Forecast Rules

This article is part of weekly forecasting and covers Forecast Rules. 

With this feature, users can create rule groups made up of user-customized forecast rules. Forecast rules are automations made up of a trigger and an action. These forecast rules are applied to their assigned location(s) to change the default projection behavior. Forecast rules are used to improve the accuracy of projections on special days like holidays or days in which there are coupon drops, limited-time offers, or promotions.

Before creating a forecast rule, users must first create a rule group and assign the rule group to any location(s) that the rules should apply. A location can only be assigned to one rule group. 

After creating a rule group, individual forecast rules can be created to add to the rule group. 

Forecast rules are only available to users in Weekly Forecasting.

Security

Navigation

Forecast Settings Rules Tab

Rule Groups Grid

The Rule Groups grid shows users the following details:

Add a New Rule Group Wizard

The Add a New Rule Group wizard has three sections:

• Details

• Rules

• Priority

Details

The Details section requires users to include the following information:

Rules

From the Rules sections, users can create individual forecast rules to configure automations that will apply to the forecast(s).

When the +Add Rule button is clicked, users will be prompted to configure the rule automation. Learn more about creating a forecast rule here. 

Users can add as many rules as needed. When all rules are added, click Continue to move on to the final step in the wizard. Rules can later be edited or added at any time from the Rule Group Details.

Priority

From the Priority section, users can sort the rules in order of their priority by dragging and dropping the rules into the desired position. When a date meets the criteria of more than one rule, the topmost rule will take priority. The priority of the rules can later be edited at any time from the Rule Group Details. 

Rule Group Details

From the Rule Group Details, users can manage the selected rule group. This includes creating and editing forecast rules.

Duplicate a Rule Group

Users can duplicate a group to create a new rule group with the same exact forecast rules without having to recreate each rule. 

To do this, open the Rule Group that needs to be duplicated. Then, click the action menu icon. From the dropdown, click Duplicate. 

This will open a new rule group with the name Copy of [Rule Group Name]. The same list of forecast rules will be listed. The rule group name and assigned locations can be edited before clicking Save. 

Create and Edit a Forecast Rule

Forecast rules can be created upon creation of a new rule group. Once a rule group is created, forecast rules can then be added or edited at any time from the Rule Group Details.

Creating or editing a forecast rule requires users to assign a name and configure a rule automation that includes both a trigger and an action. Learn more about creating and editing a forecast rule here. 

Apply Forecast Rules to Projections

When forecast rules have been created or edited, the rules will automatically be applied to all future-generated projection dates that match the trigger criteria at the assigned location(s).

If a projection has already been generated or is already published, the projection will need to be recalculated in order for the forecast rules to apply. Learn more about recalculating to apply forecast rules to projection dates here. 

Any projection dates with zero dollar sales ($0) will be automatically excluded from forecast projections calculated through forecast rules.