‘Demand’ & ‘Supply’ Planning in Business Central

In supply chain planning, success depends on balancing demand and supply to meet customer needs without overstocking. Here’s how it works: 

Demand includes orders—sales, service, or production needs, forecasts, and even some technical demands like returns or adjustments. Think of it as everything that drives your need for inventory. 

Supply covers all ways to restock, from purchase orders to production, transfers, and even inventory returns. Supply is how you ensure the demand gets fulfilled. 

The planning system helps us prevent waste by recommending when to hold off or adjust new orders thereby avoiding unnecessary inventory buildup. 

In Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, the Planning Worksheet and Requisition Worksheet are tools that help manage inventory and keep orders organized. 

The Planning Worksheet helps plan future inventory needs by looking at demand and supply for each item. It automatically suggests actions, like ordering more products, moving stock between locations, or canceling unnecessary orders if demand drops. Think of it as a “smart” assistant that predicts needs and adjusts based on changes in demand. 

The Requisition Worksheet is a straightforward “shopping list” for regular restocking. It’s typically used for ordering new stock based on what you already know you need—like items that frequently run out or bulk orders. It doesn’t make complex calculations; it’s ideal for simpler restocking.