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There are many forecasting methods involved in business forecasting. One of these forecasting methods is the Delphi Technique. It's a popular qualitative forecasting technique that relies on opinions of experts to forecast future product demand.
The Delphi method was first introduced in the 1950s by Olaf Helmer & Norman Dalkey of the Rand Corporation to solve a specific military problem. This article will look at the Delphi Technique and how it affects business demand forecasting.
The Delphi technique is a widely used qualitative in forecasting method that relies on trusted industry advisors. What sets it apart from the executive opinion method is the involvement of multiple teams for better results.
In the Delphi method, a group of experts generate a demand forecast based on their expertise & knowledge. This forecast is presented to a different group within the company for interpretation. After multiple rounds of interpretation, the forecast passes on to the decision-makers of the organization.
Each expert creates a specific projection when creating a demand forecast. There’s a repeated process of generating, discussing, & editing predictions until they reach a consensus.
The Delphi Technique is majorly used in subjective scenarios where it isn't possible to use a quantitative method or get absolute results. Businesses can explore various possibilities as multiple experts come together in discussions.
The diversity of the experts ensures greater accuracy. It considers every possible aspect of the problem and accounts for multiple predictions. The Delphi Technique can significantly influence the decision-making process in supply chain regarding policy, long-range forecast, marketing, and more, especially where a creative or unique solution is expected.
Though used extensively, the Delphi technique has both benefits & drawbacks.
The method relies on the opinions of diverse experts who answer questions from varied perspectives. The anonymity of the experts eliminates the fear of repercussions. Also, it doesn’t require much funding to administer & analyze forecasts using this method.
On the flip side, the results cannot be deemed completely reliable, due to the lack of quantitative data. It’s also a time-consuming method, where the quality of your results depends on the participants. Some expert opinions might influence others, leading to a flawed forecast.
To get an accurate forecast, you need a combination of both qualitative & quantitative methods. This is Avercast's area of expertise. Our forecasting software use 250+ complex forecasting algorithms, containing both qualitative & quantitative methods to give you accurate forecasts. With Avercast, you can generate accurate forecasts of up to 5 years in the future with a thorough 'what if' analysis to account for every possible scenario.
From production to delivery, we have a tool for every step of the supply chain process. You can see our forecasting solutions in action with a free demo. Schedule a free call or demo now!