What is an Actual Demand in E-commerce?
Actual demand in e-commerce is the number of products or services that customers actually purchase from an online store. It is the real sales figures, as opposed to the forecasted or projected demand. Actual demand is essential in understanding consumer preferences, market trends, and the overall performance of an online business.
Significance of Actual Demand in E-commerce
Actual demand is an essential factor in e-commerce. It helps businesses understand the needs and preferences of their customers, as well as identify key trends in their industry. This data is used to make decisions about product development and marketing strategies.
Additionally, understanding actual customer demand can help businesses better anticipate changes in the market and make more accurate forecasts about future demand. This can improve efficiency and profitability. Ultimately, understanding customer demand helps businesses create better experiences for their customers and remain competitive in the e-commerce space.
Prerequisites to Calculate Actual Demand and How It Works
Some of the essential elements needed are –
1. Accurate sales history is essential for calculating actual demand. Sales history should include order dates, quantities, product numbers, and any other relevant data.
2. Data analysis tools such as spreadsheets and business intelligence software can help identify trends, seasonality, and other factors that impact demand.
3. Market research can help identify customer needs and preferences, as well as the competitive landscape.
4. Forecasting models are used to generate future demand estimates based on historical data and market research.
5. Demand planning software can help streamline the process of estimating actual demand. It can also provide insights into customer behavior and preferences.
Use Case With Actual Demand
Let us assume a company XYZ, deals with seasonal goods like Christmas trees and ornaments. Now, with an accurate demand prediction, XYZ can stock up for the upcoming shopping season. Assuming the actual demand will be a bit less than the market demand, XYZ can serve its customer better with proper forecasts.