July 17, 2023
Who does Demand Planning?
In this video, we discuss the who, what, where, and how of demand planning. We discuss the different roles involved in demand planning, how planners should be aligned, and whether they should be localized or centralized. We also discuss the skills and qualities that make a successful demand planner.
Demand planning is the process of forecasting future demand for products or services. It is an essential part of supply chain management, as it helps businesses to ensure that they have the right amount of inventory on hand to meet customer demand.
The demand planning process involves a number of different roles, including demand analysts, demand planners, and demand planning administrators. Demand analysts are responsible for generating the statistical forecast, while demand planners are responsible for incorporating business insights and making adjustments to the forecast. Demand planning administrators are responsible for managing the demand planning process and ensuring that it is running smoothly.
There are two main ways to organize demand planners: by product category or by customer channel. Planning by product category can help planners to become product experts, while planning by customer channel can help planners to become customer experts. The choice of planner alignment often depends on the organizational structure of the business.
Demand planners can be located either locally or centrally. Localized planners are closer to sales, marketing, and customers, while centralized planners can share data and expertise more efficiently. The best approach for a particular business will depend on its specific needs.
To be successful in demand planning, you need a combination of people with the right skills and qualities. Demand analysts need to have strong mathematical and programming skills, while demand planners need to have business acumen and the ability to build relationships. Both roles require a strong work ethic and the ability to work under pressure.
