Demand Planning Analyst - SAP

Salary: 100,000 Ksh gross

A Demand Planner specializes in carrying out research and analysis to predict consumer demand so as to manage inventory and guide supply chain operations. This role engages in a variety of tasks such as creating and maintaining forecast models for customers, as well as incorporating business intelligence and forecasting information gathered from other areas such as sales, marketing, finance, development, and supply. A demand planner leads the discussion each month for meeting customer demand with these counterparts in the organization.  

Demand planners must take into account data from many sources when arriving at their forecasts. These sources may include past sales data, advertising and marketing budgets and priorities, the actions of distributors and retailers, natural disasters, weather, and sometimes political and social events.

Some of the general activities of a demand planner’s work include:

•   Tracking product inventory 

•   Maintaining knowledge of and understanding of current and future trends

•   Generating progress reports and presentations

•   Identifying forecast changes

Some core responsibilities of a demand planner include:

•   Collecting data from internal and external sources on factors known to affect demand 

•   Analyzing sales, stock, and other data statistics

•   Reviewing historical sales trends

•   Modeling the data to forecast future demand

•   Obtaining information on occurrences that could impact demand like promotions and production delays

•   Gathering updates on vendors, distributors, sales, and other stakeholders that can affect demand

•   Developing demand forecasts at multiple levels of aggregation for multiple time horizons

•   Coordinating cross-functional research activities to reconcile significant variances

•   Interacting with sales, marketing, and customer finance to understand demand forecast drivers

•   Using and maintaining the demand planning software 

•   Providing input to the supply planning organization in developing inventory strategies on existing items, new products, and product phase-outs

•   Refining systems and methods to improve forecasts in order to better anticipate customer needs

Required and Desired Skills

To be a successful Demand Planner, you need to have a set of skills that include analytical capabilities, strong business discernment and judgment, and an ability to influence decisions by working across different organizational functions beyond the supply chain. These are a mixture of “hard” analytical skills and “soft” interpersonal and presentation skills. Like with other positions, experience in supply chain is the strongest qualification; however, there are continuing education and volunteer opportunities that can strengthen your skill set for this position. 

It is possible to progress into demand planning from several other areas in an organization such as contract management, procurement, operation analysis, and trade compliance. Having exposure to inventory management and procurement can be an avenue for moving into this role.

Here is a list of some required skills for a demand planner:

•   Forecasting

•   SAP

•   Vendor management

•   Procurement

•   Inventory management

•   Supply chain management

•   ERP

•   Strong computer skills with proficiency in tools such as Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Powerpoint, Word)

•   Excellent organizational skills

•   Attention to detail

•   Strong written and verbal communication skills

•   Ability to work with others

•   Analysis and problem-solving skills such as the ability to question, accurately identify a need, and present an effective solution

•   Time management skills

Hard Skills

•   Ability to follow and understand big-picture economic trends

•   Strong applied math skills

•   Understanding of statistical modeling

•   Excellent database and Excel skills

•   Knowledge of Supply Chain Theory

•   Knowledge of inventory metrics

Soft Skills

•   Ability to translate numbers and data into reliable insight

•   Understanding of seasonality and peak demand times

•   Presentation skills and speaking ability

•   Cross-functional collaboration skills

•   Accountability

•   Confidence in your positions

•   Extremely detail-oriented

Required Education

A Diploma or Bachelor’s Degree is required for a Demand Planner position