Expert Insights

What Is Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP)?

Published On: 5th Aug 2026 07:00

What Is S&OP?

Sales and Operation Planning, often shortened to S&OP, is the name of the planning process that focuses on the tactical goals of the company. It aims to align the supply, demand, and financial aspects of the company’s overall goals and plans to support operational decision-making.

To Put It Simply

According to James Lawther, S&OP put bluntly is ensuring that the marketing guys and service centre managers sit down every month and talk to each other.

(It is easier to answer or prevent calls if you know they are coming.)

Improving the information and data flows or “interactions” between a business’s component parts can be powerful stuff.

Contributed by: James Lawther, Director at Squawk Point Consulting

This definition has been taken from our article: Getting Started With Customer Service Mantras and Vision Statements

Reviewed by: Megan Jones