Retailers face several challenges when it comes to forecasting:
• Scale of the problem (large number of stores and items to forecast).
• Intermittent demand (slow and erratic sales for many items at the store level).
• Assortment instability (frequent new-item introductions and seasonal assortment changes).
• Pricing and promotional activity.
Given these challenges, it is important to recognize where forecasting can enable better [...]
Demand planning is going to be key without a doubt, but equally important will be demand responsiveness – acting quickly to the unexpected - and overall supply chain agility. Even before the recession, companies struggled with demand volatility because of increased competition, decreasing customer loyalty, constant new product introductions etc. But in today’s [...]
