Overview

An inventory forecast refers to the supply planning cycle and reflects the forecast of future inventory balances.

Planned inventory balances ensure business continuity and prevent shortages of goods to be shipped to customers. They also reflect expected changes in the company's business activities.

Planned balances are indicated by month.

The balance forecast filling rules depend on the methodology applied. Balance forecasts are made automatically based on current sales statistics and sales forecast volumes for a certain period.

As a result of the process, the inventory forecast is set for each planning period and aligned with the expected business activities.

Capture inventory forecasts flowchart

Paths

How to find and review budget tasks

1. Go to Budgeting and planning and click My budget tasks under Budget process.

2. Find the Budget task related to the budgeting process step and open it.

3. In the Budget task document, click the Additional information tab.

4. Review the time requirements in the Due date field.

5. Review the task details in the Instructions field and make sure you understand them.

6. Review the start date and time in the Start field.

7. Review the Main task and Process stage - base document fields.

8. Click the hyperlink in the middle of the form and review the input settings.

9. Click the Task action tab.

10. Click Enter plan to drill down to the entry form to fill in or the reference document.

Paths

How to capture inventory forecasts

Fill in header

1. Go to Budgeting and planning and click Goods stock plans under Sales and operations plans.

2. Open the Goods stock plan document and go to the Main tab.

3. Fill in the Scenario related to supply forecasting.

4. Fill in the Plan profile related to inventory forecast creation. Make sure the Plan profile population rules are already set.

5. Specify the Planned balance date. It must be the first day of the planning period.

Fill in lines manually

1. Go to the Goods tab.

2. Add a new line, then specify the Item, Unit, Quantity and Warehouse.

Import lines from the spreadsheet

1. Click the Import from external file icon.

2. In the import from external file form, paste data copied from the spreadsheet.

3. Click Next. The system will automatically parse all the data pasted and fill in the form with the system master data.

4. Review and amend the information and click Move and close.

The system will automatically fill in the form.

Fill in lines automatically

1. Go to the Product categories / Goods / Manufactured products tab.

2. Click Fill in categories / goods → By default rule. The system will automatically fill in the lines in accordance with the Population settings of the Plan profile.

3. Review the information and check that the data is complete.

4. Correct the figures if necessary.

5. Specify any relevant notes, such as special requirements, in the Comment field.

6. Click and attach additional files.

7. Set the Created status and post the document.

Paths

How to submit inventory forecasts

1. Go to Budgeting and planning and then click Planning process management under Tools.

2. Choose the Scenario and specify the planning Period.

3. Find the Plan profile related to the process.

4. Double-click the relevant flowchart area, select the plan document, and click Set status → Submitted.

The system will automatically set the Submitted status for the document.

How to complete budget tasks

1. Go to Budgeting and planning and click My budget tasks under Budget process.

2. Find the Budget task related to the process step and open it.

3. Enter the date of completion in the Completed field.

4. Click Complete and close.