Jun 27, 2025

Streamlining product launches with SaaS-based planning platforms can help businesses scale faster, smarter, and more efficiently. Copied Launching a new device or a product is a complex process that goes far beyond the marketing buzz and smooth ad campaigns consumers see. Behind the scenes lies an intricate web of planning, coordination, and execution that determines the success of the launch. According to an Edelweiss Mutual Fund report, India’s consumer market is projected to grow by 46% by 2030. As demand surges, the pace of product innovation and launches is accelerating. Startups and established players alike are constantly innovating, making it even more critical for companies to execute launches strategically. In an increasingly crowded and fast-evolving market, a well-planned product introduction can be the key to capturing consumer attention and driving sustained sales. processes often begin more than a year in advance. It brings together multiple teams across the company, from concept development and research to design and prototyping. At the same time, critical supply chain operations must align—sourcing materials, forecasting demand, refining pre-production workflows, ramping up manufacturing, and ensuring every supply chain component is equipped to handle the product’s rollout and meet delivery deadlines. Think of the early stages of a product launch. Months in advance, planning teams start working on demand forecasts, setting up placeholder and partnering with procurement teams to turn those forecasts into purchase orders. Simultaneously, they work with logistics teams to ensure timely movement of goods to distribution hubs and retail outlets. To streamline this process, companies can benefit from collaborating with their SaaS-based planning platform providers. Doing so enables more agile, efficient supply chain planning ensuring the launch stays on track from preparation to rollout. Outlined below are three best practices to maintain seamless process execution: 1. Engage subject matter experts from the start: It is important to have subject matter experts (SMEs) on board right from the start, as a new product introduction (NPI) is a collaborative effort that requires seamless coordination across multiple teams. Supply Chain planners will generally work with finance, procurement, sales, marketing, operations and even external partners during the NPI processes to coordinate plans and have everything in place for the launch day. When building cross-functional teams, one would like to hire individuals with strong functional experience to drive scenario planning and workflow design. Appointing strong team leads or project managers can ensure smooth communication across departments. If your NPI relies on specific software tools, having your platform provider's SMEs onboard early can be invaluable proactive guidance, spotting the possible pitfalls, and keeping everything running smoothly well in advance of launch. 2. Test your NPI processes prior to launch: Testing your NPI process ahead of launch is a smart way to identify and resolve issues before they impact real-world operations. Running simulations or dry runs during the planning stage helps teams anticipate challenges and prepare effective responses, increasing the chances of a smooth rollout. Take, for example, a consumer electronics company preparing to launch a new smart home device. In the weeks leading up to launch, the company conducts a test run of its end-to-end process from aligning regional forecasts and creating placeholder SKUs to simulating demand surges across e-commerce and retail channels. The simulation reveals a lag in purchase order approvals during peak load times, allowing the team to address the issue before the actual launch window opens. In addition to running these simulations, consider working with your platform provider to develop a resilience playbook that outlines steps for addressing any delays or disruptions identified during testing. Creating a clear escalation path for issues like data mismatches, syncing failures, or order processing errors ensures teams can respond quickly and confidently in real time. 3. Plan for on-site support to ensure a smooth launch execution: Coordinate with your technology partners to ensure dedicated on-site assistance at both your main office and distribution facilities during the product launch and the critical days that follow. This helps guarantee smooth operations throughout the rollout. It's essential that your internal team leads are available during this period, and it's equally beneficial to have representatives from your vendor’s These vendor teams can oversee platform performance and in real-time, resolving any technical hiccups as they arise. This allows your internal staff to stay focused on their core responsibilities during the new product introduction (NPI). To assist with any after-hours or weekend issues, provide a reference guide that outlines key contacts and escalation procedures. While each NPI comes with its own complexities and variables, a well-structured approach that includes collaboration with your SaaS providers can lead to better results, deeper insights during post-launch evaluations, and a foundation of best practices to draw from for future launches. Authored by Igor Rikalo, President and COO at o9 [Disclaimer: The views expressed are solely of the author and Analytics Insight does not necessarily subscribe to it. Analytics Insight shall not be responsible for any damage caused to any person/organization directly or indirectly.]