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Small and medium business | Business Central, N...
Answered

Demand Forecasts - Upload or Edit in Excel?

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Posted on by 5

Hi everyone, 

I work in a small-medium sized company and wanted to start using the "Planning Worksheets" for inventory management. However in order to do so I need to have sales forecast in the system. 

I've gone to "Demand Forecast" and have read and followed the instructions found here: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-au/dynamics365/business-central/production-how-to-create-a-forecast

Our company has around 40 finished goods SKUs that we sell and we have 12 month rolling forecasts. That's around 480 cells of forecast information to enter manually into the "Demand Forecast Matrix" which could potentially change each month when forecasts are updated. 

As our 12 month rolling forecast information is currently in Excel is there a simple way to upload/paste this information into the "Demand Forecast Matrix"?

I've managed to get click the "Edit in Excel" button on the "Demand Forecast Entries" but I'm not able to publish the changes I make in Excel - I get the following error message: 'Entity does not support insert. CorrelationId: 3b5a3063-fd15-4483-bea6-6cc233b5f8ed.'

Currently using Version: US Business Central 18.3 (Platform 18.0.27224.29197 + Application 18.3.27240.27381)

Thanks,
John

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  • Suggested answer
    JAngle Profile Picture
    133 on at

    This is an area that has been enhanced by offerings on app source. Do a search for appsource demand forecasting and you will see some of the business central apps available. Otherwise it will take some modifications like enabling edit in excel for a start. You could go as far as creating an excel import based on the current excel being used. I expect the appsource propositions offer something or up to date

  • Verified answer
    Community Member Profile Picture
    on at

    John,

    Adding to what Josh replied... Demand Forecasting, to make entry easier, I have always written a small extension to Export and Import the Forecast. However, as Josh noted, I would look at the APP's available. The APP's, like StockIQ or Lanham you can apply Historical , Seasonal, and other trends and algorithms. I would look at them before deciding.

    https://www.stockiqtech.com/

    www.lanhamassoc.com/demand-planning.htm

    Thanks,

    Steve

  • John-Elixinol Profile Picture
    5 on at

    Thanks for the reply Josh! I'll take a look at the apps and see what's available.

    Interestingly my 'edit in excel' does work for other tasks eg General Journals - I was thinking it might not be set up to work with the Demand Forecast Entries in BC.

  • John-Elixinol Profile Picture
    5 on at

    Thanks for the reply Steve! Amazing that you are able to write small extensions like that. Will have a look at the apps.

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