nPlan is a cloud-based advanced supply chain planning platform (Supply Chain Planning) developed by NEO Digital Industries. It connects demand, inventory, capacity, and materials in a single environment for scenario simulation and optimization. The fundamental difference from Opcenter APS lies in the scope of operation: while Opcenter APS focuses on detailed sequencing and fine production scheduling (shop floor), nPlan operates at the upstream layers — demand planning, inventory sizing, master production planning (MPS), and medium/long-term capacity balancing. Simply put, nPlan decides "what, how much, and when to produce" at a macro level, and Opcenter APS decides "on which machine, in what order, and at what time" at the operational level. They are complementary solutions, not competitors.

nPlan was designed primarily for planning and operations teams. Its main users are production planners, S&OP analysts, supply chain managers, and PPC teams. The platform was built to be easy to use and interpret, without requiring IT technical knowledge for day-to-day use. The interface is intuitive and scenarios can be generated and compared visually and collaboratively. The IT department typically participates in the ERP and system integration phase, but the daily operation of nPlan is conducted by the business teams. This means planners do not depend on IT to run scenarios, adjust parameters, or make decisions — the tool was designed to put decision-making power in the hands of those who plan.

nPlan is a complete Supply Chain Planning solution that covers the entire planning cycle: demand planning (forecasting and consumption analysis), inventory planning (sizing with specific policies by product/material profile), master production planning — MPS (medium-term load and capacity balancing), materials planning (purchase requirements aligned with scheduling), and scenario simulation (impact analysis of demand variations, priorities, production calendars, and inventory policies). The platform allows these processes to run in an integrated and collaborative way in the cloud, unifying data and teams from different areas — sales, operations, purchasing, and logistics — in a single decision-making environment.

Yes, and this is one of nPlan's great differentiators. Unlike enterprise solutions like SAP IBP or Oracle SCM, which were designed for large corporations and involve long and expensive implementation projects, nPlan was created to be accessible to mid-sized industries as well. The platform is cloud-native, meaning it requires no investment in server infrastructure, and its implementation is significantly faster and leaner. nPlan is already used by more than 100 companies of different sizes and industries, from medium regional manufacturers to large multinationals such as Whirlpool, ArcelorMittal, Grendene, and Mohawk Industries. This demonstrates that the solution scales both up and down, adapting to the complexity of each operation.

SAP IBP (Integrated Business Planning) and the former SAP APO are robust supply chain planning solutions designed for large corporations with a consolidated SAP ecosystem. nPlan differentiates itself in several key areas. First, in accessibility: nPlan is considerably faster to implement and more financially accessible, without requiring the SAP HANA infrastructure behind it. Second, in integration flexibility: while SAP IBP is optimized for SAP environments, nPlan integrates natively with multiple ERPs (SAP, TOTVS, Oracle, Dynamics, etc.), making it a viable option for companies that do not operate in a SAP environment or that have heterogeneous environments. Third, in speed to value: nPlan was designed to deliver practical results in weeks, not months. For industries that need an integrated planning solution without the complexity and cost of an enterprise platform, nPlan is a modern and pragmatic alternative.

nPlan was designed for integration with the main ERPs on the market, including SAP (S/4HANA and ECC), TOTVS (Protheus and Datasul), Oracle, JD Edwards, Microsoft Dynamics, Infor, among others. Being a cloud platform with APIs and flexible connectors, integration can be done via web services, structured files, or direct database connections. In addition to ERPs, nPlan also integrates with APS systems (such as Opcenter APS) and MES solutions, creating a continuous data flow from strategic planning to execution on the shop floor. NEO Digital Industries handles the configuration and validation of these integrations as part of the implementation project.

One of nPlan's core premises is implementation speed. Being a cloud solution with modern architecture and a focus on usability, the implementation time is significantly shorter than traditional enterprise tools. Typical implementations range from 4 to 12 weeks, depending on scope (number of plants, SKUs, required integrations). Simpler projects, with a pilot scope focused on a single line or product family, can be delivered in a few weeks. NEO Digital Industries' approach prioritizes incremental value delivery — start with a key module or process, generate quick results, and gradually expand — rather than lengthy projects that take months to show the first tangible benefit.

Yes, and this is one of the most powerful combinations in NEO Digital Industries' portfolio. nPlan and Opcenter APS were designed to work in a complementary and integrated way. nPlan operates at the tactical and strategic planning layers — demand, inventory, MPS, and capacity balancing — generating an optimized master production plan. This plan feeds into Opcenter APS, which handles detailed sequencing at the shop floor level, considering machine, tooling, operator, material, and setup rule constraints. Together, they form a complete cycle: nPlan ensures the macro plan is balanced and feasible, and Opcenter APS translates that plan into a detailed, executable schedule. The native integration between the two solutions allows data flow to occur automatically, eliminating rework and disconnections between planning and execution.

nPlan operates on a cloud subscription model (SaaS), with costs significantly lower than enterprise platforms like SAP IBP. While solutions like SAP IBP involve licensing on the SAP HANA platform, high implementation costs (which can reach hundreds of thousands of dollars), and long project timelines, nPlan offers a much more accessible total cost of ownership (TCO) — both in monthly licensing and implementation. There is no need for on-premise infrastructure investment, and the SaaS model allows scaling as operations grow. For mid-sized industries that previously considered integrated supply chain planning financially out of reach, nPlan democratizes access to this solution category. For specific pricing, we recommend contacting NEO Digital Industries for a personalized proposal based on your scenario.