Reduced Manual Planning Effort
Improved Forecast Accuracy
Faster Proactive Inventory DecisionsChallenges: Manual Inventory Planning and Reactive Purchasing Decisions
Russell Hendrix Foodservice Equipment is a leading Canadian distributor serving restaurants and foodservice operators across multiple regions. Managing thousands of SKUs across several distribution centers and showrooms, the team relied on a fully manual, Excel-based set of inventory min/max levels that took weeks each quarter. Purchasing relied on trailing sales history, and the team saw an opportunity to add forward-looking demand forecasting to get ahead of stockouts and overstock and plan for new volume and seasonal shifts.
Solutions: ConverSight Agentic Decision Intelligence for Purchasing and Demand Planning
Automated Min/Max Optimization
Calculates reorder points using vendor lead times, transit times, and ordering frequency, helping ensure inventory is replenished at the right time while reducing the risk of stock shortages.
AI Demand Planning
Combines sales projections and purchasing forecasts into a single planning view, improving cross-functional alignment and supporting more accurate inventory decisions.
Intelligent Demand Monitoring
Identifies one-time bulk purchases and sustained demand shifts, helping teams focus on meaningful exceptions and respond proactively.
Athena, ConverSight’s AI Employee
Users can ask inventory and sales questions in natural language and receive immediate answers, eliminating the need for manual reports or spreadsheet analysis.
Athena AI
| Manual, Excel-based min/max review taking weeks each quarter | Automated, AI recommendations by item and location |
| No formal demand forecasting, reliance on raw historical averages | Forecast-informed planning with seasonal and trend adjustments |
| Low reorder points, leading to frequent stockouts | Adjusted safety stock levels, reducing stockout risk |
| Reactive planning with limited forward visibility | Proactive planning with Athena, ConverSight’s AI Agent |
We used to carry a lot of institutional knowledge in one person’s head and one spreadsheet. ConverSight gave us a way to actually see and explain our inventory decisions, not just make them and that’s changed how confidently we plan for new business.
Purchasing Manager, Russell Hendrix Foodservice Equipment
Industry:
Foodservice Equipment Distribution
Company Type:
Private
ERP:
Traverse
