Simcad^® Simulation & Digital Twin Software

Logistics Simulation Software

Simulate. Optimize. Adapt.
From Logistics Planning to Digital Twin.

Simcad^® logistics simulation software creates a dynamic model of transportation, distribution networks, inventory, facilities, resources, schedules, and material flow. Test network changes, optimize routes and DC locations, reduce transportation costs and lead times, evaluate supply and demand variability, and build more resilient logistics operations before making real-world changes.

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01Reduce Transportation Costs

02Optimize Routes & Networks

03Improve Inventory Availability

04Plan Capacity & Resources

05Build Supply Chain Resilience

Logistics Simulation Explained

What Is Logistics Simulation Software?

Logistics simulation software creates a dynamic virtual model of the movement of products, inventory, vehicles, resources, and information across a logistics network. It allows organizations to test transportation, distribution, inventory, capacity, scheduling, and network decisions without disrupting the real operation.

Simcad models relationships across suppliers, production facilities, distribution centers, transportation routes, consolidation points, inventory locations, and customers. Changes in demand, supply, product mix, lead time, capacity, routing, and resource availability can be tested against the entire network rather than analyzed as isolated decisions.

With Simcad^®, the same logistics model can progress from offline what-if simulation to data-driven emulation, AI-assisted optimization, and a connected operational digital twin.

Simcad logistics simulation software model of a transportation and distribution network

Questions Logistics Simulation Can Answer

Evaluate strategic, tactical, and operational logistics decisions in a risk-free virtual environment using your network constraints and operating data.

Where Should Distribution Centers Be Located?

Compare facility locations, service regions, network capacity, transportation cost, lead time, and customer-service impact.

What Are the Best Delivery Routes?

Evaluate route alternatives, transportation methods, schedules, distance, capacity, utilization, and delivery performance.

How Can Transportation Costs Be Reduced?

Compare carriers, modes, consolidation strategies, routes, fleet requirements, loading policies, and network configurations.

INV

How Much Inventory Is Required?

Analyze stock levels, replenishment, service requirements, lead times, safety stock, demand variability, and inventory positioning.

CAP

Does the Network Have Enough Capacity?

Test facilities, docks, transportation resources, staging, handling, schedules, and throughput under normal and peak demand.

VAR

What Happens When Demand Changes?

Model seasonal demand, product-mix changes, growth, volatility, surges, and their effects throughout the logistics network.

RISK

How Will the Network Respond to Disruption?

Test supplier delays, capacity loss, transportation constraints, facility outages, route changes, and recovery strategies.

SLA

Can Delivery Lead Times Be Improved?

Analyze order flow, schedules, transportation time, consolidation, processing delays, and service-level performance.

NET

What Is the Best End-to-End Network Design?

Compare suppliers, facilities, DCs, transportation lanes, inventory strategies, and distribution channels as one connected system.

End-to-End Logistics Modeling & Optimization

Analyze the complete logistics network—from supply and production through distribution, transportation, inventory, and final delivery.

Transportation & Routing

Optimize delivery routes, transportation methods, schedules, fleet utilization, consolidation, and delivery lead times.

Distribution Network Design

Compare DC locations, network configurations, distribution channels, facility capacity, and customer-service regions.

Inventory & Replenishment

Balance inventory, replenishment, safety stock, demand variability, lead time, and product availability across locations.

Capacity & Resilience

Test growth, peak demand, disruptions, resource constraints, facility outages, alternate routes, and recovery strategies.

Transportation & Route Optimization

Model transportation as part of the complete logistics system rather than optimizing routes in isolation.

Delivery route and transportation-method analysis
Fleet, carrier, and resource utilization
Transportation schedules and delivery windows
Consolidation and direct-ship strategies
Transportation cost and lead-time analysis

Distribution Network Design & DC Location Analysis

Evaluate how facility locations and network structure affect cost, capacity, inventory, service levels, and resilience.

Optimal distribution center location analysis
Multiple facilities and distribution channels
Network capacity and throughput
Supplier-to-customer flow analysis
Current-state versus future-state network comparison

Inventory, Demand & Replenishment Simulation

Understand how inventory policies interact with demand, lead times, transportation, capacity, and service requirements.

Inventory positioning across multiple locations
Replenishment policy analysis
Supply and demand variability
Product-mix and seasonal-demand scenarios
Stock availability and service-level analysis

ERP, WMS & Logistics Data Integration

Build data-driven models using actual logistics and operational information rather than relying only on static assumptions.

ERP and WMS connectivity
Historical shipment and order data
Schedules, inventory, and transportation data
Actual-versus-modeled performance analysis
Connected digital-twin deployment

Modeling Technology

Discrete-Event, Agent-Based & Data-Driven Logistics Simulation

Represent time, variability, network relationships, resource behavior, transportation, inventory, and real operating data within one model.

DES

Discrete-Event Simulation

Model orders, shipments, queues, schedules, capacity, delays, resources, processing, inventory movement, and network events over time.

AGT

Agent-Based & Network Modeling

Represent vehicles, facilities, products, resources, and network nodes with individual behaviors and interactions.

DATA

Data-Driven Simulation

Use ERP, WMS, shipment, inventory, schedule, historical, forecast, and operational data to drive logistics scenarios.

Logistics Disruption, Risk & Resilience Simulation

Test the network before disruption happens. Simcad shows how changes propagate across interconnected facilities, transportation lanes, inventory positions, schedules, and customers.

SUP

Supply Disruptions

Evaluate supplier delays, shortages, reduced capacity, alternate sourcing, and recovery policies.

DEM

Demand Volatility

Test seasonal peaks, unexpected surges, product-mix changes, growth, and forecast uncertainty.

ALT

Network Alternatives

Compare alternate routes, facilities, transportation modes, inventory policies, and distribution strategies before implementation.

From Logistics Simulation to Operational Digital Twin

Use one Simcad model for strategic what-if analysis, operational emulation, connected logistics visibility, predictive optimization, and real-time orchestration.

SIM

Simulation

Test routes, networks, facilities, inventory, capacity, schedules, demand, and what-if scenarios.

→

EMU

Emulation

Replay historical or forecast orders, shipments, schedules, inventory, and network behavior using operational data.

→

Digital Twin

Connect the logistics model to ERP, WMS, transportation, inventory, and operational data sources.

→

AI Optimization

Predict disruption, compare alternatives, optimize routes, schedules, inventory, capacity, and network strategies.

→

Real-Time Orchestration

Support live visibility, forecasting, alerts, routing, scheduling, resource allocation, and operational decisions.

One Simcad ModelFrom logistics planning and network simulation to connected operational digital twin.

30+ YearsSimulation and operational modeling experience

3,900+Active deployments worldwide

2D • 3D • VRVisualization with data-driven simulation and digital twins

Logistics Simulation Resources

Explore Simcad^® capabilities for logistics, supply chain, warehousing, distribution, transportation, and connected digital twins.

Supply Chain Simulation & Digital Twin

Explore real-time supply chain visibility, predictive analytics, logistics optimization, and operational digital-twin capabilities.

Explore Supply Chain Digital Twin →

Warehouse & Distribution Simulation

Model picking, slotting, labor, storage, automation, material flow, and distribution-center capacity.

Explore Warehouse Simulation →

Simcad^® Simulation Software

Explore simulation, data connectivity, AI-assisted optimization, 2D/3D/VR visualization, emulation, and digital-twin capabilities.

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Logistics Simulation Software FAQ

Common questions about logistics simulation, transportation, network design, inventory, distribution, resilience, and digital twins.

What is logistics simulation software?

Logistics simulation software creates a virtual model of transportation, distribution facilities, inventory, resources, schedules, products, and network relationships so organizations can test logistics decisions and understand system-wide performance before making real-world changes.

What is the difference between logistics simulation and supply chain simulation?

The terms overlap. Logistics simulation often focuses on transportation, distribution, inventory movement, facilities, routes, and delivery operations. Supply chain simulation can extend farther upstream and downstream to suppliers, production, sourcing, demand, and end-to-end network strategy. Simcad can model both within the same connected environment.

Can logistics simulation optimize delivery routes?

Yes. Simcad^® can compare route alternatives, transportation methods, schedules, capacity, utilization, costs, consolidation strategies, and delivery lead times while accounting for effects elsewhere in the logistics network.

Can Simcad help determine optimal distribution center locations?

Yes. Alternative DC locations and network structures can be compared based on transportation cost, lead time, facility capacity, inventory, service regions, customer requirements, and overall network performance.

Can logistics simulation reduce transportation costs?

Simulation can evaluate routes, modes, carriers, fleet utilization, consolidation, facility locations, schedules, and network policies to identify strategies that reduce transportation costs while maintaining service requirements.

Can Simcad model inventory and replenishment?

Yes. Simcad^® can model inventory levels, replenishment policies, lead times, safety stock, product availability, demand variability, and inventory movement across multiple facilities and network locations.

Can logistics simulation model supply and demand variability?

Yes. Simcad^® can test seasonal demand, forecast variation, product-mix changes, supplier delays, shortages, capacity changes, and unexpected surges to show how variability propagates through the network.

Can Simcad connect to ERP and WMS data?

Yes. Simcad^® supports data-driven modeling using ERP, WMS, database, historical shipment, order, schedule, inventory, and other operational data sources.

Can logistics simulation be used for disruption and resilience planning?

Yes. Organizations can simulate supplier delays, facility outages, transportation constraints, capacity loss, alternate routes, demand surges, and recovery strategies before those events occur.

Can Simcad model multiple facilities and distribution channels?

Yes. Simcad^® can model networks containing multiple facilities, distribution centers, transportation routes, inventory locations, suppliers, customers, and different distribution channels within one simulation.

What is the difference between logistics simulation and a logistics digital twin?

Logistics simulation is generally used for offline what-if analysis and planning. A logistics digital twin connects the model to operational data so it can support current-state visibility, forecasting, predictive analysis, optimization, and real-time decision support.

Can the same Simcad model be used after the planning phase?

Yes. The model can evolve from simulation into data-driven emulation and a connected digital twin for ongoing analysis, forecasting, optimization, alerts, and operational decision support.

Ready to Optimize Your Logistics Network?

See how Simcad^® can help reduce transportation costs, optimize routes and facilities, improve inventory decisions, test disruptions, and build a more resilient logistics operation.

Request a Demo