Inventory Forecasts & Flow

Visualize inventory projections and replenishment flows

Inventory Forecasts & Flow

The Forecast and Flow tabs provide visual representations of your inventory projections and supply chain movements. These tools help you understand future inventory states and how replenishment orders flow through your system.

Forecast Tab

The Forecast tab displays inventory projection charts that show expected stock levels over time.

Accessing the Forecast Tab

Navigate to Inventory → Forecast tab.

Understanding the Chart

The inventory forecast chart shows several key elements:

Current Projection

Blue solid line showing expected inventory based on current orders

Recommended Projection

Green dashed line showing inventory if system recommendations are accepted

Threshold Lines

Horizontal lines indicating safety stock, target, and overstock levels

Events

Markers showing supply and consumption events

Chart Elements

Element	Visual	Description
Current Stock	Blue solid line	Projected inventory with current orders
With Recommendations	Green dashed line	Projected inventory if recommendations are accepted
Safety Stock	Red dashed line	Minimum threshold
Target Stock	Yellow dashed line	Ideal inventory level
Overstock Threshold	Orange dashed line	Maximum before overstock

Reading the Chart

Healthy Inventory:

• Blue line stays above safety stock (red line)
• Line fluctuates near target (yellow line)
• Smooth transitions without sharp drops

Problem Areas:

• Line drops below safety stock = safety stock breach
• Line reaches zero = stockout
• Line above overstock threshold = excess inventory

Interacting with the Chart

Zoom and Pan:

• Use scroll to zoom in/out
• Click and drag to pan
• Double-click to reset view

Hover for Details:

• Hover over any point to see exact values
• Shows date, quantity, and any events on that day

Select SKU/Warehouse:

• Use filters to view specific SKU/warehouse combinations
• Compare different products side by side

Day-by-Day Navigation

Navigate through the projection day by day:

1. Use the date picker or arrow buttons
2. See inventory state for each specific day
3. View events (orders received, consumption) for that day

Event Analysis

Events are supply chain activities that affect inventory:

Supply Events

Event	Icon	Description
Order Placed	📋	Purchase order sent to supplier
Order Shipped	🚚	Order in transit
Order Received	📦	Inventory received at warehouse
Transfer Out	➡️	Inventory leaving warehouse
Transfer In	⬅️	Inventory arriving from transfer
Production Complete	🏭	Manufactured items added

Consumption Events

Event	Description
Sales Forecast	Projected daily sales consumption
Actual Sales	Recorded sales (historical)
Production Consumption	Materials used in manufacturing

Event Details Panel

Click on an event marker to see:

• Event type and date
• Quantities involved
• Source/destination
• Order or transaction reference

Flow Diagram Tab

The Flow Diagram provides a visual representation of replenishment flows between suppliers, warehouses, and destinations.

Accessing the Flow Tab

Navigate to Inventory → Flow tab.

Understanding the Diagram

The flow diagram shows:

[Suppliers] → [Warehouses] → [Channels/Destinations]
     ↓              ↓              ↓
  Purchase      Transfers       Fulfillment
  Orders

Diagram Elements

Element	Shape	Description
Supplier	Rectangle	External vendors
Warehouse	Rectangle	Inventory locations
Channel	Rectangle	Sales destinations
Flow Line	Arrow	Movement of goods
Flow Volume	Line thickness	Quantity being moved

Flow Information

Each flow line shows:

• Direction of movement
• Quantity or value
• Timeline (if applicable)
• Associated orders

Filtering the Flow

Focus the diagram on specific aspects:

By Time Period:

• View flows for next 30, 60, 90 days
• Historical flows
• Custom date range

By Warehouse:

• See flows to/from specific warehouses
• Compare warehouse activity

By SKU/Collection:

• Filter to specific products
• See flows for a product line

Using Forecasts for Planning

Identifying Issues

Look for these patterns:

Pattern	Indicates	Action
Projected stockout	Insufficient supply	Add orders
Sustained overstock	Too much inventory	Reduce orders
Sharp fluctuations	Unstable supply	Smooth order timing
Diverging lines	Recommendations available	Review and accept

Scenario Comparison

Compare current plan vs. recommended:

1. Current (blue) - What happens with existing orders
2. Recommended (green) - What happens if you accept recommendations
3. Gap - The difference represents improvement opportunity

Lead Time Visibility

The chart helps verify lead times:

1. Find order placement event
2. Find order receive event
3. Time between = actual lead time
4. Compare to configured lead time

Combining Forecast and Flow

Use both views together:

1. Identify Problem in Forecast

   See a projected stockout in the forecast chart

2. Review Flow Diagram

   Check if any orders are scheduled to arrive

3. Identify Gap

   Determine what’s missing (supplier order, transfer, etc.)

4. Take Action

   Create the appropriate order to fill the gap

Exporting Visualizations

Export charts for reporting:

1. Click the Export button
2. Choose format:
   • PNG - Image file
   • PDF - Document format
   • CSV - Raw data
3. Download or share

Best Practices

Regular Review Schedule

Check forecasts on a regular schedule:

• Daily: Next 2 weeks
• Weekly: Next 90 days
• Monthly: 6-12 month horizon

Validate Assumptions

Use the forecast to validate:

• Are lead times accurate?
• Is demand forecast reasonable?
• Are safety stock levels appropriate?

Compare Scenarios

Always compare current vs. recommended:

• Understand the impact of recommendations
• Make informed decisions about accepting them

Document Decisions

When you see issues:

• Screenshot the forecast
• Note the decision made
• Follow up to verify outcome

Troubleshooting

Chart Not Loading

Possible causes:

• Large data set taking time
• Filter returns no data
• Browser performance issue

Solutions:

1. Wait for loading to complete
2. Adjust filters to reduce data
3. Refresh the page

Unexpected Patterns

Possible causes:

• Incorrect forecast data
• Missing lead time configuration
• Order data not synced

Solutions:

1. Verify demand forecast accuracy
2. Check lead time settings
3. Ensure transactions are up to date

Next Steps

Supply Plan

Manage replenishment orders

Supply Simulation

Run what-if scenarios

Demand Forecasting

View and edit demand forecasts

Inventory Dashboard

Monitor inventory health