Organizations Institute of Business Forecasting (IBF) International Institute of Forecasters (IIF) Research Forecasting models for Symbolic Data Lancaster Centre for Forecasting Monash University Forecasting Unit Neural Network Forecasting Neural Forecasting Competition Principles of Forecasting Research Program on Forecasting Sales Forecasting Management Forum Special Interest Groups Conflict & Terror Crime Health Judgmental Neural Networks Political Prediction Markets Public Policy Rule-Based Software Estimation Economic forecasting Economic Forecasting Center European Forecasting Network Federal Forecasters Consortium US Business Cycle Indicators Certification Certified Professional in Demand Forecasting (CPDF) IBF (Advanced) Certified Professional Forecaster Researchers J. Scott Armstrong Mike P. Clements Fred Collopy Sven F. Crone Ray C. Fair Robert Fildes Kesten C. Green Rob J. Hyndman Peter Kennedy John T. Mentzer Marcus O’Connor Roy Pearson Philip Rothman Len Tashman

Publications Foresight International Journal of Forecasting Journal of Business Forecasting Journal of Forecasting Journal of Prediction Markets Journal of Time Series Analysis Nep-For Predictive Analytics Insight Software A3 Forecasting Solutions Auguri Autobox Avercast Churchill Systems Confort Demand Solutions Demand Works Eminiforecaster Eviews ezForecaster Forecaster XL ForecastPro Foresite SPA GMDH Shell John Galt Gen Group Logility Lokad NeuralWorks OpenForecast OxMetrics PEERForecaster Retail Express RockySoft R Project SAS Silvon Slim4 SmartForecasts SPSS S-Plus Terra Technology Vormittag Associates Inc. VPS2000 Consultancy Applied Business Forecasting Center for Business Forecasting Decision Research Limited Delphus Demand Planning Econometrix Eyeon Business Planning Gen Business Services Mars Management Science Oliver Wight Strategic Forecasting T.F. Wallace Blogs IBF’s Demand Planning Forecasting Blog The Business Forecasting Deal

Forecasting, or prediction in general, is about making statements under uncertainty. That uncertainty may be time-related, for events that happen in future. But it can also be location-related, for events you can’t observe. To make forecasts one can use many methods, both statistical and judgmental, and follow scientific principles. But most forecasts are notably wrong by definition, as the goal is to minimize the expected error.

Many organisations use forecasts daily to make decisions on important issues. Forecasting is used in demand planning in manufacturing, setting the directions for production and procurement. It is also used in supply chain forecasting and sales & operations planning (S&OP). In most companies the forecasting process is not only about the numbers, but also a means to reach consensus with stakeholders.

Applied Forecasting is a free and independent website on Forecasting. We look at developments in forecasting software, research, books, events and competitions for researchers, practitioners and students. This blog is a public service of ManagementScience.nl, a operations research consultancy based near Amsterdam, The Netherlands, Europe.

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