Supply Chain Forecasting Software Paperback – August 17, 2012

I am in the business of selling forecasting software. A well done review of the forecasting software landscape. I have never seen a book like this before. Ample opportunity for a second iteration...

In 2011 I came across Shaun Snapp's blog (scmfocus.com), and immediately took a liking. In particular, I was drawn to his independent and critical tone, and a willingness to challenge the "objectivity" of many commentators and advisors in the forecasting industry. He also takes a reasoned look at the common dogmas of our profession, with an eye to encouraging what can work, while exposing the marketing fluff and shoddy thinking of the really bad ideas. He is not just another cheerleader hyping the latest forecasting buzzword or fad.Shaun's book "Supply Chain Forecasting Software" is easy to get through, with points illustrated by screen shots from real forecasting software. The book is not a product-by-product review of the offerings of software vendors (which is what I was originally expecting). Instead, he covers several fundamental topics of a supply chain forecasting process (like statistical forecasting, consensus, collaboration, error management, and lifecycle planning). He also provides numerous links to blog posts where he goes into further detail on these and related topics.The chapter on attributes-based forecasting argues for the importance of flexible, user-defined hierarchies (as opposed to the static hierarchies that are defined and locked-in during implementation of many software packages.) An attribute is anything that is associated with a product, such as physical characteristic like color or size, or any other categorization (e.g. location, season, target audience). With flexible hierarchies, user can organize data, model, and generate forecasts in a way that is most suitable for the particular situation.There is also a chapter devoted to forecastable versus unforecastable products, which is an important consideration for anyone trying to manage a supply chain. Rather than expecting to achieve a high level of accuracy for all products, or wasting resources pursuing unachievable levels of accuracy, Shaun shares ideas for identifying and dealing with the unforecastable."Supply Chain Forecasting Software" would be a valuable read for organizations considering the selection of new forecasting software. It would also be useful to those organizations that have implemented forecasting systems and process, yet are failing to see the expected/promised results. This book can help any forecaster understand why their efforts may be failing, and what they can do about it.There is a more thorough review of this book by industry expert Jim Hoover (of Accenture's Federal Services Defense Practice) in the Summer 2013 issue of Foresight: The International Journal of Applied Forecasting.

Written from an actual hands-on well-experienced SAP software engineer, this guide is an invaluable tool for anyone involved within the realm of SAP and also just to aid in a better understanding of the ins and outs of the Manufacturing Supply Chain concept, business model and modules.Snapp utilizes real experiences from actual forecasting implementations to include clear, precise diagrams and charts to further illustrate his points.This is a great guide within the SCM Focus series. I have gotten 3 other books within the series and with the risk of being redundant, I feel they are all invaluable.

Mr. Snapp has a keen understanding of the functional and technical approaches to demand forecasting that work (and do not work) in organizations. He is a first rate consultant in all ways and clearly puts the interests of his clients (and readers) ahead of any commercial objectives. This is quite rare and I found it very refreshing.The book is about 250 pages long, but it is written in a conversational style and can be read in its entirety in one or two sittings. If you're considering purchasing or implementing a tool for demand planning, this would be a fast and very worthwhile read. And, if you have an older system, "Supply Chain Forecasting Software" will certainly broaden your horizons.The book provides detailed information about a handful of bundled and standalone solutions. If developed further in future editions, I would recommend seeking information on other systems as well.