Atlas Copco uses probabilistic planning to reset supply chain decisions

By AI, Created 4:42 PM UTC, May 18, 2026, /AGP/ – Atlas Copco Industrial Technique will outline in Barcelona how it is using ToolsGroup’s SO99+ platform to move from deterministic planning to probability-based forecasting and inventory optimization. The goal is to help the industrial group make faster decisions, balance demand and supply, and keep service levels steady as volatility rises.

Why it matters: - Atlas Copco Industrial Technique is trying to make supply chain planning more resilient as demand swings and disruptions make traditional systems less effective. - The shift matters because the company wants to improve forecast accuracy, right-size inventory and respond faster when conditions change. - ToolsGroup’s probabilistic planning platform is positioned as the core technology behind that change.

What happened: - Atlas Copco Industrial Technique has implemented ToolsGroup SO99+ with support from Optilon, ToolsGroup’s partner in the Nordics. - The company will present its planning transformation on May 20 at the Gartner Supply Chain Symposium/Xpo™ in Barcelona. - The session is titled “From Uncertainty to Control at Atlas Copco.” - Karin Linnros, senior inventory manager at Atlas Copco, and Kristin Eldewall, supply chain developer at Atlas Copco, are scheduled to speak from 11:00 to 11:30 a.m. CEST.

The details: - Atlas Copco is moving away from deterministic, single-number planning and toward probability-based forecasting and inventory planning. - The company says the change is designed to improve trade-offs and keep demand and supply balanced under uncertainty. - ToolsGroup SO99+ uses probabilistic modeling and AI-driven automation to give planners real-time insights. - The platform is built to help planners improve forecast accuracy, reduce excess or short inventory and make faster, data-driven decisions. - Atlas Copco can use the platform to shift from reacting to supply chain problems to anticipating them. - The planning approach also includes service-driven inventory optimization. - Jens Stenquist, VP of sales at Optilon, said Atlas Copco entered the program with limited system support, a complex planning landscape and a need to move faster than an ERP change would allow. - Optilon is supporting the process, data and integration work needed to operationalize probability-based planning. - The presentation will cover probabilistic forecasting, end-to-end network perspectives, exception-driven execution and coordinated improvements in S&OP processes. - The session will also touch on early results seen shortly after go-live.

Between the lines: - Atlas Copco’s move signals a broader supply chain shift from static plans to decision-making that accounts for uncertainty. - The emphasis on algorithms, standardization and behavioral reinforcement suggests the hard part is not just software installation but changing how teams plan and execute. - The focus on early outcomes suggests the company wants to show that planning transformation can deliver value quickly, not only after a long redesign cycle. - Sean Elliott, CEO of ToolsGroup, said the partnership reflects the company’s push to help customers master uncertainty with probabilistic intelligence, AI and optimization.

What’s next: - Atlas Copco will use the Barcelona session to share lessons learned and guidance for other companies pursuing supply chain transformation. - The presentation will also address how to sustain the changes through ongoing education and reinforcement. - To learn more, attendees can visit ToolsGroup and Optilon at booth #117. - ToolsGroup and Optilon also pointed to their social page for more information.

The bottom line: - Atlas Copco is betting that probabilistic planning will give its supply chain more control in a less predictable world.