Demand Forecasting & PlanningCOO18 min read

How to Fix Planner Coding: Capturing Unforeseen Events in Forecasting in 90 Days for Growing Brands

Manual planner coding to capture unforeseen demand events often introduces inventory and working capital risk. This blog outlines a 90-day roadmap for improving override practices.

Planner Coding Requires Structural Improvement

Growing brands often rely on manual planner coding to capture unforeseen demand events such as viral trends or supply disruptions.

However, override logic must evolve to maintain forecast reliability as SKU portfolios expand.

Override improvement is a planning maturity milestone.

Phase 1: Event Classification

Planning teams should classify unforeseen demand events into structural categories.

This enables targeted override application.

Phase 2: Baseline Separation

Baseline consumption should be modeled independently from event-driven uplift.

Overrides applied to uplift components improve forecast stability.

Phase 3: Override Governance

Override logic should be reviewed periodically to ensure alignment with demand drivers.

Ungoverned adjustments introduce forecast distortion.

Phase 4: Procurement Alignment

Procurement policies should reflect anticipated uplift.

Supplier lead times must be mapped against event windows.

Phase 5: Scenario Planning

Planning teams should evaluate multiple demand outcomes tied to unforeseen events.

Scenario-based planning improves procurement timing.

Organizational Impact

Improved override practices enhance inventory alignment.

Working capital stability increases as procurement decisions align with anticipated consumption patterns.

Toward Event-Aware Forecasting

For growing brands, improving planner coding is essential to capturing unforeseen demand variability accurately.

Override practices must evolve into structured scenario evaluation mechanisms.

Improve override practices with AI-native demand planning.

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