Smarter switching in multi-distribution.
Bomedys regains control over inventory.
Steady growth made it difficult for Bomedys, a multi-channel distributor of pharmaceutical and baby products, to maintain control over its inventory. The company was losing time and energy on cumbersome processes, forecasts were inaccurate, and maintaining inventory parameters was time-consuming. With the implementation of Optimact, that changed. The software ensures that forecasts are always up-to-date and inventory strategies are applied automatically. Steven Parmentier, supply chain manager at Bomedys, explains how the company regained control over its supply chain.
Who is Bomedys?
For thirty years, Bomedys has been distributing products for mothers, babies, and seniors across the Benelux from its base in Nazareth. About 45% of sales go to baby specialty stores, 35% to pharmacies and wholesalers, and the remaining 20% to supermarkets. Well-known brands that the organization distributes exclusively in the region include Philips Avent, Elvie, Nuna, Joie, and WaterWipes.
In recent years, the organization has grown significantly. “In the fall of 2016, our family business was acquired by Kristof Vandenweghe,” says Steven Parmentier. “He brought new energy to the organization. Over the past eight years, revenue has increased from ten to twenty million euros. We now have 23 employees and distribute around 1,400 SKUs (stock keeping units), all stocked in our warehouse. The total inventory value is approximately 3.2 million euros.”
Time-consuming process
An important step in the growth strategy was implementing ERP Dynamics 365 Business Central, which was immediately linked to a WMS. “This brought a lot of efficiency gains,” explains Steven Parmentier. “However, creating accurate demand planning and forecasts remained time-consuming. For our 1,400 SKUs, we usually prepare forecasts monthly, sometimes weekly. Our demand planner used to spend ten to twelve hours per week copying data from the ERP into Excel and performing the necessary calculations. Because this process took so much time, we were often behind the curve. It was difficult to react ad hoc to rising or falling trends, and inventory was not always at the desired level.”
For that reason, Bomedys sought a tool to improve the forecasting process and supply planning. In the first quarter of last year, they drafted a list of requirements for the solution and conducted a thorough market analysis. In March, Steven Parmentier discovered Optimact at Supply Chain Innovations in Antwerp. “In the second quarter, we decided to go ahead with that solution and planned the project. The interface between our ERP and Optimact via APIs was set up in the third quarter. In the last quarter, we worked on change management, adjusting our workflows and organizing workshops for the purchaser who also handles demand planning. We went live on the first Monday of January 2025, right on schedule.”
Progress on multiple fronts
Bomedys decided to implement all four Optimact modules: Demand Planning, Inventory Management, Supply Planning, and Supply Chain Analytics.
Better demand planning in less time
Optimact recalculates forecasts monthly. The software processes all parameters and analyzes every item Bomedys stocks. Because ERP data is sent to Optimact overnight via API calls, calculations are always based on up-to-date data.
S. Parmentier: “Automating the forecast is a huge advantage of this new approach. We now only need to review outliers, to verify if the system’s suggestions are correct, and adjust where necessary. Limiting manual work to exceptions rather than all 1,400 SKUs saves us enormous time. Weekly, we now spend at most three hours on forecasting and demand planning—a time saving of roughly 75%.”
Once the forecast is validated, the demand plan for that month is created. If a promotion is planned, it can easily be added to the forecast in the system, and the impact on the supply chain is immediately clear. Optimact also recognizes seasonal patterns, allowing demand planning for seasonal products to be based on seasonality rather than monthly forecasts.
Optimized inventory management for more visibility
It was essential for Bomedys that the solution optimize inventory management. “Warehouse space is limited. If it becomes too full, we would have to relocate, which we do not plan to do. So we need to use the available space as efficiently as possible.”
ERP ensures master data per item is centrally managed: supplier information, minimum order quantities, lead times, etc. This data is sent to Optimact, which performs analyses to optimize inventory management.
“In the Inventory Management module, products are grouped by segment, allowing us to quickly see which segments need attention. The system clearly shows stock levels and which items need reordering. You can also set different service levels per product category—from 80% for slow movers to 97% for fast movers,” explains Steven Parmentier. “The system allows us to forecast up to six months ahead for inventory evolution and expected reordering times. By immediately spotting potential issues, inventory management is never behind the curve.”
Thanks to the new approach, inventory value has been reduced from €3.2 million to €2.85 million. The number of SKUs in stock dropped from 700,000 to around 600,000—a 15% reduction—freeing significant warehouse space without increasing stockouts and creating room to add new items to the assortment.
Bomedys also now understands why stock shortages occur. “If a customer suddenly orders 1,000 units of an item, it immediately comes to our attention. Previously, it was much harder to get a clear view of such situations. Our planner is now much better prepared and spends less time putting out fires. Being able to look ahead rather than reactively manage stock is a huge advantage for us.”
Supply planning for more efficient ordering
Based on demand planning and inventory management, the system determines exactly what needs to be ordered from suppliers.
S. Parmentier: “Optimact provides a global overview with the ability to drill down per supplier. We can see how many items of each supplier are in our range. The system highlights which orders are urgent and less urgent. Item statuses are color-coded: red for out-of-stock, yellow for below safety stock, and green for items within normal reorder periods. This allows us to quickly set priorities. If there is overstock of certain products, it’s visible in the overview. If the purchaser goes on vacation for a few weeks, they can efficiently place orders well in advance. Another advantage: when ordering full containers from China, the system optimizes container fill automatically.”
“We also asked Optimact to help us efficiently communicate forecasts to suppliers,” adds Steven Parmentier. “For many brands, that is expected. Every week or month, we share the forecast of upcoming purchases. Every few months, we analyze these forecasts to see where we were right or wrong. Previously, preparing these lists in Excel took hours. Optimact now makes it much faster, and revisions are easily made. Communication between the demand planner and suppliers is now much smoother.”
In summary, Bomedys has become much more proactive in supply planning. “We can quickly respond to potential shortages and trends, immediately see exceptional orders from suppliers, and all communication reaches the right person. Triggers now come directly from the system, based on facts rather than gut feeling or sales feedback,” concludes Steven Parmentier.
Supply chain analytics provides new insights
The Optimact Supply Chain Analytics module offers multiple standard analysis options. It provides insight into dead stock and new items, which often require extra attention.
S. Parmentier: “We used to do analyses too, but collecting the necessary data would often take several days. Now analyses are faster and more efficient.”
Every Friday, sales and other relevant staff are informed about out-of-stock products. “This allows sales to proactively offer alternatives to customers. We also inform them about items with long lead times so they can suggest alternatives if the customer needs the product urgently.”
The dashboards allow Bomedys to spot trends. “Clicking on dead stock shows the percentage and the specific items. We can immediately take action for those products,” illustrates Steven Parmentier. “We now have much better visibility of which items sell well and which have seasonal patterns.”
“By analyzing available data and generating clear dashboards, we can dive deeper into the supply chain for optimization,” he continues. “We are exploring the module’s possibilities further to use analyses more comprehensively and link them to the right KPIs. We have created action plans to continuously improve. Better analyses will allow us to further optimize inventory.”
Master data and motivation
Bomedys learned a lot from implementing the new software. “Even with just 23 employees, the impact of such a project should not be underestimated,” notes Steven Parmentier. “First, ensure your master data is accurate, historical data is correct, and you know what to put into the tool. Invest sufficient time in ERP integration. Looking back, we are very happy to have established a direct link between Business Central and Optimact via API calls. Done correctly, you can easily transfer data and always work with accurate information.”
He also emphasizes the importance of a motivated project team. “You need people willing to put in extra effort. We were lucky to have two strong team members who could manage the project perfectly. At the same time, you need a good relationship with your software provider, as it is an intensive and long-term collaboration. We were fortunate in that regard too.”
Finally, the impact on the workplace should not be underestimated. “Items are now ordered in different quantities than before, affecting warehouse workflows. It is important that staff are aware of changes in advance. The better they are mentally prepared, the smoother the transition will be.”
