Turn demand history into a plan your team can review.
A practical workbook for building baseline demand, applying commercial and planner input, and reviewing exceptions before the next planning conversation.
Workbook logic / illustrative row
Exception status
Review
Demand above plan after event. Sample values are illustrative.
01 / Required inputs
Load the assumptions your team can explain.
Required fields establish the row and its planning context. Optional fields add stockout, event, or commercial context when it is available for the row.
| Field | Required? | Unit / format | Likely source |
|---|---|---|---|
| SKU | Required | Identifier | ERP item master |
| Description / product hierarchy | Required | Text / hierarchy path | ERP item or product master |
| Location / channel | Required | Location or channel key | ERP customer/channel or WMS location |
| Planning period | Required | YYYY-MM or fiscal period | Planning calendar |
| Historical demand units | Required | Units / period | ERP orders or shipment history |
| Lifecycle status | Required | New / active / phase-out | ERP item master |
| Planning horizon | Required | Periods | Planner policy |
| Planner input | Required | Note, units, or % adjustment | Planner / commercial review |
| Stockout / lost-sales context | Optional | Units / period or note | WMS availability or service report |
| Promotion / event flag | Optional | Y/N + event note | Commercial calendar |
| Commercial override | Optional | Percent, e.g. 10% | Planner / commercial review |
02 / Outputs
Keep the recommendation auditable.
The workbook makes its baseline, adjustments, totals, and exception logic visible. Every example below is illustrative, not a forecast-accuracy claim.
| Output | Formula / assumption | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Baseline forecast | Average of the selected historical demand periods | 1,300 units |
| Consensus plan | Baseline forecast × (1 + event / planner adjustment) | 1,430 units |
| Override percentage | (Consensus plan − baseline forecast) ÷ baseline forecast | 10% |
| Period-total demand | Sum of historical demand units in the selected review window | 7,800 units |
| Actual-vs-plan variance | Actual demand units − consensus plan units | +140 units |
| Exception status | Review when absolute variance crosses the workbook threshold | Review |
| Exception reason | Short explanation such as event, stockout, or demand above plan | Demand above plan after event |
| Review status | Open, reviewed, or accepted by the planning owner | Open |
03 / ERP + WMS compatibility
Useful before the first planning review.
The workbook accepts exports from the systems your team already uses. It documents ownership and normalization without connecting to either system.
ERP owns the planning spine
Use ERP extracts for item master, sales or order history, customer/channel, lifecycle, and commercial-calendar inputs.
WMS adds availability context
Use WMS exports for availability, shipment or fulfillment, location, and stockout context when those fields improve the review.
Normalize before loading
Keep one extract key, one period grain, one unit of measure, and a snapshot timestamp across every source file.
Review the handoff offline
The workbook accepts exports and documents assumptions; it does not connect to an ERP or WMS or refresh live data.
04 / Preview
See the review surface before you download.
The compact view shows the required row context; the workbook has separate editable cells for each history period and optional adjustment field.
| SKU | Description / hierarchy | Location / channel | Planning period | History, units / period | Lifecycle | Horizon | Planner input |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KST-101 | Everyday insulated bottle / Drinkware | US-East / DTC | 2026-10 | 1,220 · 1,180 · 1,310 · 1,260 · 1,390 · 1,440 | Active | 3 periods | Holiday gift set: +10% in October review |
The illustrative row makes the adjustment, variance, and review reason visible alongside the baseline forecast.
| SKU | Baseline forecast | Consensus plan | Override | Period total | Actual vs plan | Exception | Reason | Review status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KST-101 | 1,300 units | 1,430 units | 10% | 7,800 units | +140 units | Review | Demand above plan after event | Open |
Next demand review
Put the baseline and exceptions in one place.
Download the demand planning `.xlsx`, replace the illustrative row, and bring a transparent baseline and consensus plan into your next review.