What Is Demand Forecasting? A Complete Guide
Demand forecasting is the process of predicting future customer demand for your products using historical sales data, market trends, and other factors.
Read definition →Essential terms and definitions for demand forecasting, inventory management, and supply chain planning.
Demand forecasting is the process of predicting future customer demand for your products using historical sales data, market trends, and other factors.
Read definition →Fill rate is the percentage of customer demand that you fulfill from stock on hand—a direct measure of how often you have what customers want when they want it.
Read definition →Inventory turnover measures how many times you sell and replace your inventory during a period—a key indicator of how efficiently your inventory investment generates sales.
Read definition →Lead time is the total duration between placing an order and having that inventory available to sell—not just shipping time, but every step from order to shelf.
Read definition →Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) is a business process that aligns sales forecasts with supply capabilities and financial goals into a single, agreed-upon plan.
Read definition →Safety stock is the extra inventory you keep on hand to protect against uncertainty—your buffer between what you expect to happen and what actually happens.
Read definition →A purchase order (PO) is a formal document from buyer to supplier that specifies products, quantities, prices, and delivery terms—your official request to buy goods.
Read definition →A reorder point (ROP) is the inventory level at which you need to place a new order with your supplier—the trigger that tells you it's time to reorder.
Read definition →See how Planster automates demand forecasting and inventory planning for your business.