Planning and forecasting in a dynamic corporate world
Better forecasts, smarter planning - this is how it works!
Efficient control processes for successful decisions
In a world that is changing ever faster, companies are faced with the challenge of continuously adapting their planning and forecasting processes. While planning sets the direction and defines corporate goals, forecasting enables a realistic assessment of future developments.
Only when both elements are optimally interlinked can a company be managed flexibly and purposefully.
Why planning and forecasting are essential
All corporate management is based on two fundamental questions:
Where is the company heading? (Forecasting)
Where should it develop? (planning)
Without well-founded forecasts, companies make decisions on an uncertain basis. Without clear goals, there is a lack of strategic direction. Successful management therefore requires both: a realistic assessment of the future and a strategic roadmap.
Checklist: Important success factors for planning & forecasting
- Clear definition of corporate goals
- Integration of all relevant areas of the company
- Consideration of uncertainties & risks
- Use of modern technologies for data analysis
- Regular review and adjustment of processes
Requirements for modern planning and forecasting processes
1. speed and flexibility
In dynamic markets, companies have to react quickly to changes. A forecast that takes weeks to produce is often outdated by the time it is finished. Planning and forecasts should therefore be updated regularly.
Optimization measures:
Using automated data analysis
Use rolling forecasts instead of rigid annual forecasts
Understanding planning and forecasting as a continuous process
2. Effizienz durch Automatisierung
Viele Unternehmen verschwenden wertvolle Ressourcen durch manuelle Datenerfassung und ineffiziente Abstimmungsprozesse. Der Einsatz moderner Softwarelösungen wie CoPlanner kann den Aufwand erheblich reduzieren.
Empfohlene Tools:
ERP- und BI-Systeme zur Datenintegration
Künstliche Intelligenz für prädiktive Analysen
Automatisierte Berichte und Dashboards
3. Integration relevanter Informationen
Ein Forecast ist nur so gut wie die Daten, auf denen er basiert. Finanzielle, operative und strategische Informationen müssen zusammengeführt werden, um ein realistisches Gesamtbild zu erhalten. Damit sind Datenqualität und eine zentrale Plattform für die Planung entscheidend und notwendig.
Beispielhafte Integration:
Personalplanung beeinflusst Kosten und Umsätze
Vertriebsprognosen bestimmen Produktionskapazitäten
Marktanalysen helfen bei der strategischen Ausrichtung
Forecasting as the basis for corporate management
Modern forecasting should not show wishful thinking and unrealistic expectations, but rather provide a realistic assessment of what could happen in the future. Methods that work with probabilities (probabilistic forecasting methods) are increasingly being used for this purpose. These methods do not specify fixed values, but show the probability with which various things could occur (probability distributions).
Checklist: Effective forecasting
- Integration of all relevant business areas
- Use of machine learning and statistical models
- Consideration of multiple scenarios (best/worst-case analyses)
- Regular adaptation to new findings and market changes
Example forecasting methods:
Models for time series forecasts
Simulations for risk analysis
AI-supported predictive analytics
Target setting and planning as the second control pillar
While the forecast shows where a company is heading, planning defines where it should be heading strategically. This objective should be realistic, ambitious and underpinned by concrete measures.
- Best practices for effective planning:
- Top-down approach: corporate strategy as the starting point
- Counterflow method: Combination of central specifications and decentralized validation
- Scenario planning: consideration of alternative market developments
Checklist: Successful target planning
- Defining strategic corporate goals
- Link financial and operational key figures
- Ensure target achievement through action planning
- Regular adjustment to market developments
Measures to optimize planning & forecasting
1. digitalization and automation
The implementation of integrated planning platforms makes it possible to link different data sources and make processes more efficient. One such platform is CoPlanner, for example.
2. change management
The best technology is useless if there is a lack of acceptance within the company. Structured change management ensures that new planning and forecasting methods are introduced successfully.
Important measures:
Training for employees
Early involvement of the specialist departments
Transparent communication of the benefits
Checklist for the successful implementation of the change management process in controlling
- Select suitable software solutions
- Involve and train employees at an early stage
- Define clear responsibilities and processes
- Regular success monitoring and feedback loops