FORECASTING
FORECASTING
The forecasting module creates accurate forecasting of sales based on previous sales. This will help reduce returns because of improved sales information leading to more accurate predictions. This can also help to improve management of order quantities during holiday periods, E.g. Christmas and Easter.
If you use the handheld interface, you can use the customer stock take values to base your forecasts for that customer rather than your sales to the customer.
There are some forecasting options to be set up in company details, on the ‘Other’ tab/sheet as per the above image. These set the default number of weeks and the default interval (every 1 week or 2nd etc) and a default weighting. The forecasting calculation can either use linear regression or weighted mean.
FORECASTING
S E T T I N G U P D E B T O R S A N D P R O D U C T S
Each customer and product is able to be flagged 'Can Forecast'. This will allow forecasting of orders and production to affect or use these customers or products.
On a customer, it is found near the middle of the 'Gnrl' Tab.
FORECASTING
G E N E R A T I N G O R D E R S
When generating orders you can, instead of using standing orders, use forecast data based on previous weeks sales.
You can combine options on this screen to use forecasting for specific bake types and customers (using the customer filter) and shifts.
To use specific data, promotional or prior period data, you can set up forecast parameters, under the sales menu. This is explained later on.
The forecasting will generate the standing order and then add an adjustment to the order so that it equals the forecasting amount. You will need to flag 'Entry by
Adjustment' on the Baker Constants 1 tab (in the Docket Entry Format Box) in company details. This will show you the adjustment line on the order.
FORECASTING
C U S T O M E R ' S S T A N D I N G O R D E R S
On a customer's standing order, when you view a product, there is a box for forecast. This shows a forecasted amount in order for you to compare with the current standing order amount.
These amounts can be created by clicking on 'Set Params'. The parameters set what the sales figures are based on and what percentage to increase these by. The number of weeks is how many weeks and the interval is the interval between these weeks. E.g. If you pick 5 weeks and an interval of 2 then it will pick 5 weeks spaced over a 10 week period. You can choose an amount to increase it by. When you click 'Save and Recalc', it will populate the forecast fields so you can see how the numbers compare.
You can flag, don't adjust with forecast. When generating orders by using forecasting, it will create an adjustment on the order for the difference between the standing order and the forecasted amount. If you want this product to not be adjusted by the forecasting amount, flag 'Don't adjust with forecast'.
You can also 'Set Stdgs' which will set the standing order amount equal to forecasted values.
FORECASTING
F O R E C A S T P A R A M E T E R S
From the main GlobalBake menu, under sales > Set forecast parameters. You have 3 options; forecast, period, promo.
These will generate when standing orders are generated and these forecast options apply.
Select a date range for when the forecast is in effect. Set the forecast options, number of weeks back, the weeks intervals and a percentage increase on the sales. It can apply to Run, Customer Type, Customer Alpha to select certain debtors and Group, Brand, or Product to select certain products.
This option allows you to base your forecast on a certain date. This is similar to the forecast option. Select your date range. Select the date you wish to base the sales on, Map From Date, and the percent increase. You have the same options for selecting customers and products.
FORECASTING
F O R E C A S T R E P O R T S
There are two forecast reports to show you changes made to standing orders. From the GlobalBake main menu > Sales > Forecast S/O Adjustment Report.
This will print a report listing debtors and the products that have an adjustment to the standing order and the amounts. Select a date and a shift for the report. This will show what standing order lines are being adjusted by the forecasting.
From the GlobalBake main menu > Sales > Forecast Order Adjustment
This report is based on the data from handheld (another GlobalBake module) debtor stock takes. For products that have a shelf life of greater than one, you can do daily stock takes and know when the products are being sold. This can then be taken into account when forecasting standing orders. E.g. If you sell 100 biscuits on Monday to a client but they sell 70 of those on the Tuesday, the daily stock take by your sales rep will pick this up. Instead of increasing the 100 sold on Monday with a forecast, a change to the Tuesday amount to reflect the 70 sold will be shown on this report.
This report will show you the forecast sales, the handheld stock take, the current delivery for today and tomorrow, a suggested change and an adjusted change.
FORECASTING
P R O D U C T I O N P L A N
Forecast can be used on the Production Plan to show potential demand based on selected history.
The forecast amount is set under the GlobalBake main menu > production > production management > Set Product Forecast.
This allows you, for a specific date and a user set amount of weeks, the previous amounts and a forecasted value. This forecasted value can be manually edited also and
