[mark mckinney]

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Yes, many Business Central users find Order Planning somewhat complicated, especially when they first start using it.

The complexity usually comes from the number of planning parameters involved, such as reorder policies, safety stock, lead times, lot accumulation periods, dampeners, and planning worksheets. If these settings are not configured correctly, the planning results can be confusing and may generate unexpected suggestions.

That said, Order Planning is designed to handle complex supply chain scenarios. For organizations with multiple items, vendors, locations, and varying demand patterns, the functionality can be extremely powerful. Once the planning setup is properly configured, it can significantly reduce manual purchasing and replenishment efforts.

A few things that typically make Order Planning easier to manage are:

Keeping replenishment policies simple whenever possible.

Reviewing item planning parameters regularly.

Using Planning Worksheets to understand why suggestions are generated.

Testing planning changes in a sandbox environment before applying them in production.

Ensuring lead times and inventory data are accurate.

In my experience, the challenge is often not the planning engine itself but the initial setup and understanding of how different planning parameters interact. Users who invest time in configuring and learning the planning logic usually find it quite effective, while those expecting a “set it and forget it” solution may perceive it as overly complicated.

So, I would say Order Planning in Business Central is powerful rather than overly complicated, but it does have a learning curve and requires careful configuration to deliver reliable results.