Generating Forecasts for MFP

Before you can complete an MFP implementation, you must set up and run forecasting within AI Foundation Cloud Services. Review the steps below for the initial setup of Forecasting:

1. In Manage Forecast Configurations in the AI Foundation UI, start by setting up a run type in the Setup train stop.

2. Click the + icon above the table and fill in the fields in the popup. For MFP forecasting, the forecast method should be selected as Automatic Exponential Smoothing.

3. Create a run type for each forecast measure/forecast intersection combination that is required for MFP.

4. Create test runs in the Test train stop once you are done setting up the run types:

   1. Click a run type in the top table, then click on the + icon in the bottom table to create a run.

   2. If necessary, change the configurations parameters for the estimation process and forecast process in their respective tabs in the Create Run popup.

      For example, if you want to test a run using Bayesian method, edit the Estimation Method parameter in the Estimation tab using the edit icon above the table.

   3. After modifying and reviewing the configuration parameters, click the Submit button to start the run.

5. Once the run is complete, the status changes to Forecast Generation Complete.

Doing test runs is an optional step. In addition to that, you will need to modify and review the configurations of the run type, activate the run type, enable auto-approve and map the run type to the downstream application (in this case to MFP). In the Manage train stop, select a row, click Edit Configurations Parameters and edit the estimation and forecast parameters as needed. Once you are done, go to Review tab, click Validate, then close the tab.

Note:

If the run type is active, you will only be able to view the parameters. To edit the parameters, the run type must be inactive.

To activate the run type and enable the auto-approve, select a run type in the table and click the corresponding buttons above the table. Lastly, to map the run type to MFP, go to the Map train stop and click the + icon to create a new mapping.

When configuring forecasts for the MFP base implementation, the following list of forecast runs may be required, and you will want to configure and test each run type following the general workflow above. Additional runs can be added to satisfy your MFP implementation requirements.

Note:

The “Channel” level in MFP is often referred to as “Area” level in RI and AI Foundation, so be sure to select the correct levels which align to your hierarchy.

MFP Plan	MFP Levels	Method	Data Source	Measure
MFP Merch Target	Department-Channel-Week	Auto ES	Store Sales	Regular and Promotion Gross Sales Amt
MFP Merch Target	Department-Channel-Week	Auto ES	Store Sales	Clearance Gross Sales Amt
MFP Merch Target	Department-Channel-Week	Auto ES	Store Sales	Regular and Promotion Gross Sales Unit
MFP Merch Target	Department-Channel-Week	Auto ES	Store Sales	Clearance Gross Sales Unit
MFP Merch Target	Department-Channel-Week	Auto ES	Store Sales	Total Returns Amount
MFP Merch Target	Department-Channel-Week	Auto ES	Store Sales	Total Returns Units
MFP Merch Plan	Subclass-Channel-Week	Auto ES	Store Sales	Regular and Promotion Gross Sales Amt
MFP Merch Plan	Subclass-Channel-Week	Auto ES	Store Sales	Clearance Gross Sales Amt
MFP Merch Plan	Subclass-Channel-Week	Auto ES	Store Sales	Regular and Promotion Gross Sales Unit
MFP Merch Plan	Subclass-Channel-Week	Auto ES	Store Sales	Clearance Gross Sales Unit
MFP Merch Plan	Subclass-Channel-Week	Auto ES	Store Sales	Total Returns Amount
MFP Merch Plan	Subclass-Channel-Week	Auto ES	Store Sales	Total Returns Units
MFP Location Target	Company-Location-Week	Auto ES	Store Sales	Total Gross Sales Amount
MFP Location Target	Company-Location-Week	Auto ES	Store Sales	Total Gross Sales Unit
MFP Location Target	Company-Location-Week	Auto ES	Store Sales	Total Returns Amount
MFP Location Target	Company-Location-Week	Auto ES	Store Sales	Total Returns Units
MFP Location Plan	Department-Location-Week	Auto ES	Store Sales	Total Gross Sales Amount
MFP Location Plan	Department-Location-Week	Auto ES	Store Sales	Total Gross Sales Unit
MFP Location Plan	Department-Location-Week	Auto ES	Store Sales	Total Returns Amount
MFP Location Plan	Department-Location-Week	Auto ES	Store Sales	Total Returns Units