6.4 - Statistical forecasts
Learn how to create statistical forecasts using historical trends, seasonality patterns, confidence ranges, growth factors, and evaluation methods in a planning sheet. Statistical forecasts use historical data to generate projected values and provide forecast previews that can be reviewed, exported, and saved to forecast measures.
Configure a statistical forecast
Create a forecast measure with blank data input columns.
Statistical forecasts require at least two years of historical data.
Select the cell whose value must be predicted.
Select Predict in the Model ribbon.
Select the lock icon to freeze the row and measure selection.
Select Profile 1 from the profile list.
Select the profile options button to create, rename, or delete a forecast profile.
Select Jan 2024 - Dec 2025 as the historical date range used for forecast calculations.
Select Jan 2026 - Dec 2026 as the forecast date range. By default, the open period is selected. Extend the forecast beyond the open period if required.
Select Multi-Seasonality if the data contains repeating patterns across multiple seasonal levels, such as quarterly and monthly patterns.
Select Single Seasonality to identify one repeating seasonal pattern.
Set Confidence (%) to 90 to define the forecast confidence range.
Configure the Growth Factor (%) to increase or decrease the projected forecast growth rate.
Select Bottom Up to calculate forecast values for child nodes and aggregate the results to totals and subtotals.
Select Top Down to calculate forecast values for totals and subtotals, and then distribute the results to child nodes.
Select Run Forecast.
The Forecast Preview section displays predicted values. Historical data appears in gray, predicted values appear in green, and the confidence range appears as green shading in the background.
Select Table to view forecast and historical data values in tabular format.
Select the export arrow next to Save Forecast to either export your values to CSV, or to save your forecast data to an existing scenario.
Select Save Forecast after configuring the forecast parameters.
Select Save to save forecast values to the forecast measure.
The statistical forecast is created for the selected category and period. In this example, a bottom-up forecast was created, with values calculated and aggregated across row and column hierarchies.
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