Forecast Terminology provides definitions for common forecasting terms used throughout SAFIO. Use this page as a quick reference when working in the Forecast Editor, reviewing forecasts, or discussing planning activities with your team.
Overview #
Understanding common forecasting terminology helps planners interpret forecast data, communicate effectively with stakeholders, and use SAFIO more confidently.
While some forecasting terms are widely used throughout supply chain planning, others are specific to how forecasting is managed within SAFIO. This reference provides concise definitions of the most commonly encountered terms.
Usage #
Use this page whenever you encounter an unfamiliar forecasting term within SAFIO or the knowledge base.
Rather than explaining forecasting concepts in detail, this page serves as a quick lookup reference. For more in-depth explanations, refer to the related Concept articles.
Specifications #
This reference includes commonly used forecasting terminology related to:
- Forecast creation
- Forecast maintenance
- Planning periods
- Forecast analysis
- Planner activities
- Forecast management
Definitions are intended to provide general guidance. Some terminology may vary slightly depending on your organization’s planning process.
Reference Table(s) #
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Forecast | An estimate of future demand used for planning purposes. |
| Demand | Actual customer demand based on sales or shipments. |
| Historical Demand | Past demand used to evaluate trends and support forecasting decisions. |
| Forecast Period | A week, month, or other time period included in the forecast. |
| Planning Horizon | The range of future periods covered by the forecast. |
| Forecast Quantity | The expected demand for a product during a planning period. |
| Baseline Forecast | The initial forecast before planner adjustments are applied. |
| Manual Adjustment | A planner modification made to a forecast value. |
| Forecast Locking | Prevents forecast changes after a planning period has been approved. |
| Forecast Audit Log | Records changes made to forecast values, including who made the change and when. |
| Forecast Accuracy | Measures how closely the forecast matched actual demand. |
| Forecast Bias | Indicates whether forecasts consistently overestimate or underestimate demand. |
| Seasonality | Predictable demand patterns that repeat over time. |
| Promotion | A planned business event expected to influence future demand. |
| Exception | A forecast requiring planner review because it falls outside expected conditions. |
Examples #
Looking Up a Term
While reviewing a forecast, a planner notices that a future month has been Locked. Referring to this page explains that locked periods can no longer be edited through the normal forecasting process.
Understanding Forecast Accuracy
After the planning period ends, actual demand is compared to the forecast to evaluate Forecast Accuracy and identify opportunities for improvement.
Notes & Limitations #
- Definitions are intended as general reference information.
- Terminology may vary slightly depending on your organization’s planning process.
- Some forecasting features described in the knowledge base may not be enabled for every SAFIO implementation.
- This page provides concise definitions only. Refer to related articles for detailed explanations of forecasting concepts and workflows.