Generating Forecast Packages

Outcome

A tailored forecast package for each forecaster is available to forecasters using distributed work method and the central version is open for forecasters using central work method.

The forecast packages and the central version are used by the forecasters to make their Market Forecast Proposals based on market intelligence.

Data import and any forecast activities performed in M3 DMP do not affect M3 Business Engine. The M3 Business Engine is only affected when exporting data from M3 DMP. See Exporting Consolidated Sales Forecast Proposal.

Before starting

The Changeable Time Horizon for the Version must be defined before version is opened and packages are created. See Adjusting Environment.

Processes

To make data available, only activities four and five are necessary. Activities one to three are used to create optional tailored tools for the forecasters and performed in a different order. Activity six is only necessary to perform if one or more forecasters are not connected to the M3 DMP server.

These are the list of activities and descriptions:

1. Define filters

   Use this activity to define filters, that are used to select parts of a dataset. For example, views. To identify which records from the dataset that should be included, a range of periods, key values, and data types are selected. See About Filters.

2. Create to-do lists (optional)

   In this activity, To-do items are established and assigned to forecasters. This list is included in the forecast package generated for the forecaster or is available for a forecaster logged on to a central version. See Create a To Do list.

3. Define user dataset access and user domains
   In this activity, each users access rights to the datasets in the version are defined. The user are assigned with these rights to a dataset:

   • Change
   • View
   • None

   If a user is given rights to either change or view a dataset, you are assigned to certain domain rights to the dataset. It means that a user can have limited access to specific data in a dataset. The access rights and domains of a user determine which datasets are included in a forecast package or is available in the Datasets menu for a forecaster using central process flow. You can only include datasets with change or view rights.  See About Users and Define user dataset access.

4. Open Version and Generate forecast packages

   In this activity, the forecast packages for the forecasters are created. In the Open dialog box, you can run an automatic clean-up of where the old packages are stored before the generation of new ones.

   The previous sales activities from a user are included in the forecast.

   Note: Only changes that are committed are included in a package. The generated forecast packages are available on the specified online or offline location depending on the work method.

   A forecaster who is using the central process flow has access to the datasets assigned to him when the administrator opens the version. See Open Version, Close Version, and Generate Forecast Packages.

5. Distribute forecast packages

   Use this activity to distribute forecast packages if one or more forecasters are using distributed offline work method that is not connected to the M3 DMP server. Forecast packages for these users are stored as a compressed file in the specified offline location, which offers many alternatives to distribute the package. For example, email, file copy, and so on.  See About Forecast Cycle in M3 DMP.