Goal: Forecast demand at both material group and customer location levels

Demand planning is carried out at both material group and customer location level in the external system based on the historical data collected from R/3. The results are fed back into R/3. The following procedure is a typical example:

1. Collect demand history into information structure S125 by using Sale Information System.
2. Initiate data exchange between R/3 and the external system:
1. Select required master data (material master, customer master, etc.).
2. Select required demand history data (S125).
3. Aggregate demand history at material group level and customer level. Carry out the forecasting.
4. Initiate data exchange between external system and R/3:
1. Upload the forecasting results into the sales row of the SOP planning table.
2. Use the sales forecast to plan production.