CAINZ Selects RELEX to Transform Operations Through Integrated Supply Chain Planning

Leading Japanese home improvement retailer aims to improve inventory efficiency and transform planning across stores and distribution centers

CAINZ CORPORATION, one of Japan's leading home improvement retailers, has selected RELEX Solutions to improve forecasting and replenishment across its nationwide store and distribution center (DC) network, connecting store-level demand with upstream ordering decisions.

CAINZ operates approximately 270 stores and 23 DCs across Japan and manages around 80,000 SKUs spanning DIY products, household goods, home furnishings, gardening supplies, pet products, and building materials. The retailer also develops a significant private-label assortment, which accounts for approximately 30% of sales.

CAINZ has continuously enhanced its in-house demand forecasting and ordering systems. However, orders remained largely driven by current inventory levels, making it difficult to anticipate changes in demand. This was particularly challenging for private-label products with long procurement lead times, as maintaining appropriate inventory levels in line with changing store demand was difficult. The greater emphasis on current stock than on future demand could also contribute to both stockouts and excess inventory. The process also required employees to spend considerable time manually calculating and adjusting orders, and differences between headquarters planning and store-level demand made coordinated decision-making more difficult.

With RELEX, CAINZ will forecast demand at the store-SKU level across all product categories, including slow-moving and highly seasonal items, and use those forecasts to improve store replenishment. The forecasts will also be rapidly and accurately incorporated into upstream ordering plans at distribution centers, while constraints such as logistics capacity will be factored into order quantity calculations. This will enable CAINZ to integrate inventory and replenishment planning across stores and distribution centers and improve decision-making throughout its supply chain.

By automating order quantity calculations and routine daily adjustments, CAINZ will reduce manual work and enable employees to focus on higher-value activities, including strategic planning and decision-making.

"As our customers' needs continue to change, it's important to strengthen the way we plan and make decisions across the business," said Takeshi Miyamoto, Executive Officer / Head of Merchandising Operations at CAINZ CORPORATION. "Through our collaboration with RELEX, we hope to create an environment where our teams can respond more effectively to those needs and continue delivering greater value to our customers."

"We are honored that CAINZ has chosen RELEX," said Yuki Fukuzawa, Country Manager, Japan at RELEX Solutions. "Managing tens of thousands of SKUs, including a significant private-label assortment, creates complex forecasting and inventory challenges. We look forward to helping CAINZ make better-informed inventory and ordering decisions across its supply chain and build a more connected planning foundation for future growth in Japan."