Traditional demand planning systems have reached their limits, with key forecasting metrics remaining essentially flat for the past five years, says Terra Technology's sixth annual Forecasting Benchmark Study.
So-called "growth through innovation" strategies continue to drive supply chain complexity at a rapid pace, making it harder for businesses to forecast, according to the 2014 Terra Technology Forecasting Benchmark Study. Data shows that demand planning has reached a performance ceiling with forecast value-added declining for a second year.
North American supply chains became more complex in 2012 as the economy continued to recover. Rapid innovation, higher seasonal sales and increased reliance on promotions contributed to make forecasting more challenging. These and other findings are contained in the Terra Technology Forecasting Benchmark Study, now in its fourth year.
The CPG industry faced another year of demand volatility, marked by continued economic turbulence and weak consumer confidence, according to the Terra Technology Forecasting Benchmark Study.