It’s not about replacing tools or people, it’s about rethinking how you plan. 

 In merchandising, we don’t need to be told that planning is getting harder, we’re living it every day. Between constant reforecasts, shifting customer demand, and thinner margins, teams are stretched thinner than ever. Rethinking your planning mode with AI isn’t about disruption, it’s about accelerating retail performance with maximum impact and minimal change to how you already work. 

 Board’s SVP of Product, David Marmer, put it simply: planning can’t happen in fixed cycles anymore, it needs to happen continuously, in every decision. And when you step back, it makes sense because in retail, performance doesn’t hinge on one big call. It’s the result of hundreds of decisions made every day, across every part of the retail operation.  

The truth is that the planning process most of us grew up with just isn’t built for this level of complexity and pace. Trends change fast. Budgets shift overnight. Customers? They don’t think in seasons, they think in the now. 

And yet, too many planning cycles are still stuck looking backward. 

We believe it’s time to change your planning mode. 
Not your process. 
Not your team. 
Just the way you plan. 

 

Merchandising – From Looking Inward to Looking Outward 

Traditional merchandise planning is mostly inward facing. You start with last year’s sales, build assumptions on top, and do your best to hit targets that may or may not match reality. 

But the world has moved on and your planning needs to look outward.  

Outward-facing planning means starting with what’s happening now: 

• What customers are buying (or ignoring) 

• Where demand is heating up (or cooling off) 

• How supply and margin are shifting by the day 

It’s not about throwing out your instincts or your experience. 
It’s about amplifying them with real-time demand signals and intelligent recommendations. 

 

So What Actually Changes? 

With AI augmenting decisions , merchandising teams now have insights that allow for more nuanced understanding of risk, opportunity and timing. The ability to explore scenarios including external factors marks a real evolution in how planning decisions are made.  

Let’s break it down like a merchandiser would: 

Assortments? 
You stop locking them too early and start shaping them based on market signals, live demand localized, dynamic, and responsive. 

Open-to-Buy? 
You move from set-it-and-wait to continuously updated forecasts, adjusted in real time as trends, sell-through, and budgets evolve. 

Markdowns? 
You stop guessing and start simulating pricing paths that protect margin and avoid over-discounting. 

Allocation? 
No more “ship and hope.” Instead, recommendations adapt to supply chain constraints, lead times, and local store customer need. 

None of this requires a reorg. 
It just requires a better way of thinking and smarter support behind the scenes. 

 

That’s Where Board Agents Come In 

Board Agents are your retail planning partners. 
They’re built for roles like merchandiser, planner, allocator and they speak your language. 

What do they do? 

• Spot shifts in demand and performance 

• Run “what if” scenarios in seconds 

• Recommend next-best actions under real constraints 

• Keep your financial and operational plans aligned 

They don’t just pull data they understand context. They’re process aware, which means they know your products, store structure, planning cycles, and KPIs. 

And no, they’re not here to replace you. 
They’re here to help you plan better, faster, and with more confidence. 

 

Why This Matters Now 

Right now, every merchandising leader is juggling: 

• Rising costs 

• Faster trends 

• Tighter margins 

• More localized demand 

• More pressure to reduce waste and plan sustainably 

You don’t need a new process. 
You don’t need another dashboard. 
You just need a planning mode that can handle this reality. 

One that’s always on. 
One that listens and adapts. 
One that keeps up with your customer—and your business. 

 

Final Thought 

The best merchandisers already think like this. They just need the systems to support it. 

That’s why we built Board Agents. To help you plan the way you already know you should, only faster, smarter, and with AI that understands your world. 

Change your planning mode. 
Keep everything else that makes your team and brand great. 

 

Next up: The Power of AI and Continuous Planning in Supply Chain
 

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