Share via


Forecast with intelligence for validated demand plans

Enabled for Public preview General availability
Users by admins, makers, or analysts Oct 31, 2023 Apr 1, 2024

Business value

Inaccurate forecasts can lead to lost revenue and inefficiency in the supply chain. When you provide forecasts with intelligence, you create more accurate and effective demand plans. The direct impact shows up as improved revenue and fewer stockouts. Operating expenses go down in supply chains that need fewer fire drills.

Feature details

This solution is Microsoft’s next-generation collaborative demand-planning solution for Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management. It uses best-in-class forecasting algorithms and models. The solution offers immersive user experiences, intelligent reports, and analytics. It empowers organizations to build an agile, resilient, and sustainable demand-planning practice fueled by intelligence and collaboration. The solution offers:

  • A no-code approach to demand modeling and planning configuration. Flexible building blocks enable most demand planners (over 85%) who aren't data scientists to do what-if planning and analyze, optimize, and compare scenarios in minutes.

  • Seamless, on-the-fly aggregation and disaggregation, which enable planners to edit forecasts at a corporate or product-group level. Planners can then zoom in and instantly see the impact on the regional and stock keeping unit (SKU) level.

  • Improved forecast accuracy with automatic AI parameter tuning, which helps ensure accurate forecasting and preprocessing. External signals enable superior forecast accuracy by considering promotions or stockouts.

  • Disruption readiness with interactive and fast what-if analysis. Version history enables you to track and evaluate forecast changes. Use the lessons learned to improve the decision-making process.

  • Effective collaboration throughout the planning cycle by using Microsoft Teams in-context communication, in-product commenting, and restorable versions of forecast values throughout the planning process.

  • Increased agility through integrated planning and execution flow with native integration to Supply Chain Management, customizable worksheets, and exception-based planning.

Image of the Demand Planning screen.

Additional resources

Demand planning home page (docs)

Demand planning process (learn)