Timothy Brown

In a rapidly evolving global supply chain landscape, SAP’s David Vallejo believes the most exciting innovations are happening in planning—and that the industry is entering a fundamentally new era. At the Gartner Supply Chain Planning Summit 2025 in Denver, Vallejo, who leads global product marketing for SAP’s supply chain portfolio, joined Scott Luton to discuss how planning is transforming, why data now sits at the center of competitiveness, and what SAP is doing to help organizations make faster, more confident decisions.   A Shift From ERP-Centric to Data-Centric Vallejo described his team’s role as one that constantly scans the market—identifying trends, customer expectations, and the problems companies will need to solve next. Those insights help shape new innovations across the SAP ecosystem. He noted that SAP has moved decisively from an ERP-centric worldview to a data-centric one. This shift is essential, he argued, because the biggest advantage in modern planning lies in having the right data—clean, connected, contextualized, and ready to drive decisions. As Vallejo put it, “It’s all about the data that I need to make better planning decisions.”   Planning Models Are No Longer Static Reflecting on how planning has evolved since he entered the field two decades…

As logistics leaders look to future-proof their operations, they face a complex landscape filled with critical decisions ranging from navigating supply chain volatility and shifting customer expectations to evaluating fast-changing automation technologies. Successfully planning, designing and implementing large-scale automation solutions requires specialized expertise that many organizations don’t have in-house. This white paper from Bastian Solutions is designed to help you understand how the right consulting partner can make a meaningful difference in the success of your automation initiatives. It outlines the strategic role integration consultants play in optimizing distribution operations and provides practical guidance on how to assess their capabilities—so you can confidently choose a partner that aligns with your goals and complexity.   Why download this guide? Find the right partner – Learn how to evaluate and choose a consulting partner that fits your goals and complexity. Go beyond the tech – Understand why process-focused strategies, not just automation, drive real results. Know what OEMs and traditional consultants miss – See the value of objective, end-to-end expertise that prioritizes your full operation. Leverage data & design – Explore how advanced analytics and simulation tools lead to smarter decisions. Follow a proven roadmap – Use a four-phase framework to confidently…