Forecast
Intended audience: END-USERS DATA SCIENCE DEVELOPERS
AO Easy Answers: 4.3
Overview
Through time series analysis, the Forecast insight identifies the evolving future trend based on the past behavior of the time series data.
Purpose
The purpose of forecasting is to predict future sales based on historical data, helping businesses identify regular patterns and cycles in product sales over time.
Business Example
Retail companies analyze sales data to uncover trends and recurring patterns that affect how products perform. By forecasting future sales, businesses can make informed decisions about inventory, marketing, and staffing.
Scenario
A retail company aims to determine if there are consistent patterns in the sales of a specific product. For example, they might find that sales increase during particular times of the year, such as the holiday season, or on specific days of the week, like weekends. Recognizing these patterns is crucial for the company to plan effectively.
If the analysis shows that sales consistently spike during the holidays, the company can forecast these increases and prepare by stocking up on inventory and ramping up marketing efforts ahead of time. Conversely, if they identify slower sales periods, they can plan promotional activities to encourage customer purchases during those times.
Results
By forecasting sales and analyzing periodic patterns, the company can better anticipate fluctuations in demand. This proactive approach allows them to optimize inventory levels, schedule marketing campaigns, and align staffing to meet expected sales. As a result, the company can allocate resources more efficiently, enhance customer satisfaction, and improve overall sales performance.
Data Sample
Date | Sales | Day of the Week | Month | Promotion | Holiday | Weather |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2022-01-01 00:00:00 | 24 | Saturday | January | No | FALSE | Snowy |
2022-01-02 00:00:00 | 34 | Sunday | January | No | FALSE | Snowy |
2022-01-03 00:00:00 | 15 | Monday | January | No | FALSE | Sunny |
2022-01-04 00:00:00 | 15 | Tuesday | January | No | FALSE | Snowy |
2022-01-05 00:00:00 | 20 | Wednesday | January | No | FALSE | Sunny |
2022-01-06 00:00:00 | 18 | Thursday | January | No | FALSE | Snowy |
2022-01-07 00:00:00 | 21 | Friday | January | No | FALSE | Rainy |
2022-01-08 00:00:00 | 39 | Saturday | January | No | FALSE | Sunny |
2022-01-09 00:00:00 | 33 | Sunday | January | No | FALSE | Sunny |
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