Title: SAP’s All-In-One Demand Forecasting
Functionality: What needs doing for SMEs
Abstract: The
continued pressure to automate business processes has lead to the adoption
of increasingly sophisticated computer based tools. Fully integrated business
enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems have been widely used in very
large companies. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are also seeking the
advantages of integrated business systems. The significant investment required
for a fully integrated corporate system is beyond the means of SMEs. Vendors
of ERPs have recently reconfigured their systems in a form that targets SMEs.
We describe the forecasting functionality of the SAP offering, along with
the underlying forecasting methods it employs. Since there are nine major
forecasting models employed in the All-in-One offering, we survey the literature
in an attempt to identify which model might best meet the needs of the SME
market. We report our findings.
Authors: Peter
M. Catt and R.H. Barbour