Sales Forecasting and S&OP Validated as Critical Investment

Ventana Research has validated the critical necessity of Sales Forecasting for organizations who want to optimize operational performance. It has recently published the results of a benchmark that identifies the best practice and requirement for investment into technology for optimizing the processes.

The research highlights best in class or innovative organizations with sales forecasting best practices including: (1) the need for a dedicated and collaborative software solution, (2) the importance of financial incentives in driving improvements in forecast accuracy, and, (3) the need for adopting a single platform that supports both collaborative sales forecasting and sales and operations planning (S&OP).

"Our benchmark research determined that driving a collaborative sales forecasting process is a top priority among best-in-class corporations. In addition, Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) solutions were also identified as key to delivering bottom-line value," said Mark Smith, CEO & EVP of Research, Ventana Research, "Steelwedge Software is the leading provider of Sales Forecasting and S&OP solutions specifically designed to address the needs of sales and operations teams that seek to develop and convert collaborative sales forecasts into an operational planning process that can be managed and improved."

"Coming on the heels of top ratings by Gartner and AMR for its best-in-class S&OP solution, Steelwedge is delighted by the results of the benchmark study which reinforces the strong market demand for our Collaborative Sales Forecasting and S&OP solution" said Chris Givens, VP, Marketing at Steelwedge.

"The Ventana Research benchmark validates the rapidly growing demand for next-generation solutions that can deliver the key capabilities for enabling Collaborative Sales Forecasting and S&OP", said Glen Margolis, CEO of Steelwedge Software, "Steelwedge will continue to work with our Fortune 500 customers to further strengthen our position as the leading S&OP solution in the market."

To view an executive summary of the findings of the sales forecasting and demand planning benchmark by Ventana Research, got to http://www.ventanaresearch.com/sfdp.