing negative inventory within the forecast window
  • Average days of supply: Typical inventory coverage based on projected consumption
  • Excess inventory value: Dollar value of stock exceeding optimal levels
  • Service level risk: Percentage of customer demand at risk due to supply constraints

These indicators guide prioritization—focusing attention on high-value items with stockout risk or slow-moving inventory tying up significant capital.

Converting Simulations Into Actions

Snapshot insights drive concrete operational decisions:

Procurement adjustments: When simulations show future shortages, planners expedite existing purchase orders, place additional orders, or negotiate faster shipping with suppliers. The projected shortage date guides urgency—items going negative in 30 days require immediate action versus 90-day issues allowing normal procurement.

Production schedule optimization: Manufacturers use component-level simulations to ensure raw materials arrive before production runs. If a snapshot shows a critical component going negative before a scheduled work order, planners either reschedule production or expedite the component purchase order.

Inventory redistribution: Multi-location operators identify imbalances where one warehouse faces excess inventory while another risks stockouts. Transfer orders move inventory proactively based on projected needs rather than reacting to actual shortages.

Safety stock refinement: Repeated simulations revealing consistent overstock or stockout patterns indicate incorrect safety stock settings. Planners adjust these parameters iteratively, using simulation results to validate new targets before implementing changes.

NetSuite Control Tower for Wholesale Distribution Inventory

Wholesale distributors face unique inventory challenges that Control Tower addresses directly. Procurement optimization, vendor coordination, fulfillment efficiency, and multi-location management create complexity exceeding typical retail or manufacturing scenarios.

Distribution businesses typically manage:

  • Large SKU counts spanning thousands of items across multiple categories
  • Diverse vendor relationships with varying lead times and minimum order quantities
  • Multi-location fulfillment balancing inventory across regional warehouses
  • Variable customer demand combining regular replenishment orders with sporadic large projects
  • Seasonal fluctuations creating dramatic swings in consumption patterns

Control Tower transforms wholesale distribution planning by providing location-specific simulations that account for transfer lead times between facilities. Distributors run snapshots for each warehouse, identifying opportunities to move excess inventory from one location to cover projected shortages at another—optimizing total inventory investment while maintaining service levels.

The Predicted Risks capability proves particularly valuable for distributors managing hundreds of vendors. AI analysis identifies suppliers consistently missing delivery commitments, allowing procurement teams to build extra lead time into planning or develop backup sourcing strategies for critical items.

Enhancing Inventory Simulation with NetSuite's Automation Capabilities

Manual snapshot generation provides valuable insights, but automation unlocks Control Tower's full potential. NetSuite's workflow automation capabilities transform periodic planning exercises into continuous optimization systems.

Automated Snapshot Scheduling

Rather than generating snapshots manually, teams can standardize a regular cadence (for example, daily or weekly) so planners always review fresh projections. Nightly generation ensures fresh projections await planners each morning, incorporating all transactions processed during the previous day.

The automation eliminates the risk of outdated analysis—a snapshot created Monday morning misses all Tuesday's sales orders and purchase orders when reviewed Wednesday afternoon. Scheduled generation keeps projections current without manual effort.

Exception-Based Alerting

Custom workflows monitor snapshot results automatically, triggering alerts when projections cross critical thresholds. Supply chain teams configure rules like:

  • Email notification when any item shows projected stockout within 30 days
  • Task creation for procurement when inventory drops below safety stock in forecasts
  • Executive alerts when total excess inventory value exceeds target thresholds
  • Vendor escalation when Predicted Risks flag consistent delivery delays

This exception management focuses human attention on items requiring intervention rather than forcing manual review of thousands of SKUs.

Integration with External Systems

NetSuite's integration capabilities extend Control Tower value beyond the ERP platform. Organizations connect snapshots to:

  • Business intelligence tools creating executive dashboards from simulation data
  • Communication platforms posting daily inventory alerts to Slack or Teams
  • EDI systems automatically sending advance ship notices based on projected needs
  • 3PL platforms sharing forecast data with third-party logistics providers

These integrations create closed-loop systems where simulation insights drive automated actions across the supply chain ecosystem.

Why NetSuite is the Best Inventory Management Software for Your Needs

NetSuite Control Tower delivers capabilities impossible with standalone inventory management systems or spreadsheet-based planning. The platform combines real-time ERP data, advanced forecasting algorithms, and intuitive simulation tools into a unified cloud solution.

Unified Platform Advantages

Unlike point solutions requiring complex integrations, Control Tower operates within the same database holding sales orders, purchase orders, and inventory transactions. This architectural advantage eliminates data synchronization delays and ensures simulations reflect current operational reality.

The unified approach delivers additional benefits:

  • Single source of truth: No reconciling differences between inventory systems and planning tools
  • Real-time updates: Snapshots incorporate transactions immediately upon entry
  • Comprehensive audit trails: Complete visibility into what changed and when across all supply chain data
  • Simplified compliance: SOC 1 Type II and SOC 2 Type II audits/reports and GDPR compliance built into the platform

Scalability for Growing Businesses

NetSuite's cloud architecture scales seamlessly as businesses grow. Organizations starting with single-location operations easily expand to multi-warehouse distribution, add manufacturing capabilities, or implement global operations through NetSuite OneWorld—all while maintaining consistent Control Tower functionality.

This scalability proves critical for mid-market companies experiencing rapid growth. The same simulation tools managing 500 SKUs across two locations extend to 5,000 SKUs across 20 locations without platform migration or re-implementation.

Cost-Effectiveness Compared to Alternatives

Enterprise planning systems like SAP IBP require lengthy implementations and significant customization investment. NetSuite Control Tower delivers comparable forecasting capabilities with 2-5 day basic setup and 1-2 week advanced configuration—dramatically reducing time to value.

The subscription-based pricing model eliminates large upfront capital expenditures while including automatic updates and new feature releases. Organizations avoid the upgrade projects plaguing traditional on-premise ERP systems.

How Anchor Group Maximizes NetSuite Control Tower Value

Implementing a Control Tower represents just the first step toward supply chain optimization. Realizing full value requires expertise configuring the platform to match your specific business processes, industry requirements, and operational constraints.

Anchor Group's implementation consultants bring deep experience helping businesses leverage Control Tower for inventory simulation. Our team doesn't just enable features—we configure systems that deliver immediate operational impact.

Our approach includes:

  • Industry-specific configuration: We understand wholesale distribution, manufacturing operations, and retail businesses, configuring Control Tower for your sector's unique requirements
  • Automation development: Our developers build custom workflows and SuiteScript customizations that automate snapshot generation and exception alerting
  • Data migration expertise: We ensure accurate historical data loads into NetSuite, enabling AI predictions from day one
  • Training programs: Your team learns to interpret simulations and take appropriate actions, not just generate reports

Whether you're implementing NetSuite for the first time or optimizing an existing instance, Anchor Group's consulting services ensure Control Tower delivers maximum value for your specific supply chain challenges.

Frequently Asked Questions

How quickly can I start using NetSuite Control Tower after purchasing NetSuite?

Control Tower becomes available once you enable the feature in your NetSuite instance—a process taking approximately 5 minutes. However, generating accurate simulations requires proper item configuration including lead times, safety stock levels, and reorder points. Basic implementations achieve functional snapshots within 2-5 days, while advanced features with Predicted Risks require 1-2 weeks including AI model training on historical data. Organizations already using NetSuite with clean item master data can start generating valuable simulations within the first week.

Do I need to be a NetSuite expert to use the Control Tower effectively?

No. Control Tower is designed for supply chain planners and inventory managers—not IT professionals. The interface uses familiar concepts like sales orders, purchase orders, and inventory balances rather than technical jargon. After 2-3 hours of training, business users can generate snapshots, interpret results, and take appropriate procurement or production actions. However, advanced features like SuiteScript automation or complex scenario modeling may require NetSuite administrator support or partner assistance.

Can Control Tower handle complex manufacturing scenarios with multi-level bills of materials?

Yes. Control Tower supports complex assemblies and sub-assemblies, showing component-level demand projections. When you simulate a finished product that requires multiple raw materials, the snapshot breaks down component consumption by date—ensuring you see when each ingredient or part is needed. This capability prevents production delays caused by missing components and helps manufacturers optimize raw material purchasing to align with actual production schedules.

What happens if my vendor consistently misses delivery dates—can Control Tower account for this?

Absolutely. The Predicted Risks feature analyzes up to 2 years of historical purchase order data to identify vendors with poor delivery performance. The AI engine predicts future delays with confidence levels, allowing planners to add buffer time when ordering from unreliable suppliers. You can also manually adjust vendor lead times based on recent performance, ensuring simulations reflect realistic delivery expectations rather than optimistic purchase order dates.

What's the difference between Control Tower and basic NetSuite inventory reports?

Standard NetSuite inventory reports show historical and current data—what you sold last month, what's on hand today, or what's on order. Control Tower provides forward-looking simulations showing projected inventory positions 30, 60, or 90 days into the future based on current orders and forecasted demand. While reports tell you where you've been, Control Tower shows where you're going—enabling proactive decision-making rather than reactive problem-solving. The simulation capability allows testing hypothetical scenarios without affecting live data, a capability impossible with standard reporting.