Massmart
Summary:
The Manager, eCommerce Planning is responsible for driving sales and demand planning, inventory management, promotional execution, and performance analytics to optimize the eCommerce business within a large omni-channel wholesale retailer. The role ensures that products, promotions, and stock are planned effectively to maximize revenue and customer experience.
Functions / Responsibilities:
Sales & Demand Planning
Analyse historical sales data and market trends to develop accurate demand forecasts and ensure optimal stock availability.
Interpret business goals and customer buying patterns to align sales plans with revenue targets and improve profitability.
Collaborate with category managers and marketing teams to align product visibility with demand projections and enhance customer engagement.
Manage seasonal, promotional, and category-specific forecasts to ensure planned stock aligns with expected demand and prevents stockouts.
Monitor competitor activity and industry trends to adjust sales plans and maintain a competitive advantage.
Assess demand variability across different eCommerce channels to refine forecasting models and enhance accuracy.
Communicate forecast changes and risks to internal stakeholders to facilitate proactive decision-making and inventory planning.
Inventory & Stock Management
Monitor stock levels and sales performance to ensure inventory is optimally allocated and reduces fulfilment delays.
Coordinate with supply chain teams to align stock replenishment schedules and prevent overstocks or understocks.
Ensure real-time stock accuracy across fulfilment centres and online storefronts to maintain a seamless shopping experience.
Identify high-risk SKUs that require prioritization in stock planning to mitigate availability issues.
Report weekly and monthly inventory metrics to stakeholders to support strategic decision-making and operational efficiency.
Improve stock planning methodologies using data-driven insights to enhance supply chain responsiveness.
Promotional & Merchandising Planning
Ensure that promotions are effectively priced, positioned, and communicated on the eCommerce platform to enhance conversion rates.
Assess the performance of past promotions to refine future planning and improve return on investment.
Identify key promotional periods and category-specific opportunities to maximize sales potential and customer engagement.
Collaborate with digital marketing teams to align promotional efforts with paid media strategies and amplify reach.
Monitor real-time promotional effectiveness to adjust offers dynamically and improve performance.
Report on promotional results, insights, and learnings to drive continuous improvement in campaign execution.
Performance Monitoring & Analytics
Track and analyze key performance indicators (KPIs) such as conversion rates, basket size, and margin performance to optimize strategies.
Interpret customer behavior data to refine sales and merchandising strategies for improved customer experience.
Develop reporting dashboards that provide actionable insights on sales, stock, and promotional effectiveness.
Assess the impact of site changes on business performance to make data driven recommendations for optimization
Ensure timely and accurate performance reporting to support business planning and decision-making.
Identify trends and anomalies in performance data to highlight risks and opportunities for strategic intervention.
Present insights and recommendations to leadership teams to drive data informed decision-making.
Improve reporting processes and automation to increase efficiency and accuracy in performance tracking.
Cross-Functional Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement
Consult with category management, buying, and supply chain teams to align business objectives with planning strategies.
Collaborate with marketing teams to ensure site content and campaigns align with stock and sales plans.
Act as a key liaison between eCommerce operations and fulfilment teams to enhance service levels.
Ensure alignment between digital and physical retail planning to create a seamless omni-channel experience.
Support internal teams with data insights and planning expertise to enable informed decision-making.
Influence business strategies by providing relevant market and performance insights.
Lead cross-functional meetings and planning discussions to drive alignment and collaboration.
Process & System Optimization
Identify inefficiencies in forecasting and planning processes to enhance accuracy and agility.
Improve demand planning tools and methodologies using predictive analytics and automation.
Implement new technologies and data-driven approaches to optimize planning accuracy and operational efficiency.
Develop scalable processes that support business growth and expansion into new categories.
Monitor system-generated reports for accuracy and data integrity to enhance decision-making confidence.
Ensure continuous process improvements that enhance agility in responding to market changes.
Standardize best practices in eCommerce planning to improve consistency and execution.
Train internal stakeholders on planning tools, processes, and methodologies to enhance capability.
Requirements:
Minimum Academic, Professional Qualifications and Experience required for this position
Qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree in Business, Commerce, Supply Chain, Economics, Data Analytics, or a related field.
A postgraduate qualification in Retail, eCommerce, or Supply Chain Management is advantageous.
Experience:
5+ years of experience in eCommerce planning, demand forecasting, merchandising, or supply chain management within a retail or wholesale environment.
Proven track record in sales and inventory planning, with experience in managing demand fluctuations, stock allocation, and promotional execution.
Experience working in an omnichannel retail environment, understanding the interplay between online and offline sales, inventory, and customer behavior.
Strong analytical background, with experience using BI tools (Tableau, Power BI, or similar) and forecasting software.
Hands-on experience with eCommerce platforms (Shopify, Magento, Salesforce Commerce Cloud, or proprietary systems) for stock and promotional planning.
Exposure to cross-functional collaboration with merchandising, marketing, finance, and supply chain teams to drive business performance.
Experience in promotional planning and execution, including markdown strategies, seasonal sales events, and new product launches.
Understanding of customer insights and market trends to inform demand planning and assortment strategies.
Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced retail environment, making data-driven decisions to optimize performance.
Experience in process and system optimization, identifying inefficiencies and implementing improvements in demand forecasting and stock planning.
Competencies and Skills
Core Competencies:
Strategic Thinking
Data Analysis
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Decision-Making
Adaptability
Problem-Solving
Communication
Leadership
Results-Driven
Innovation
Skills
Demand Forecasting
Inventory Management
Promotional Planning
eCommerce Analytics
Process Optimization
Stakeholder Management
Assortment Planning
Financial Acumen
Market Trend Analysis
Performance Reporting
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