Strategic planning is all about transforming the role of planners from data crunchers to forward-thinking advisors who shape the business. The best way to make this shift is to equip planners with reports that don't just highlight numbers—they uncover the “why” and “how” behind trends, giving planners the insights needed to steer the business toward growth.
To help, we’ve curated a list of the most impactful reports to help planners focus on strategic decision-making. Each report is designed to maximize the value of Toolio’s powerful capabilities while embracing industry best practices, so planners can drive results. Let’s break down how each report adds value.
1. Sales Performance Report
Purpose: Enable planners to focus on actionable insights that spotlight what’s driving revenue and where sales velocity can be improved. This helps planners influence top-line performance by identifying which strategies and products are working, and where adjustments are needed to capitalize on growth opportunities.
Key Metrics:
- Net Sales
- Units Sold
- Sell-Through %
- AUR Trends
Toolio Advantage:
- Dynamic dashboards with real-time updates for sales trends.
- Easy cross-channel comparisons to spot emerging opportunities.
2. Inventory On-Hand Report
Purpose: Move beyond just tracking what’s in the warehouse. This report helps planners align inventory levels with actual sales patterns and seasonal trends, reducing holding costs while ensuring enough stock is available to meet demand. It’s about being proactive, not reactive.
Key Metrics:
- Weeks of Supply (WOS)
- Aging Inventory %
- Stock-to-Sales (STS) Ratio
Toolio Advantage:
- Automated visibility across channels to highlight stock imbalances.
- Optimization engine recommendations for markdowns or promotions.
3. Sell-Through Report
Purpose: Pinpoint slow moving products before they become costly mistakes and keep your top-performing products in stock. This report ensures planners can maintain both strong margins and customer satisfaction by addressing underperformers early and prioritizing the winners.
Key Metrics:
- Sell-Through % by Style/SKU
- Performance vs. Plan
- Markdown % and Lift
Toolio Advantage:
- Heatmaps for quick SKU-level sell-through analysis.
- Predictive analytics to identify slow movers before markdown is needed.
4. Replenishment and Reorder Report
Purpose: Say goodbye to reactive restocking and hello to strategic scenario planning. This report helps planners avoid stockouts on high-demand items while ensuring slower movers don’t clog inventory. It’s about keeping shelves stocked with what customers want—when they want it.
Key Metrics:
- Safety Stock Levels
- Forecasted vs. Current Demand
- Reorder Lead Times
Toolio Advantage:
- Automated replenishment triggers based on sales velocity.
- Granular forecasting tied to demand planning at SKU and location levels.
5. Markdown Report
Purpose: Maximize profitability by crafting markdown strategies that balance clearing excess inventory with protecting margins. This report helps planners take control of markdown timing and outcomes, ensuring they can clear aging inventory while safeguarding the bottom line.
Key Metrics:
- Markdown Impact on Sales
- Margin Recovery Metrics
- Aging Inventory Reduction
Toolio Advantage:
- Real-time scenario planning to simulate markdown impact on GM$.
- Automated tracking of sell-through post-markdown.
6. Promotions Performance Report
Purpose: Don’t just look at what happened after a promotion; predict what could happen before it even launches. This report shifts focus from purely reactive analysis to proactive planning, helping planners ensure that promotions drive meaningful sales without eroding margins.
Key Metrics:
- Incremental Sales Lift
- Promo ROI
- Discount vs. Full-Price Mix
Toolio Advantage:
- Simulation tools to test promotional impact before launch.
- Post-event analysis integrated with margin and inventory metrics.
7. Category Performance Report
Purpose: Make smarter investment decisions by identifying which categories are growing and which are underperforming. This report helps planners align resources with long-term opportunities, ensuring the business is putting its money where it counts most.
Key Metrics:
- Sales and GM% by Category
- % Contribution to Total Sales
- Sell-Through by Subcategory
Toolio Advantage:
Drill-down analysis for category-level performance.
Cross-channel visibility to identify category-specific trends.
8. Size and Color Performance Report
Purpose: Prevent missed sales opportunities by proactively managing assortment gaps. This report empowers planners to spot size or color issues early, rebalance stock, and avoid frustrating customers with out-of-stock items in popular attributes.
Key Metrics:
- Size/Color Sell-Through Rates
- Stock-Out % by Attribute
- Historical Demand Trends
Toolio Advantage:
- Flexible filtering by attribute to assess gaps in size runs or colorways.
- Transfer optimization engine that models to rebalance size distribution.
9. Forecast Accuracy Report
Purpose: Build trust and accountability by fine-tuning forecasts and reducing bias. This report ensures planners have the tools to refine both long-range and in-season forecasting, ultimately helping them guide the business with confidence.
Key Metrics:
- Forecast Variance %
- SKU/Category-Level Accuracy
- Forecast Bias (Over/Under)
Toolio Advantage:
- Clear visibility into reconciliation of forecast vs. actuals.
- Advanced forecasting using trend-driven algorithms.
10. E-commerce vs. Store Performance Report
Purpose: Break down silos between channels by comparing online and offline performance. This report helps planners optimize inventory placement and adjust strategies to drive profitability across both e-commerce and brick-and-mortar stores.
Key Metrics:
- Channel-Level AUR and Sell-Through
Toolio Advantage:
- Unified view of online and offline performance.
- Insights into cross-channel rebalancing opportunities.
How Toolio Aligns Planners with Strategy
- From Data Providers to Strategic Advisors: Toolio automates manual tasks, allowing planners to focus on strategic initiatives like optimizing inventory, improving margins, and forecasting demand.
- Real-Time Collaboration: Cloud-based infrastructure enables real-time collaboration across departments, breaking silos.
- Scenario Planning: Toolio provides advanced scenario analysis for markdowns, replenishments, and demand forecasting, equipping planners to guide high-level decisions.
The role of a planner is evolving from data manager to strategic advisor, and the right reports are the foundation for this transformation. By focusing on actionable insights, forecasting accuracy, and cross-channel alignment, planners can confidently influence top-line performance, optimize inventory, and drive long-term growth. Ready to start transforming your planning strategy with Toolio? Speak to an expert today.
