METHODS AND APPARATUS TO MANAGE MARKETING FORECASTING ACTIVITY
Methods and apparatus are disclosed to manage marketing forecasting activity. An example method includes retrieving a vetted sales forecast and a corresponding set of drivers, overlaying default confidence limits associated with the vetted sales forecast, and generating a plurality of tailored icons associated with each of the drivers, the icons tailored based on the default confidence limits.
1 . A method to display sales forecast performance, comprising:
retrieving a vetted sales forecast and a corresponding set of drivers;
overlaying default confidence limits associated with the vetted sales forecast; and
generating a plurality of tailored icons associated with each of the drivers, the icons tailored based on the default confidence limits.
2 . A method as defined in claim 1 , wherein one of the plurality of icons is tailored to display a red color in response to a corresponding one of the set of drivers causing the sales forecast to fall below target expectations.
3 . A method as defined in claim 1 , wherein one of the plurality of icons is tailored to display a green color in response to a corresponding one of the set of drivers causing the sales forecast to at least one of meet or exceed target expectations.
4 . A method as defined in claim 1 , further comprising widening the confidence limits associated with the vetted sales forecast in response to a graphical user interface adjustment.
5 . A method as defined in claim 4 , further comprising tailoring the plurality of icons based on the widened confidence limits.
6 . A method as defined in claim 1 , further comprising narrowing the confidence limits associated with the vetted sales forecast in response to a graphical user interface adjustment.
7 . A user interface to display sales forecast performance, comprising:
a grid representing categories and geographic regions;
icons selectively displayable on the grid to represent drivers responsible for the sales forecast performance; and
a confidence control to adjust confidence limits associated with alerts associated with the drivers.
8 . A user interface as defined in claim 7 , wherein the categories comprise at least one of fabric products, pet products, baby products, skin products, hair products or food products.
9 . A user interface as defined in claim 7 , wherein the geographic regions comprise at least one of countries, states, regions or cities.
10 . A user interface as defined in claim 7 , wherein the drivers comprise at least one of price, promotion, category or distribution.
11 . A user interface as defined in claim 7 , wherein the confidence control at least one of widens the confidence limits or narrows the confidence limits.
12 . A user interface as defined in claim 11 , wherein widening the confidence limits reduces a frequency of the alerts associated with the drivers.
13 . A user interface as defined in claim 11 , wherein narrowing the confidence limits increases a frequency of the alerts associated with the drivers.
14 . A tangible machine readable storage medium comprising machine readable instructions that, when executed, cause a machine to, at least:
retrieve a vetted sales forecast and a corresponding set of drivers;
overlay default confidence limits associated with the vetted sales forecast; and
generate a plurality of tailored icons associated with each of the drivers, the icons tailored based on the default confidence limits.
15 . A machine readable storage medium as defined in claim 14 , wherein the machine readable instructions, when executed, cause the machine to tailor one of the plurality of icons to display a red color in response to a corresponding one of the set of drivers causing the sales forecast to fall below target expectations.
16 . A machine readable storage medium as defined in claim 14 , wherein the machine readable instructions, when executed, cause the machine to tailor one of the plurality of icons to display a green color in response to a corresponding one of the set of drivers causing the sales forecast to at least one of meet or exceed target expectations.
17 . A machine readable storage medium as defined in claim 14 , wherein the machine readable instructions, when executed, cause the machine to widen the confidence limits associated with the vetted sales forecast in response to a graphical user interface adjustment.
18 . A machine readable storage medium as defined in claim 17 , wherein the machine readable instructions, when executed, cause the machine to tailor the plurality of icons based on the widened confidence limits.
19 . A machine readable storage medium as defined in claim 14 , wherein the machine readable instructions, when executed, cause the machine to narrow the confidence limits associated with the vetted sales forecast in response to a graphical user interface adjustment.