Sales Forecasting

Sales Forecasting uses your historical data to predict future revenue and order volume. This helps you plan staffing, inventory, and promotions with confidence.

What is Sales Forecasting

Sales forecasting analyzes patterns in your historical sales data to project future performance. Bizaldo uses multiple factors:

• Day of week patterns — Identify your busiest days
• Seasonal trends — Account for holidays and seasonal changes
• Growth trajectory — Factor in your business growth rate
• Recent performance — Weight recent data more heavily

How It Works

The forecasting algorithm:

1. Analyzes the last 90 days of sales data
2. Identifies day-of-week patterns (e.g., Fridays are 40% busier)
3. Calculates growth trends over time
4. Adjusts for seasonality if sufficient data exists
5. Generates 7-day and 30-day projections

Accuracy Factors

Forecast accuracy depends on:

• Data volume — More historical data = better predictions
• Consistency — Regular business patterns yield clearer forecasts
• External factors — Weather, local events, holidays affect accuracy
• Business changes — Recent menu changes or pricing affect trends

Viewing Forecasts

7-Day Forecast

The short-term forecast shows expected performance for the next week:

┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  Next 7 Days Forecast                                   │
├─────────────┬─────────────┬──────────────┬───────────────┤
│ Day         │ Predicted   │ Orders       │ Confidence    │
├─────────────┼─────────────┼──────────────┼───────────────┤
│ Monday      │ $1,240      │ 42           │ 85%           │
│ Tuesday     │ $1,180      │ 38           │ 85%           │
│ Wednesday   │ $1,450      │ 48           │ 82%           │
│ Thursday    │ $1,620      │ 55           │ 88%           │
│ Friday      │ $2,100      │ 72           │ 90%           │
│ Saturday    │ $2,350      │ 80           │ 92%           │
│ Sunday      │ $1,890      │ 65           │ 88%           │
└─────────────┴─────────────┴──────────────┴───────────────┘

30-Day Trend

The monthly view shows broader patterns:

• Expected total revenue for the month
• Daily averages with confidence intervals
• Peak day predictions for staffing planning
• Growth rate compared to previous month

Using Forecasts for Planning

Staffing Decisions

Use forecasts to optimize labor costs:

• High forecast days — Schedule additional staff
• Low forecast days — Reduce shifts or cross-train
• Pattern identification — Build recurring schedules around expected demand

Inventory Planning

Align purchasing with predicted demand:

1. Review forecast for upcoming week
2. Calculate ingredient needs based on popular items
3. Place orders 2-3 days before predicted high-volume days
4. Adjust safety stock levels for forecasted demand

Promotion Timing

Launch promotions when they'll have maximum impact:

• Low forecast days — Run "Slow Day Specials" to boost traffic
• High forecast days — Upsell premium items when customers are already visiting
• Trending up — Capitalize on growth momentum with new offerings

Forecast Accuracy

Confidence Levels

Each forecast includes a confidence percentage:

Improving Accuracy

To get better forecasts:

1. Maintain consistent hours — Irregular schedules create data gaps
2. Categorize orders properly — Correct order types help pattern recognition
3. Record lost sales — Note stockouts that prevented orders
4. Flag special events — Mark holidays, promotions, and unusual days

In One Sentence

Sales forecasting predicts your revenue and order volume for the next 7-30 days using historical patterns, helping you optimize staffing and inventory.

Key Actions

Outputs

The forecasting system produces:

• Daily revenue predictions — Expected sales per day
• Order count estimates — Predicted transaction volume
• Confidence scores — Reliability indicator per prediction
• Trend analysis — Growth or decline indicators

Troubleshooting

Forecast Seems Wrong

If predictions don't match your expectations:

1. Check data range — Forecasts need at least 30 days of data
2. Verify order types — Ensure orders are properly categorized
3. Consider recent changes — New menu items or pricing affect accuracy
4. Review unusual days — One-off events can skew predictions

Missing Forecast Data

If forecasts aren't generating:

• Ensure you have at least 14 days of sales history
• Check that orders have correct timestamps
• Verify your timezone settings are accurate

Related Documentation

• Dashboard Overview — Main dashboard features
• Inventory Optimization — Align stock with demand
• Reports — Detailed analytics and exports