Performing Market Forecasting

Outcome

A Market Forecast Proposal from a forecaster is available to the administrator.

The administrator uses the Market Forecast Proposals from the forecasters to create a Demand Plan Proposal.

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

Before starting

• All who are exchanging data and information directly through the M3 DMP server (online work method) must have access to the FTP or HTTP catalog (M3 DMP Package) through the M3 DMP_FtpUsers or M3 DMP_HttpUsers group account.

  See the M3 Demand Planner Server Installation Guide on the installation or Setup program (Server Installation and Setup).

• Forecast packages for forecasters who use distributed work methods must be available on the M3 DMP server or distributed to each forecaster. The administrator must open the server version for forecasters who use the central work method. You must perform the process to prepare the forecasting cycle to achieve this.

Processes

The process of performing market forecasting is described in these activities:

1. Installing forecast package

   In this process, a forecaster installs the forecast package as a local version. The package is downloaded directly from the M3 DMP server or installed from a file received from the administrator.

2. Making Market Forecast Proposal

   This is an iterative process where the forecaster changes forecast values, analyzes these changes, and manages scenarios until the desired Market Forecast Proposal is reached.

3. Returning Market Forecast Proposal

   In this process, a forecast package containing a Market Forecast Proposal is returned to the administrator by the forecaster. The package is uploaded directly to the M3 DMP server or returned as a compressed file.