Main Responsibilities and Required Skills for a Demand Planner

A Demand Planner is a professional who is responsible for forecasting and managing the demand for products or services within an organization. They utilize various analytical tools and techniques to analyze historical data, market trends, and customer insights in order to predict future demand accurately. In this blog post, we describe the primary responsibilities and the most in-demand hard and soft skills for Demand Planners.

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Main Responsibilities of a Demand Planner

The following list describes the typical responsibilities of a Demand Planner:

Achieve

Achieve consensus with the business side and the demand chain.

Address

Address demand-related issues in a timely and effective manner.

Align with

Align with the business team to translate promotional volume into volume to be shipped.

Analyze

Analyze actual performance to the forecast and initiate appropriate corrective actions.
Analyze and support a closed feedback loop with sales and marketing monthly on market intelligence.
Analyze historical sales data to identify patterns and trends.
Analyze historical sales trends to support baseline forecast assumptions.
Analyze, identify and implement opportunities for improvements to the forecasting process.
Analyze performance of forecasted items & initiate appropriate corrective actions.
Analyze sales (e.g., determine the quantitative demands of products).
Analyze supply issues and plan actions to improvement supply chain efficiency and responsiveness.
Analyze the Demand Accuracy KPIs, drive improvement action and accountability.

Balance

Balance inventory objectives with service levels.

Build

Build new tools to improve overall process and input utilization and tracking.
Build productive internal / external working relationships.

Buy

Buy plan and projection, Placing POs (BUY) on time.

Challenge

Challenge the assumptions and status quo when needed.

Collaborate with

Collaborate with buyers (e.g., work on sourcing strategies).
Collaborate with customer service teams to manage demand fluctuations and prioritize customer orders.
Collaborate with finance teams to align demand forecasts with financial goals.
Collaborate with key partners in Sales, Marketing and Finance to obtain consistent forecast inputs.
Collaborate with PMSC and Pendopharm when product allocation is needed.
Collaborate with production and procurement teams to align demand forecasts with supply capabilities.
Collaborate with Quality on vendor performance.
Collaborate with regional planners to manage shorted dated / expiry stock.
Collaborate with sales and marketing teams to gather market intelligence.

Collect

Collect, analyze and validate data that will be used to promote inventory health.

Communicate

Communicate any gaps between the plans.
Communicate buying plans to manufacturing partners / suppliers.
Communicate key supply shortages to respective customers / account managers.
Communicate risk & opportunity in the forecast.

Conduct

Conduct analyses to determine upcoming demand.
Conduct demand sensitivity analysis based on pricing and promotional activities.
Conduct monthly retail meetings, update assortment plan with actual results and selling trends.
Conduct regular demand planning meetings with cross-functional teams.
Conduct scenario analysis and sensitivity testing to assess the impact on demand forecasts.

Confirm

Confirm Supplier delivery dates matching PO details.

Consolidate

Consolidate forecasts from all functional areas.

Contribute to

Contribute to the development of new concepts, techniques, and standards.
Contribute to the improvement of our business processes in order to optimize the performance of.

Coordinate

Coordinate and provide direction to the team for problem-solving and risk mitigation strategies.
Coordinate forecasts, seasonal plans, and promotions with suppliers and distribution teams.
Coordinate new product launches and phase-outs with the appropriate teams.

Create

Create demand forecasts through cross-functional alignment.

Define

Define and maintain both the overall demand for finished products as well as for its major accounts.

Deliver

Deliver reports and analysis on time, coming up with contingency plans when necessary.

Determine

Determine the effectivity of promotions and adjust demand plan accordingly.

Develop

Develop and communicates future demand plans that drive supply chain planning processes.
Develop and ensures compliance with common templates for key stakeholders within IBP process.
Develop and maintain demand forecasting models and algorithms.
Develop and maintain strong relationships with suppliers and vendors.
Develop demand forecasts at multiple levels of aggregation (profit center, region, customer, sku).
Develop demand forecasts (operational forecasts).
Develop detailed understanding and ownership of each channel's demand.
Develop effective forecast models based on historical sales trends and demand drivers.
Develop initial forecast modeling based on historical data and causalfactors.
Develop monthly rolling forecasts at multiple levels of aggregation and time horizons.
Develop new strategies to improve safety stock levels.
Develop sales to retail volume plan for the business.
Develop size ratios for new styles.

Direct

Direct influence on business performance including top and bottom line.

Document

Document and communicate risks and opportunities related to the plan / forecasts.
Document and share best practices within Demand Planning team.

Drive

Drive Best-in-Class Customer Service.
Drive improvement through analysis of implemented but untapped data streams.
Drive monthly forecast roll review with affiliates and prepare updates to division.
Drive overall Monthly forecast accuracy target and run reports.
Drive process improvements to improve forecast error.
Drive the S& OP, commercial forecasting processes.
Drive weekly Demand Execution review with affiliates and division for appropriate actions.

Ensure

Ensure compliance requirements are current.
Ensure demand forecast satisfies lead-time requirements.
Ensure that all Quality and GMPs standard are followed.

Establish

Establish and implement procedures and systems for all SIOP activities.

Evaluate

Evaluate and integrate external data sources for demand forecasting.
Evaluate and measure forecast accuracy and bias results against objectives / plan.
Evaluate forecast results and recommend changes to increase the accuracy of the forecast models.
Evaluate the accuracy of demand forecasts and identify areas for improvement.

Facilitate

Facilitate analytics-based portfolio management / rationalization process.
Facilitate and manage demand planning / customer meetings.
Facilitate and manage the Sales and Operational Planning meetings on a monthly basis (S&OP).
Facilitate monthly Demand meetings with Sales, Marketing, Finance, and Supply Chain partners.

Forecast

Forecast accuracy, stock targets and aged / slow-moving stock.
Forecast demand for different products or services based on historical data and market trends.

Foster

Foster a culture of continuous improvement and data-driven decision-making within the organization.

Generate

Generate and execute weekly inventory and WIP updates.
Generate reports and present insights to management and stakeholders.

Highlight

Highlight inventory risk (potential OOS and IQV) in a timeous manner to the LT.

Identify

Identify and analyze internal and external factors that can influence demand.
Identify and mitigate potential risks and supply chain disruptions.
Identify and quantify risks \u0026amp.
Identify and resolve demand planning discrepancies and issues.
Identify gaps and improve process.

Implement

Implement and improve demand planning processes and best practices.

Influence

Influence those outside of direct control, resolve conflicts to deliver consensus forecasts.

Interact with

Interact with sales, marketing, customers and finance to understand demand forecast drivers.

Interpret

Interpret the key trends impacting individual channel / account performance.

Lead

Lead collaborative planning process with cross functional partners.
Lead formal in-market S&OP process with Commercial, Finance, Medical and Regulatory to ensure.
Lead key strategic initiatives or projects individually or on cross-functional teams.
Lead monthly Sales meetings.

Leverage

Leverage results with the organization in order to drive corrective action.

Liaise with

Liaise with Supply Planning to investigate gaps between forecasts, planned commitments and actuals.

Maintain

Maintain and leverage Ladder plans to ensure forecasts are in line with POS at Retail.
Maintain monthly demand planning scorecard related to KPI's and targets.
Maintain ongoing forecast accuracy improvements YoY.
Maintain records and requirements for audit compliance.
Maintain reports on sales / demand forecast accuracy.
Maintain SKU replenishment master data.

Make

Make it happen” with operational excellence and agility.

Manage

Manage all forecast codes at the sku level and maintain with accuracy.
Manage and monitor sales metrics to help ensure focus on the right accounts / activities.
Manage and optimize demand planning software and tools.
Manage and own the demand planning execution for UI Europe, including cross-cluster demand signal.
Manage forecast for respective sales aids.
Manage market-to-market transfers.
Manage product allocations for their products as required as per supply insights.
Manage the rolling 27 month item level Demand forecast for a given business within SAP IBP.
Manage timely new item and version change setups.
Manage weekly markdown process across the portfolio, in system and alignment with stakeholders.

Meet

Meet monthly with BAMs from all sub-regions of designated focus region.
Meet with quotations leads monthly.

Minimize

Minimize Compliance Charges, and participate in post-audit reviews (as needed).

Monitor

Monitor and analyze competitor activities and market trends.
Monitor and track inventory levels to ensure optimal stock availability.
Monitor and track key performance indicators (KPIs) related to demand planning.
Monitor existing and incoming inventory.
Monitor system functions and assures proper interfaces between systems.
Monitor trends in forecast error.

Optimize

Optimize inventory levels to minimize holding costs while meeting customer demand.

Oversee

Oversee demand planning and manage processes for new products.

Own

Own Supply & Demand inputs to NPI meetings.

Participate in

Participate in cross-functional projects and initiatives to improve overall business performance.
Participate in monthly meetings with some customers.
Participate in the long range planning activities.
Participate in the Sales & Operations planning process.
Participate in the volume forecast annual review.

Perform

Perform ad hoc analyses, as required, in support of contingency planning.
Perform Ad-hoc analysis to measure and report on usage trends.
Perform and delivers against standard and ad hoc customer requirements.
Perform as a systems super-user to investigate and recommend system efficiency improvements.
Perform gap analysis on forecast plan between Demand forecast and Financial forecast systems.
Perform other work-related duties as assigned.
Perform special analysis when required.
Perform special assignments as required by Senior management.

Plan

Plan and reserve the stock for new openings and manage the stock from closures.
Plan, organize, and manage all Demand Planning activities.

Prepare

Prepare analysis, reports and statistics related to Demand Planning and forecasting function.
Prepare and disseminate style introduction data for the organization.
Prepare information for the S&OP Process Meeting #1.
Prepare, report, and communicate on KPI's.
Prepare reports to identify priorities and opportunities.
Prepare S&OP template for S&OP management review and is prepared to justify actions.
Prepare various reports on a monthly or as needed basis for customer care team.

Propose

Propose and coordinate Supply Project and trouble solutions related to this scope.
Propose sales forecast based on observations, knowledge and assessments.

Provide

Provide actionable meaningful intelligence regarding the demand plan and fluctuations.
Provide expert input into the key market core commercial cycle meetings.
Provide forecasting KPI reports, Monthly Inventory reporting & analytics.
Provide forecast insight during team meetings.
Provide forecast updates and escalations to appropriate meetings e.g. S& OP Board.
Provide guidance, mentorship and leadership and overall governance of the demand process.
Provide input and feedback to advance the statistical modeling process.
Provide input for sales and operations planning (S&OP) meetings.
Provide input into S&OP supply planning process.
Provide inputs to the Inventory planning on existing items and new products.
Provide input to the justification process for production and purchasing decisions.
Provide insight into root causes of forecast error.
Provide internal support to the business to create custom reports when needed.
Provide key inputs and assumptions of forecast to key stakeholders.
Provide observations & recommendations to all stakeholders.
Provide recommendations on portfolio mix and continuous improvements to senior leadership.
Provide support to supply chain to ensure accurate forecasting visibility.
Provide updates to the Operations Director as appropriate.

Raise

Raise demand issues in a constructive manner, and escalate when required.

Request

Request purchase orders from the procurement teams to match the purchase plan with suppliers.
Request for accommodation can be made at any stage of the recruitment process.

Resolve

Resolve accurate forecasts for replenishment, promotional sales, new item forecasting and planning.

Review

Review and adjust demand forecasts based on market changes and business goals.
Review market forecast analysis to determine customer volume patterns with sales and marketing.
Review monthly Regional forecasts with the 3 regions.
Review promotional plans with sales and marketing.
Review sales forecasts in promotional plan presentations.
Review weekly forecast split within each month for assigned region (e.g. correct for holidays).

Seek

Seek and shares best practices across team to lift overall team competencies.
Seek out new suppliers to drive cost improvements or diversify our supply chain.

Set

Set new working and release processes and followed up on execution to prevent product shortage.

Share best practice across the Area, ensure alignment where appropriate.

Show

Show continuous improvement in forecast accuracy across various lead time lags.

Stay updated with

Stay updated with industry trends, market dynamics, and emerging technologies in demand planning.

Supervise

Supervise and ensure consistency of forecasts for customers, products and distribution centers.

Support

Support ad hoc analysis and problem solving.
Support monthly and seasonal inventory management activities.
Support team by covering other areas of the supply chain as needed.
Support the buyers and management with risk assessments and mitigation activities.
Support various cross-functional teams on ad-hoc market research and data analytics tasks.

Take

Take accurate measurements of longer term trends such as overall market and revenue growth.

Track

Track and reconcile weekly / monthly metrics versus established targets.

Train

Train and mentor junior demand planning team members.

Translate

Translate demand signals into an executable demand plan by business.

Update

Update backlog and confirm availability for review at planning meetings.
Update internal customers and sales team about product availability.

Use

Use and maintain the Demand Planning software (Demantra) as the primary forecasting system tool.

Work with

Work across peer group to lead and participate in major process improvement activities.
Work closely with BI division on improving our overall demand planning reporting and processes.
Work closely with Supply Chain to achieve these goals.
Work with 10-15 suppliers to determine material availability and lead time.
Work with continuous improvement of systems and processes.
Work with internal partners to create, document and implement business processes.
Work with Management on any tasks assigned.
Work with sales and operations personnel on demand expansions and reductions.
Work with Supply Chain Manager for production plan.
Work with the Head of Planning & Distribution to drive process, system and accuracy improvements.
Work with the team to drive process and accuracy improvements.

Most In-demand Hard Skills

The following list describes the most required technical skills of a Demand Planner:

Advanced knowledge of demand planning methodologies and techniques.
Proficiency in statistical analysis and forecasting software.
Expertise in data analysis and manipulation using tools like Excel or SQL.
Experience with demand planning software and enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems.
Understanding of supply chain management principles and practices.
Ability to interpret and analyze large datasets.
Knowledge of inventory management and optimization strategies.
Proficiency in data visualization tools like Tableau or Power BI.
Familiarity with advanced forecasting techniques, such as time series analysis or regression analysis.
Strong understanding of market dynamics and consumer behavior.
Ability to work with cross-functional teams and stakeholders.
Knowledge of sales and operations planning (S&OP) processes.
Experience with demand sensing and demand-driven planning.
Familiarity with demand-driven supply chain concepts.
Proficiency in using forecasting and planning software, such as SAP APO or Oracle Demantra.
Understanding of SKU rationalization and portfolio management.
Knowledge of statistical modeling and simulationtechniques.
Ability to conduct scenario analysis and what-if simulations.
Proficiency in data mining and predictive analytics.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

Most In-demand Soft Skills

The following list describes the most required soft skills of a Demand Planner:

Strong communication skills to effectively collaborate with cross-functional teams and stakeholders.
Excellent attention to detail to ensure accuracy in demand forecasting.
Analytical thinking and critical reasoning abilities.
Strong organizational and time management skills.
Adaptability and flexibility to navigate changing market conditions.
Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines.
Strong negotiation and influencing skills.
Proactive mindset and ability to take initiative.
Strong leadership and team management skills.
Excellent decision-making and problem-solving abilities.

Conclusion

Demand Planners play a vital role in ensuring that organizations meet customer demand efficiently and effectively. By accurately forecasting demand and collaborating with various teams, they contribute to the optimization of inventory levels, reduction of costs, and improvement of customer satisfaction. To excel in this role, professionals need to possess a combination of technical skills related to demand planning methodologies, data analysis, and forecasting techniques. Additionally, strong soft skills such as communication, attention to detail, and adaptability are crucial for success.