Supply chain network design for resilient growth
Identify new opportunities in your supply chain with advanced network design software
- Reduce supply chain costs by up to 20%
- Boost service levels with AI-driven optimization
- Design efficient networks in record time
Supply chain networks are facing pressure to perform like never before
Cost and performance pressures are rising for global supply chain networks. Disruptions and volatility force teams to focus on operational challenges, and complex data landscapes make true visibility seem impossible.
Empower your team to make confident strategic decisions in your supply chain network. Data-driven analysis and interactive visualizations with what-if scenario comparisons make it easy to test reactions and see their impact in record time.
Did you know...
4flow has been listed as a Representative Vendor in the 2026 Gartner Market Guide for Supply Chain Network Design Tools for the fifth year in a row.*
Continuously optimize your supply chain network with 4flow software
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Achieve more in your supply chain network with 4flow VIA®
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Up to 20% cost reduction
Optimize your network from transportation to inventory and site locations to reduce costs while maintaining service levels.
- Cost-optimize transportation routes and schedules
- Reduce inventory levels and costs without compromising service levels
- Make smarter location decisions that reduce your overall cost-to-serve
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Faster planning and data-driven decision
Make smarter, faster decisions with AI-powered optimization and scenario comparison
- Speed up network planning with user-friendly analysis of complex data
- Empower your decisions with side-by-side KPI comparisons
- Visualize AI-optimized network suggestions to guide your best strategy
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End-to-end network visibility
Gain a full view of your supply, production and distribution network
- Spot disruptions early with end-to-end network visibility
- Track inventory with precision to reduce overstocking and stockouts
- Improve agility with real-time data for all stakeholders
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Supply chain resilience
Test scenarios virtually and adapt to shifting demand, disruptions and growth with confidence
- Adapt quickly to market changes without risking operational stability
- Test and plan your growth strategies safely
- Prepare for disruptions and recovery quickly
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Emissions reduction
Track carbon emissions in your network to empower sustainable change
- Track carbon emissions with a certified, industry-standard system
- Align stakeholders on your network’s emissions
- Identify areas to reduce emissions to reach your sustainability goals
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Scalable network design
Ensure measurable results with scalable, modular software that integrates with your existing IT
- Get fast results with intuitive, modular software
- Connect network design seamlessly with your existing systems and data sources
- Scale confidently with software that grows with your organization
See 4flow VIA® in action
Real-world success stories with 4flow VIA®
4flow VIA® in practice: key use cases
Network visualization and analysis
Unlock supply chain visibility with interactive analytics
Geospatial dashboards, digital twin modeling and carbon tracking at the touch of a button. Analyze structures, identify inefficiencies and align network costs with your goals.
Key capabilities:
- Analyze your network with interactive, real-time maps
- Get actionable recommendations to optimize sites and flows
- Respond to disruptions and track KPIs
Network design and optimization
Build resilient, cost-efficient supply chains
Use AI-supported tools for greenfield and brownfield planning, scenario comparison and multi-objective tuning. Design flexible networks that balance cost, risk and performance.
Key capabilities:
- Evaluate scenarios and key cost drivers
- Optimize network size and location
- Simulate growth and disruption
Transportation planning
Smarter routing for up to 20% cost reduction and lower emissions
Optimize multimodal transportation with what-if scenario planning, automated load planning and cost-to-serve insights. Improve agility and reduce emissions at the same time.
Key capabilities:
- Determine optimal transportation modes
- Forecast demand and streamline tendering
- Reduce empty runs and minimize fuel waste
Inventory optimization
Smarter inventory decisions at every level of your network
Use data-driven insights and scenario modeling to align inventory levels with service targets, reduce excess stock and increase responsiveness across your supply chain.
Key capabilities:
- Balance cost and service across your network.
- Simulate what-if scenarios to evaluate trade-offs quickly
- Optimize stock allocation to avoid shortages
Meet the 4flow VIA® decision intelligence agent
Where supply chain expertise meets agentic AI
Investigate performance, compare scenarios, identify opportunities and understand network trade-offs faster. Built on 25+ years of optimization expertise, the decision intelligence agent turns complex network questions into decision-ready answers.
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Unite precision and flexibility in one optimization engine
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Data-driven optimization and quick analysis
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Trusted support for smarter, faster decision-making
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Ideal for complex, multimodal networks
Trusted by industry leaders
Get in touch
What our customers say
Automotive manufacturer
4flow and Schaeffler optimize intercompany network and reduce transport costs
With around 110,000 employees and more than 250 locations in 55 countries, Schaeffler is one of the world’s largest family-owned companies and one of Germany’s most innovative companies. Tens of thousands of tons of goods are moved annually between its plants, suppliers and warehouses.
Schaeffler manages a highly complex intercompany transport network. These transport flows are essential to the company’s core manufacturing operations, which rely on daily deliveries and synchronized material availability to maintain production schedules and service performance.
The solution:
Development and implementation of a comprehensive transport network optimization process using 4flow network design software. The scope included baseline analysis, tour structure redesign, simulation of transport scenarios and rollout of optimized logistics operations across two plants. The scalable approach will be applied across Schaeffler’s broader intercompany network.
The results:
Implementation of 4flow network design software and enablement of existing team of network design experts
Significant reduction in tour count with same service level
Significant cost reduction across intercompany shipments
Tens of thousands of tons of optimized transport volume
Support for industry-specific supply chain challenges — with flexible software tailored to your organization
Consumer goods and retail
Balance cost and service with demand-responsive network optimization that aligns your distribution with market shifts and customer expectations.
Automotive manufacturers
Enhance global production networks with advanced network design tools that improve cost-efficiency, reduce risk and ensure resilience across complex supply chains.
Automotive suppliers
Adapt faster to OEM demands through dynamic scenario modeling, optimized delivery routes and real-time visibility across multi-tier supply networks.
Machinery manufacturers
Streamline global part-to-system flows with end-to-end network modeling — from component sourcing to final assembly and distribution.
Pharma and life sciences
Design agile, compliant networks for temperature-sensitive or regulated products — with built-in risk modeling and supply security strategies.
Basic materials and chemicals
Optimize bulk and regulated flows using volume-driven network design, transportation simulation and compliance-ready planning tools.
FAQ
4flow VIA can start to model, analyze and optimize your network with just two types of data input. That means the software is usable for most businesses – even if all you have are addresses of your network sites and shipment data from recent weeks. If you have additional data, you can add data types for an even fuller picture.
The timeline can vary depending on the project’s complexity, data availability and objectives. Thanks to modern tools, project timelines have decreased significantly. What once took up to six months can now be done in under two months—sometimes just a few weeks—with advanced supply chain software like 4flow VIA®.
Today’s supply chains face rising complexity, shifting customer expectations and constant cost pressure. Optimizing your network enables cost control, increased flexibility and improved service delivery while supporting long-term sustainability and growth.
You should reassess your network after events such as:
- Major supply chain disruptions
- Product or technology launches
- Regulatory or trade shifts
- Mergers and acquisitions
- Market entries
It depends on your complexity, industry dynamics, and customer variability. With today’s software, many companies reevaluate their network two or more times a year, especially during high-demand or rapid change periods.
4flow VIA® is designed for flexible integration and ease of use. You typically need:
- A stable internet connection and standard modern web browser
- Access to your company’s ERP, TMS or data sources (e.g., SAP, Kinaxis or Excel)
- IT support for data integration and user access setup
- No special hardware is required, and cloud deployment is available for faster onboarding
4flow offers modular software pricing per license. That way, you only pay for what you need, guaranteeing the greatest ROI. Contact our software experts to discuss your use case and get details about pricing.
Further reading
Network planning and optimization
Discover how 4flow VIA enables resilient growth
*Gartner, Market Guide for Supply Chain Network Design Tools, Vicky Forman, Pia Orup Lund, February 16, 2026
GARTNER is a registered trademark and service mark of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and internationally and is used herein with permission. All rights reserved. Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its research publications and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner’s Research & Advisory organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.