Is your firm getting ready to implement a multi-dimensional (R)OLAP based demand planning solution? Have you considered the following?

• The key to success with these applications is perfomance. The user experience is paramount in all aspects of this implementation and system design. Superior system performance is not guaranteed, but it can be achieved through careful design cosnideration at the early stages of your solution design, particularly when you configure dimensions, hierarchies, and levels.
• Actual history and data cleanup – The quality of your historical data is very important in generating a reasonable statistical forecast. Have you thought through all your sources of information that needs to be converted into the new systems?
• Collaboration with stakeholders – Working closely with your key customers is vital to improving your forecast accuracy. Face to face meetings and active involvement can provide insight into their operational plans, promotions, and market momentum. Sharing these forecasts with your key suppliers can also lower overall cost and speed to market.
• Forecast process alignment – Do you have different organizations forecasting in different cycles following different processes? Do you want to unify them through a standardized sales and operations planning process?

The above is just a sample of the factors to consider in any demand management implementation. If you need further information on any of the above topics or to have a free telephone consultation, please reach us at research@Inspirage.com.