Responsive promotion replenishment planning

• US 20060085246A1
• Filed: 09/30/2004
• Published: 04/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Original Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Li, Sheng
• Application Number:
  US10/956,632
• Publication Number:
  US 20060085246A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/10
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0202 Market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Abstract

Embodiments include a system for adjusting forecast demand data in light of actual sales of a product. The system and method may include forecasting demand for a time period then adjusting the demand forecast over that period of time based on sales feedback data. Forecasted demand may be distributed over the time period based on a distribution pattern. Demand may be adjusted if actual sales meet predetermined threshold levels or if actual sales deviate from a range of forecasted demand.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

generating a first demand forecast for a set of products for a time period;

generating a first demand order based on the first demand forecast; and

adjusting the first demand forecast automatically to generate a second demand forecast for a remainder of the time period in response to received actual demand data.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

triggering a second demand order if received actual demand data indicates that a threshold amount is reached.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

calculating the second demand forecast based on a reactive update system.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

utilizing the first demand forecast for an initial segment of the time period before the second demand forecast is generated or utilized.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

distributing the first demand forecast over the first time period based on a distribution pattern.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

distributing the second demand forecast over the remainder of the time period based on the distribution pattern.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

retrieving a promotion profile to determine a first distribution pattern.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

updating the promotion profile in response to an input; and

distributing the first demand forecast over the time period based on a second distribution pattern.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

checking the received sales data to determine a variation from expected sales; and

generating a second shipment order based on the second demand forecast if the variation exceeds a defined range.

10. An apparatus comprising:

means for receiving promotion profile data;

means for generating a first demand forecast for a time period based on the promotion profile data;

means for receiving actual demand data; and

means for generating a second demand forecast for the time period utilizing the actual demand data to adjust the first demand forecast.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:

means for storing a set of promotion profiles.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:

means for verifying promotion profile data completeness.

13. A system comprising:

a promotion data module;

a demand forecasting module; and

one of a reactive update module and a dynamic update module to adjust demand forecasting for a time period based on received actual demand data.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising:

an inbound messaging module to receive one of promotion profile data and actual demand data.

15. The system of claim 13, further comprising:

a verification module to check incoming promotion profile data.

16. A machine readable medium having a set of instructions stored therein which when executed cause a machine to perform a set of operations comprising:

generating a first demand forecast for a time period for a set of products;

generating a first demand order based on the first demand forecast; and

adjusting the first demand forecast automatically to generate a second demand forecast for a remainder of the time period in response to received actual demand data.

17. The machine readable medium of claim 16, having further instructions stored therein which when executed cause a machine to perform a set of operations further comprising:

triggering a second demand order if received actual demand data indicates that a threshold sales amount is reached.

18. The machine readable medium of claim 16, having further instructions stored therein which when executed cause a machine to perform a set of operations further comprising:

calculating the second demand forecast based on a reactive update system.

19. The machine readable medium of claim 16, having further instructions stored therein which when executed cause a machine to perform a set of operations further comprising:

utilizing the first demand forecast for an initial segment at the time period before the second demand forecast is generated or utilized.

20. The machine readable medium of claim 16, having further instructions stored therein which when executed cause a machine to perform a set of operations further comprising:

distributing the first demand forecast over the time based on a distribution pattern.

21. The machine readable medium of claim 16, having further instructions stored therein which when executed cause a machine to perform a set of operations further comprising:

distributing the second demand forecast over the remainder of the time period based on the distribution pattern.

22. The machine readable medium of claim 16, having further instructions stored therein which when executed cause a machine to perform a set of operations further comprising:

retrieving a promotion profile to determine a first distribution pattern.

23. The machine readable medium of claim 16, having further instructions stored therein which when executed cause a machine to perform a set of operations further comprising:

updating the promotion profile in response to an input; and

distributing the first demand forecast over the time period based on a second distribution pattern.

24. The machine readable medium of claim 16, having further instructions stored therein which when executed cause a machine to perform a set of operations further comprising:

checking the received actual demand data to determine a variation from expected demand; and

generating a second demand order based on the second demand forecast if the variation exceeds a defined range.