What is the role of demand planners in a company?

The role of demand planners in a company is primarily focused on analyzing data to forecast future demand for products. This involves utilizing historical sales data, market trends, and other relevant information to predict customer needs and purchasing behavior. By accurately forecasting demand, companies can optimize their supply chain operations, align inventory levels, and ensure that they meet customer expectations without overproducing or understocking.

Demand planners play a crucial role in bridging the gap between supply and demand. Their analysis helps in making informed decisions that impact sourcing, production scheduling, and inventory management. Although other roles such as sourcing raw materials, scheduling production, and managing inventory are vital components of the supply chain process, the specific focus of demand planners is on understanding and predicting future market needs, thus enhancing the effectiveness of the overall planning process within the organization.