Working with customers to understand future demand is a critical strategy for improving forecast accuracy and customer service. E2open Channel Forecast Collaboration enables brand owners to gain visibility into projected orders, collaborate with customers and partners to create joint forecasts and confidently commit to fulfilling demand.
Collaborative forecasting is not a new idea. With better visibility into partners’ planned orders, brand owners can create more accurate demand plans and improve service without the need for large inventory buffers. However, collaboration remains a daunting task. A process that works with a few partners often fails to scale across a large number. Monitoring forecasts and resolving discrepancies between brand owner and partner forecasts can be very labor-intensive and will quickly overwhelm a process managed by spreadsheets and email. Integrating disparate manufacturer and partner systems and harmonizing data can also be a challenge.