Big data sourcing simulator

A simulator configured to simulate fulfillment of orders by a plurality of physical distribution nodes, the simulator comprising:

• a processor;
• a memory storing a computer program configured to simulate the fulfillment of the orders;
• and
• a processor configured to execute the computer program,
• wherein each node has an inventory of products and is capable of shipping the products to destinations in response to receipt of a corresponding order,
• wherein the computer program divides the nodes into groups and assigns a different priority to each group based on input provided by a user to the simulator to generate an ordered sequence of priorities,
• wherein the computer program maintains safety stock data corresponding to each node that indicates minimum quantities of the products required to be present at the corresponding node, and
• wherein the computer program selects a current priority of the sequence and next simulates a first group among the groups having the current priority fulfilling the orders for a given product among the products while a quantity of the given product at each of the nodes in the first group is below the minimum quantity in the corresponding safety stock data.