What does "demand planning" involve?

Demand planning is fundamentally about forecasting future customer demand to ensure that the right products are available at the right time to meet that demand. This process involves analyzing various factors including market trends, historical sales data, seasonality, and promotional activities to create accurate forecasts. By understanding and anticipating customer needs, organizations can align their inventory levels, production schedules, and distribution strategies accordingly.

This proactive approach helps companies to minimize excess inventory and avoid stockouts, ultimately driving customer satisfaction and operational efficiency. While aspects such as analyzing past sales data and scheduling employees may relate to demand, they do not encapsulate the comprehensive scope of demand planning, which is primarily focused on predicting future requirements.