In retail, timing isn’t just important—it’s everything. Consumer behaviour shifts quickly, peak sales periods are immovable, and operational delays can mean missed revenue. That’s why demand planning systems can’t take a year to implement. Retailers need to see results fast. The concept of “speed to value” captures this urgency. It’s not just about how quickly a platform goes live, but how quickly it begins driving tangible business results.
At Algo, we believe 16 weeks is not just a benchmark—it’s a necessity. As Sanjeev Balasubramaniam, SVP of Solution Architecture at Algo, explains:
“In today’s environment, speed to value isn’t a ‘nice to have.’ It’s survival. Demand can shift in weeks—you can’t wait a year to respond.”
The Retail Calendar Reality: Limited Windows for Change
While speed is essential, so is timing. Most enterprise retailers only have a small window in the year to implement new systems without disrupting critical operations. Electronics and general retail brands, for instance, are locked into cycles that revolve around EOFY, Black Friday, Christmas, and January clearances. Planning for these peaks starts months ahead—meaning any disruption to demand planning workflows outside Q1 or early Q3 can be risky.
This is where Algo’s 16-week implementation becomes critical. It fits into the narrow operational windows available and delivers value ahead of major sales events.
“For retailers, it’s not just how fast you implement—it’s when. You only get a small window to make big changes without risking your peak periods,” adds Balasubramaniam.
Go Live in 16 Weeks: What That Really Means
Algo’s 16-week path to value isn’t just fast—it’s structured for success. Retailers benefit from:
- Modular onboarding that breaks down complexity
- Prebuilt data connectors that reduce setup time
- Cross-functional planning support to align teams
- Real-time collaboration with Algo’s expert team from day one
- AI-powered forecast modelling to begin driving impact from day one
- Scenario planning and cross-functional dashboards that accelerate alignment and decision-making
“Faster implementations aren’t about cutting corners—they’re about cutting friction,” says Balasubramaniam. “We design every phase to deliver clarity and momentum, not delay.”
The Risk of Standing Still: Why Spreadsheets Can’t Keep Up
While some retailers stick with spreadsheets or rigid legacy systems, these tools simply can’t match the pace of modern demand. They lack real-time visibility, create silos between teams, and slow down critical planning cycles.
In contrast, platforms like Algo are designed to scale with demand complexity. They remove the need for manually managed files, reduce planning bottlenecks, and free teams to focus on strategy rather than reconciliation.
What Retailers Gain by Reducing Time-to-Impact
When implementation is fast and well-timed, the benefits follow quickly. A shorter time-to-impact means:
- Faster forecasting improvements
- Reduced inventory holding costs
- Greater agility in pricing and promotional planning
- Stronger adoption by planning teams who see early wins
“Every week you wait is a week of margin risk. Time-to-impact is the most underrated performance metric in retail planning,” says Balasubramaniam.
Real-World Impact: JB Hi-Fi Case Study
When JB Hi-Fi implemented Algo, the team quickly saw improvements in demand visibility, giving them the agility to respond faster to in-store and online trends. Instead of waiting months to see ROI, they had actionable insights and measurable gains from the get-go.
“We traded through the Christmas period with unprecedented operational efficiencies in managing our stock flow through this high-volume trading period. The introduction of Algo across our entire suite of products contributed significantly to JB Hi-Fi hitting our very ambitious in-stock position, stock turn and weeks cover targets. The financial outcome being a contribution by Algo in helping achieve our sales and working capital targets.”
Cameron Trainor
Managing Director, JB Hi-Fi
Final Thoughts: It’s Not Just Go-Live, It’s When You See Results
For modern retailers, the goal isn’t just launching a new platform—it’s unlocking measurable outcomes. That means aligning implementation speed with seasonal timing, operational capacity, and business goals.
Algo’s 16-week approach delivers speed to value when it matters most—so your team can focus on making smarter, faster planning decisions with confidence.
Ready to reduce your time-to-impact? Discover how Algo can help you go live—and get results—in just 16 weeks.
About the author
Karen McNaughton
Karen is the Vice President of Global Marketing at Algo, where she leads strategies to enhance brand awareness and demand generation for the company’s supply chain intelligence platform. With over twenty years of experience in senior marketing roles at various SaaS technology organizations, Karen brings extensive expertise in leading global marketing teams and executing go-to-market strategies.
