Tool profile
Lokad: cost, fit and limits
Lokad is a Paris-based supply chain optimization company, founded in 2008, that sells an AI-driven platform together with a team of supply chain scientists who write the decision logic in Envision, a programming language Lokad released in 2014. It targets retailers, aerospace, automotive, fashion and manufacturers that want purchasing, allocation and pricing decisions generated automatically.
What to know first
Lokad is closer to a managed analytics service than to a screen-based planner. Customers send data, Lokad's scientists write and run the logic, and the output is a daily list of decisions for purchasing, dispatch, assortment, scheduling, pricing or stock. The website explains its forecasting history from 2008 to 2024 in detail and answers security questions openly. Nothing about price is stated, and the buyer takes on dependence on a custom language.
Lokad at a glance
| Maker | Lokad, France |
|---|---|
| Free plan | Free trial only |
| Entry price | Low thousands of euros or dollars per month per decision type |
| API access | No |
| Category | Best AI Supply Chain Planning Software in 2026, rank 2 of 11 |
| Website | lokad.com |
Who Lokad is best for
Aerospace and spare parts operators
Lokad lists aeronautics, aerospace and automotive as industries and cites an aviation customer testimonial about parts volumes that earlier tools could not handle, so intermittent demand is a stated focus.
Retail networks balancing stores and warehouses
The retail page promises predictions of store swings, allocation steering and order timing, which targets the retailer that holds stock in many places and loses sales on misallocation.
Companies wanting pricing tied to stock
A pricing and promotion module weighs discounts against inventory and cannibalization with multi-product demand response models, which fits sellers who fear discounts that damage the brand.
Teams that value plain security answers
The security FAQ states that Lokad holds neither ISO 27001 nor SOC 2, explains the reasoning and describes controls, which helps reviewers who prefer explicit trade-offs to logos.
Lokad plans and pricing
| Plan | Price | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Purchasing and sourcing module | Not shown on the site | Replenishment decisions generated by Lokad's scientists for purchase orders. Delivered with project implementation and an operations phase, priced by proposal. |
| Allocation and dispatch module | Not shown on the site | Decisions on how stock moves across stores or warehouses, including store-level allocation. The site shows no tiers or per-user charges. |
| Pricing and promotion module | Not shown on the site | Price and discount decisions using probabilistic forecasting and multi-product demand response, with simulations and financial justification. Quoted per project. |
Checked October 2026.
What Lokad does
- Envision language
- Supply chain logic is written in Envision, a language built for supply chain data. Customers can read their own rules, but only Lokad's tooling runs them, so the code is not portable.
- Probabilistic forecasting
- The forecasting page traces the method from classic forecasts in 2008 through quantile forecasts, probabilistic forecasting, deep learning and differentiable programming to latent optimization in 2024.
- Supply chain scientists
- A named expert acts as the customer's copilot, preparing data pipelines, writing decision logic and running the daily process. This replaces a software license with a service relationship.
- Six decision modules
- Modules cover purchasing and sourcing, allocation and dispatch, assortment and capability, planning and scheduling, pricing and promotion, and asset and stock management, each producing its own decision list.
- Open security FAQ
- The security page lists a bug bounty program, third-party penetration tests, training against social engineering and an automated release process, written as direct answers to questionnaire items.
How Lokad handles your data
Lokad's security page says the solution is hosted on Microsoft Azure, which handles network security for that part of the stack, and that Azure is the only third party with access to personally identifiable information, as of January 2023. It states Lokad is GDPR compliant, that supply chain optimization does not require personal data, and that it holds neither ISO 27001 nor SOC 2, citing its own controls. It describes a bug bounty and third-party penetration tests. Retention periods were not checked.
Where Lokad falls short in practice
- No ISO 27001 or SOC 2. Lokad states plainly that it holds neither certification. Procurement rules that require one will block the contract, whatever the quality of the controls it describes in its FAQ.
- Dependence on Lokad staff. Decision logic lives in Envision and is written by Lokad's scientists. Replacing the vendor later means rewriting the logic in another system, not exporting a configuration.
- Price is not shown. The only pricing-labeled page discusses price optimization as a service, not the cost of buying Lokad. A buyer must ask for a proposal covering implementation and operations separately.
Works with
Alternatives to Lokad
Lokad: common questions
What is Envision and do I need to learn it?
Envision is a language Lokad released in 2014 for supply chain problems, and its scientists use it to write your decision logic. Customers do not have to write code. The trade-off is portability: the scripts run on Lokad's platform only, so ending the contract means rebuilding the logic elsewhere.
Does Lokad have ISO 27001 or SOC 2 certification?
No. The security FAQ answers that Lokad holds neither and argues that such certifications distract from engineering practice. It points to a bug bounty, third-party penetration tests and a limited third-party list. Check whether your procurement policy accepts a documented alternative to certification.
Where does Lokad host customer data?
The security page says the solution is hosted on Microsoft Azure and that Azure is the only third party with access to personally identifiable information, as of January 2023. It does not list Azure regions, so ask which region your tenant uses and whether you can pin it to one geography.
Which decisions can Lokad automate?
The module list covers purchasing and sourcing, allocation and dispatch, assortment and capability, planning and scheduling, pricing and promotion, and asset and stock management. Each is delivered as a daily set of decisions. Ask which of them need your approval before reaching your ERP.
How does Lokad's forecasting differ from classic methods?
The forecasting page lists a progression from classic forecasts in 2008 to quantile forecasts, probabilistic forecasting, deep learning, differentiable programming and latent optimization in 2024. The common thread is predicting a range of outcomes instead of one number. Ask for a test on your own slow-moving items.