S&OP, IBP and Working Capital: How Planning Process Maturity Affects Cash

How much working capital is your current S&OP or IBP process leaving on the table — and what would it take to change that?

May 21, 2026 16:00

—

17:00

BST

Online (MS Teams)

For senior supply chain leaders only

How this meeting works

Practitioner-led working session
No pitches
Small-group, facilitated discussion
Works best when you can engage actively
Chatham House Rule
Limited places to preserve quality

Suggested Discussion Points

How S&OP and IBP process maturity affects working capital outcomes in practice
Where planning process gaps are creating hidden inventory cost or cash drag
What it actually takes to make trade-offs between service, cash and resilience visible inside an S&OP or IBP cycle
How to sequence S&OP and IBP improvement to deliver working capital benefit without destabilising operations
How practitioners are making the case internally for planning process investment using working capital language

Why this session exists

S&OP and IBP processes are often discussed in terms of forecast accuracy or cross-functional alignment. The working capital dimension is less often made explicit, yet planning process maturity has a direct and measurable effect on inventory levels, cash conversion and the ability to make deliberate trade-offs between service and cost.

This session examines that connection in practice: where planning process gaps create hidden cash drag, and how improving the process can be sequenced to deliver working capital benefit without destabilising operations.

What you'll leave with

A clearer understanding of the working capital levers that S&OP and IBP process improvement can realistically unlock
Peer perspective on how practitioners are sequencing planning process investment to deliver cash benefit
Practical language for making the case internally using working capital and free cash flow framing

Who this meeting is for

This meeting is designed for people working through real operational and innovation decisions, rather than those seeking presentations or general inspiration.

Who for

Supply chain leaders responsible for inventory and working capital performance
Planning leaders working to improve S&OP or IBP maturity
Finance and operations leaders looking to align planning investment with working capital outcomes

Who not for

Teams primarily looking for technology demonstrations or vendor comparisons
Anyone seeking a passive, webinar-style session rather than a peer discussion

How the online session works

Each session is designed as an online equivalent of a small, in-room roundtable discussion — not a passive, webinar-style presentation.

The format adapts to the topic and the experience in the room:

Where participants already have strong knowledge, we typically start by inviting individuals to expand on specific points they have shared in advance. This helps surface real-world context quickly and anchors the discussion in practical experience.
Where the topic is less familiar or more specialised, we may begin with a short explainer to establish a shared baseline before opening up the discussion.

To support productive dialogue, we often invite a subject-matter expert to join the session. This may be someone from a vendor, consultancy, or independent background — sometimes from within the community, sometimes external.

Their role is not to pitch or present a solution. Instead, they listen carefully to the discussion and reflect back:

how similar challenges have been approached in comparable organisations
what has worked (and what hasn’t) in practice
concrete examples that help translate discussion into action

This balance is deliberate. Without it, sessions can drift into abstract debate or problem-sharing. With it, discussions stay grounded and participants leave with tangible ideas they can apply in their own context.

The emphasis throughout is on shared learning, practical insight, and forward progress, rather than polished presentations or predetermined answers.

What happens next

Participation is confirmed through a short, staged process designed to ensure a good fit and a productive discussion for everyone in the room.

Step 1: Register interest

You start by entering your details. This helps us understand your background and what you are hoping to get from the session.

Step 2: We sense-check fit and composition

We may follow up to clarify a few details. This is about making sure the discussion works for everyone in the room.

Step 3: You receive a personal invitation

Once confirmed, you will receive a personal invitation with the session agenda, who else will be joining, and clear joining instructions.

Online Discussion