Sales forecasting data flow: which procedures are responsible for updating sales figures in the market forecast file?

Introduction / Context:
Organizations maintain different files for analytics: sales analysis files summarize historical performance, market research files hold survey and panel data, and market forecast files contain projected sales by period, product, and region. The question asks which procedures update the sales figures within the forecast repository specifically.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• “Market forecast file” holds projected, not purely historical, sales.
• Sales analysis focuses on past data, KPIs, and variance analysis.
• Market research contributes inputs (demand signals), but forecasting logic performs the update of forecasts.

Concept / Approach:
Sales forecasting procedures generate and revise projections using time-series methods, causal models, or judgmental inputs. They write those projections to the market forecast file. Sales analysis and market research provide inputs and context but do not typically perform the writing/updating of forecasted sales figures as a primary system function.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:
In S&OP and demand planning tools, forecast engines write to forecast tables; analytics and research feed them but do not directly update forecast outputs.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Sales analysis: historical and variance focus.
• Market research: raw demand signals and insights, not the projection writer.
• All/None: overinclusive or contradictory given system roles.

Common Pitfalls:
Assuming any demand-related activity writes forecasts; only the forecasting procedure should commit forecast values to the forecast store.

Final Answer:
sales forecasting procedures