Lightspeed, established in 1990, is a leading provider of classroom audio technology serving learning environments worldwide. With a mission to improve the listening and learning environment for every child, the company identified significant challenges in aligning supply and demand across its global operations.
Executive Intro
An executive at Lightspeed oversees a growing business that provides audio solutions across diverse learning environments. To support its mission of enabling better listening and learning for children, the company needed a more reliable and demand-driven way to manage its supply chain.
The Challenge
Lightspeed realized that to make a meaningful impact in classrooms, it first had to resolve inefficiencies within its own operations. The company was burdened with inventory challenges that threatened customer service and cash flow.
Their key issues included:
- Maintaining high customer service levels while aligning materials to true market demand.
- Planning materials based on inaccurate and frequently changing forecasts.
- Relying on spreadsheet-based MRP tools for planning material requirements.
- Limited visibility across the supply chain.
Service levels were at risk, inventories were imbalanced, and growth was constrained by reactive firefighting.
The Intuiflow Solution
To address these issues, Lightspeed turned to Demand Driven MRP (DDMRP) methodologies. They implemented NetSuite and Intuiflow from Demand Driven Technologies to transform their planning approach.
The solution provided visible signals based on actual demand—not unreliable forecasts—to drive supply planning and material acquisition. Intuiflow’s dynamic buffers adjusted to shifting demand patterns, ensuring consistent availability while reducing excess.
Key improvements included:
- Resilient DDMRP buffers to assure availability while maintaining minimum order quantities.
- More frequent, smaller orders for long lead time items, reducing risk of overstock.
- Inbound material pipeline stability, keeping stock consistently available.
- End-to-end visibility, enabling faster responses to demand changes and product launches.
With Intuiflow, Lightspeed moved from spreadsheet-based firefighting to a structured, adaptive, and resilient supply chain model.
Results at a Glance
- Improved service levels through demand-driven planning.
- Lower on-hand balances while maintaining availability.
- Greater responsiveness to product introductions and demand shifts.
The Results
The implementation of Intuiflow transformed Lightspeed’s supply chain. They achieved:
- Better handling of long lead time products thanks to improved visibility.
- Reduced reliance on inaccurate forecasts, with real demand driving planning decisions.
- Streamlined inventory flows, lowering working capital while sustaining service levels.
Overall, Lightspeed’s supply chain became more effective, resilient, and adaptable.
KPI Table
KPI
|
Result
|
Service Levels
|
Improved stability and reliability
|
Inventory Management
|
Lower on-hand balances, fewer imbalances
|
Responsiveness
|
Faster reaction to trends and launches
|
Forecast Dependence
|
Reduced reliance on inaccurate forecasts
|
Looking Ahead
Lightspeed is positioned to extend Intuiflow’s demand-driven logic across more categories of materials and operations. With buffers protecting key supply flows, the company is ready to handle future volatility while sustaining its mission to improve classroom learning environments.
Book a demo today and see how Intuiflow helps innovators like Lightspeed achieve service excellence while reducing inventory and proving ROI before purchase.
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