Prakash Acharya — Supply Chain Transformation Leader

About

Strategic leader.
Practical architect.

Supply chain transformation leader with 20+ years helping Fortune 500 organizations solve complex planning and operational challenges. Deep expertise spans Network Design, S&OP/IBP, Demand Planning, Supply Planning, Production Scheduling, Supplier Management, Distribution, and Multi-Echelon Inventory Optimization.

Known for architecting scalable solutions, leading enterprise-wide programs, and translating business complexity into practical, high-impact outcomes. A recognized Blue Yonder platform authority with a growing advisory practice in Agentic AI for supply chain.

Public speaker at ASCM North Texas on supply chain transformation, planning innovation, and the business application of AI/ML in complex enterprise environments.

What I do

Lead enterprise supply chain transformation with a balance of strategy, process design, architecture rigour, and practical execution.

How I lead

Bring structure to ambiguity, align business and technology teams, and move programs forward with clarity, trust, and accountability.

Where I add value

Complex environments that need end-to-end planning excellence, operational improvement, and modern AI-enabled decision support.

Experience

Progressive roles at Blue Yonder / JDA Software — the global leader in supply chain SaaS solutions.

Jun 2025 – Present

Senior Enterprise Solution Architect

Blue Yonder · Supply Chain Practice

Functional Role: Agentic AI Solution Advisor

Leading enterprise solution architecture while pioneering the application of Agentic AI within Blue Yonder's planning ecosystem — advising Fortune 500 clients on how autonomous AI agents can transform supply chain decision-making at scale.

Develop AI advisory frameworks translating autonomous AI capabilities into business-ready supply chain use cases for executive audiences.
Collaborate with Blue Yonder product and engineering to channel field intelligence into platform roadmap priorities.
Speaker at ASCM North Texas on the practical application of AI/ML in supply chain transformation.

Dec 2022 – May 2025

Senior Solutions Advisor

Blue Yonder · End-to-End Supply Chain Planning Practice

Led full-cycle presales advisory across retail, food & beverage, and consumer sectors — driving end-to-end supply chain planning engagements from discovery and business case development through executive deal closure.

Delivered AI-enabled planning advisory and value storytelling across multi-tier supply chain visibility, control tower architecture, and real-time decision-support.
Shaped and closed executive engagements anchoring investment decisions in EBITDA, margin, and working capital outcomes.

Signature Engagement — $3.4B Food & Beverage Manufacturer

Integrated Demand & Supply Planning Transformation · Dec 2022 – May 2025

Secured executive sponsorship for Blue Yonder Integrated Planning deployment by building the business case resolving multi-site supply-demand misalignment. Aligned finance, supply chain, and operations on a $250M gross savings roadmap tied to publicly stated EBITDA and free cash flow targets.

+25%

EBITDA uplift

+340bps

Gross margin

+5pts

OEE gain

+4%

Revenue growth

Oct 2020 – Feb 2023

Senior Enterprise Solution Architect

Blue Yonder / JDA Software

Lead architect on Blue Yonder's most complex implementations — automotive, discrete manufacturing, apparel, retail, and grocery — accountable from discovery through post-go-live value realisation across 15+ Fortune 500 engagements.

Designed future-state operating models across production planning, scheduling, forecasting, replenishment, and inventory — governing global multi-phase rollouts.
Translated AI and analytics capabilities — ML demand sensing, constraint-based scheduling, real-time supply balancing — into client-ready deployments.
Acted as voice of the customer into Blue Yonder's product organisation, shaping platform enhancements and SaaS capability development.

Case Study — Global Apparel Retailer (~$8–10B revenue)

Integrated Planning Transformation · Oct 2020 – Feb 2023

Consolidated fragmented wholesale and retail planning into a unified end-to-end operating model — integrating S&OP processes, Enterprise Supply Planning, and vendor sourcing optimisation across forecasting, replenishment, and allocation. Delivered ~180bps gross margin expansion and an estimated $1.0–1.5B cumulative 5-year benefit across margin uplift, inventory release, and markdown reduction.

Case Study — Large-Format Grocery Retailer

ML Forecasting & Replenishment · Oct 2020 – Feb 2023

Architected a Luminate Demand Edge Cycle Boosting ensemble forecasting platform across ambient and fresh/perishable categories. Improved forecast accuracy 20–26 percentage points, reduced stockouts 65%, cut fresh waste 50–65%, and lifted inventory turns 40–50%. Delivered $43–103M estimated annual benefit with 6–18 month payback.

Jul 2005 – Feb 2023

Solution Architect

JDA Software (now Blue Yonder)

Delivered planning implementations across industrial, CPG, chemical, and wholesale distribution clients — building deep platform expertise in JDA's planning suite that underpinned subsequent senior roles.

PrakashAcharya

Strategic leader.Practical architect.

Prakash
Acharya

Strategic leader.
Practical architect.