Forecasting & Demand Planning

Anticipate customer demand and plan your purchasing with data-driven forecasts built from your sales history.

Overview

Stogly's Forecasting module analyzes your historical sales data to predict future demand. Use it to:

• Reduce stockouts by ordering ahead of demand spikes
• Minimize overstock and waste from slow-moving items
• Plan purchases around seasonal patterns
• Improve cash flow by buying the right quantities at the right time

Viewing Demand Forecasts

Step 1: Open the Forecasting Dashboard

1. Navigate to Inventory > Forecasting
2. Select a Warehouse / Store to view forecasts for that location
3. Choose a Time Range — forecasts are available for 7, 14, 30, or 90 days ahead

Step 2: Read the Forecast Chart

The forecast chart displays:

Hover over any point to see the exact predicted quantity and date.

Step 3: Filter by Product or Category

• Use the Search bar to find a specific product
• Use the Category dropdown to view forecasts for an entire product group
• Toggle Show only low-stock items to focus on products nearing reorder points

Understanding Forecast Accuracy

Stogly tracks how well past forecasts matched actual sales:

Accuracy improves as the system collects more sales data. At least 30 days of sales history is recommended for reliable forecasts.

Using Forecasts for Purchase Planning

Generate a Suggested Purchase Order

1. From the Forecasting dashboard, click Plan Purchases
2. Select the forecast period (e.g., next 14 days)
3. The system calculates suggested order quantities based on:
   - Predicted demand for the period
   - Current stock levels
   - Reorder points and safety stock settings
   - Supplier lead times
4. Review the suggested items and quantities
5. Click Create Purchase Order to generate a PO pre-filled with the suggested quantities

Adjust Reorder Points from Forecasts

1. Open a product's forecast detail view
2. Click Update Reorder Point
3. The system suggests a new reorder point based on average predicted daily demand plus safety stock
4. Confirm or adjust the value, then save

Seasonal Adjustments

Stogly detects recurring seasonal patterns automatically, but you can also apply manual adjustments:

1. Navigate to Inventory > Forecasting > Seasonal Profiles
2. Click + Create Profile or edit an existing one
3. Set percentage adjustments per month (e.g., +30% for December, -15% for February)
4. Assign the profile to specific products or categories
5. Seasonal adjustments are layered on top of the base forecast

Tips & Best Practices

• More data, better forecasts — the system needs at least 30 days of sales history; 90+ days produces the best results
• Review weekly — check the forecast dashboard at least once a week to catch emerging trends
• Combine with alerts — set low-stock alerts alongside forecasts so you never miss a reorder window
• Account for promotions — if you plan a sale or promotion, adjust forecasts manually to avoid understocking
• Use category-level views — category forecasts help with broader purchasing decisions and budget planning

Need help? Contact support at support@stogly.com