RELEX Open brings a new approach to the build vs. buy decision in the age of AI
RELEX Solutions has expanded its platform with RELEX Open, giving retailers and manufacturers more flexibility in how they adopt and develop AI-powered capabilities. Rather than choosing between buying ready-made software and building technology internally, organizations can now combine both approaches on the same platform.
RELEX Open is structured around three options: deploy, extend and orchestrate. Companies can deploy existing RELEX solutions, develop custom capabilities on top of the platform, or connect existing systems and AI agents so they can work from the same business context.
The deploy option includes RELEX capabilities already used across demand forecasting, replenishment, production planning, merchandising, promotions and operations. According to RELEX, its purpose-built solutions have been validated by more than 600 customers at enterprise scale.
For organizations with requirements that go beyond standard solutions, RELEX Open also provides a framework for developing custom capabilities. New plugins can use the platform’s existing operational data model and infrastructure, while connecting to third-party systems and unstructured data. RELEX gives the example of a plugin developed within weeks for an apparel retailer to forecast returns in transit and use that information in stock balancing and supplier-order decisions.
The third component addresses a growing challenge as companies introduce more AI into their operations: how different systems and AI agents make coordinated decisions. RELEX Open connects systems and agents around a shared business context, allowing them to work with the same goals, metrics and operational drivers rather than making decisions independently.
The RELEX Agentic Operating System is designed to orchestrate agents and applications across RELEX and external systems. Human-in-the-loop approvals, access controls and activity logs are intended to keep recommendations and decisions explainable and traceable, while open protocols such as APIs, agent-to-agent protocols and Model Context Protocol allow other technologies to connect to the platform.
For retailers and manufacturers, the broader idea is that AI transformation does not necessarily require replacing the technology they already use. Organizations can start with proven capabilities, build where their business requires something specific, or connect existing technology into a broader decision-making environment.
re:innovation is a RELEX Solutions partner, working with companies across 15
countries on planning and supply chain transformation. We help retailers, manufacturers and distributors translate technology into better planning processes and measurable operational improvements.
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