# Collaborative Planning in Non-Hierarchical Networks--An Intelligent Negotiation-Based Framework
## 5 Conclusions and Further Developments  
The case of collaborative networks involving independent SMEs needs to consider cross-sector interactions since some activities such as customer requirements analysis, product and process design, production planning, and product delivery need to be synchronized and collaboratively integrated. The proposed intelligent collaborative planning framework aims to offer a practical and integrated set of methods, tools, and web-based technologies to assist independent SMEs to integrate and engage collaborative networks. The already concluded European project called \"customer-oriented and eco-friendly networks for healthy fashionable goods (CoReNet)\" provided the initial momentum and valuable knowledge for the development of this framework. One of the major outcomes of the CoReNet project was the development of a web-based platform where the actors involved in the collaborative network activities could find information, interact, and obtain support and easy access to the tools developed and configured within the collaborative community. The collaborative platform evolved with further development work and subsequently included the designed methods and tools proposed in the intelligent collaborative planning framework. The current demonstration version of the web-based collaborative platform is now able to support the set of collaborative services comprised in this framework. The novelty of the present framework solution derives from the implementation of an innovative non-hierarchical decentralized collaborative planning tool. This tool links a multicriteria optimization mathematical algorithm with an intelligent planning module, which feeds the optimal solution search engine with a feedback loop, enabling the system to learn from previous responses, and minimizing the number of negotiation iterations. The authors of this research believe that the proposed framework can effectively address a real need met by decision makers in non-hierarchical collaborative networks. The prevailing circumstances have highlighted a pressing challenge faced by SMEs, particularly those operating within rapidly evolving industrial sectors like fashion and footwear. These enterprise networks struggle with the task of effectively using technical expertise and production capabilities to meet the demands of emerging business prospects. This \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c c c} \hline
**Intelligent Planning Strategy** & **Average** & **Weight Average** & **Best Proposal** & **Genetic Approach** \\ \hline Iteration 2 & 3.25\% & 7.28\% & 5.86\% & 4.80\% \\ \hline Iteration 3 & 5.69\% & 8.11\% & 10.14\% & 9.62\% \\ \hline Iteration 4 & 9.63\% & 9.68\% & 14.37\% & 12.90\% \\ Iteration 5 & 11.51\% & 13.04\% & 17.54\% & 15.97\% \\ \hline \end{tabular}
\end{table} 
Table 6: Iteration improvement of collaborative planning evaluation. aggregation is essential to enable these companies to compete with large proprietary supply chains. However, this need for collaboration is countered by the natural tendency of companies to be reluctant to share technical and operational data with other companies in the collaborative network. Therefore, what this framework offers to practitioners is a negotiated, modular, flexible, and tailored approach to the problem of forming and operating non-hierarchical collaborative networks. The framework results were very promising for the tested application cases, and the industry partners that collaborated in the project outlined the merits of this approach. The system is currently available and accessible as a cloud service. The current version was subject to minor improvements over the years. Regarding the limitations of the proposed tool, the authors believe that, because the study focused on networks of SMEs in the footwear sector, there is a need to validate the proposals of this work in other sectors. It is also important to acknowledge that, for the system function properly, it relies on the trust among partners participating in the collaborative network.