Forecast
A forecast is used to calculate a service item (machine). The price for the basic machine and assets for configuration, applied sales discounts, external equipments, workshops and other charges are calculated so that you gain on overview over the numbers.
This chapter is divided into the following sections:
- Setting up a number series for forecasts,
- Setting up a number series for forecast templates,
- Setting up a margin for forecasts,
- Creating a forecast template,
- Releasing a forecast template,
- Creating a purchase order from a forecast,
- Creating a service order from a forecast.
Setting up a number series for forecasts
This section describes how to set up the number series for forecasts.
The setup of the number series is required in order for the system to create automatic and sequential numbers for forecasts so that the user can differentiate between the forecasts.
Please proceed as follows to set up the number series for forecasts:
- Use the quick search in TRASER DMS 365 (ALT+Q) to find the page Sales & Reveivables Setup.
- The page Sales & Receivables Setup is displayed.
- In the register Forecast under Numbering, click in the field Forecast No..
- Define a new number series or select an already existing number series.
The number series for forecasts is set up.
Setting up a number series for forecast templates
This section describes how to set up the number series for forecast templates. The setup of the number series is required in order for the system to create automatic and sequential numbers for forecast templates so that the user can differentiate between the forecast templates.
Please proceed as follows to set up the number series for forecast templates:
- Use the quick search in TRASER DMS 365 (ALT+Q) to find the page Sales & Reveivables Setup.
- The page Sales & Receivables Setup is displayed.
- In the register Forecast under Numbering, click in the field Forecast No..
- Define a new number series or select an already existing number series.
The number series for forecast templates is set up.
Setting up a margin for forecasts
This section describes how to set up the margin for forecasts.
You can set up general or a manufacturer-specific margins.
To set up a margin for the forecast, please do the following:
- Use the quick search in TRASER DMS 365 (ALT+Q) to find the page Margins.
- The page Margins is displayed.
- To create a new margin, click New in the menu bar.
- Complete the following information for the new created margin.
Tip
If you want to set up a general margin that is to be used for all forecasts without manufacturer-specific margins, click on New and enter the general margin in the Margin % column. If you want to set up a manufacturer-specific margin, please proceed as follows:
| Column | Description |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer Code | Select from the drop-down list in the Manufacturer Code field the code of the manufacturer for who you want to set up a margin that is to be used for forecasts of service items from this manufacturer. |
| Manufacturer Name | The manufacturer’s name is automatically added by the system if you select a value for Manufacturer Code from the drop-down list. |
| Category Code | Select from the drop-down list of the Category Code column the code of the service item category for which you want to deposit a margin. |
| Category Name | The category name is automatically added by the system if you select a value for Category Code from the drop-down list. |
| Subcategory Code | Select from the drop-down list of the Subcategory Code column the code of the service item subcategory for which you want to deposit a margin. |
| Subcategory Name | The subcategory name is automatically added by the system if you select a value for Subcategory Code from the drop-down list. |
| Model | Select from the drop-down list of the Model column the model of the service item for which you want to deposit a margin. |
| Model Name | The model name is automatically added by the system if you select a value for Model from the drop-down list. |
| Margin % | In this column, enter the percent margin that is to be used for the combination of manufacturer, service item category, service item subcategory and model for forecasts. |
You have defined one or more margins.
In the forecast under the Configurations register you can see which margin is used for the forecast/forecast template and which amounts result from it.
Creating a forecast template
This section describes how to create a forecast template. Forecast templates are used to create the actual forecasts in sales forecasts. For more information on sales forecasts, see the Sales Forecasts section.
Please proceed as follows to create a forecast template:
- Use the quick search in TRASER DMS 365 (ALT+Q) to find the page Forecast Templates.
- The page Forecast Templates is displayed.
- Click New in the menu bar.
- A window is displayed in which you have to specify the following information:
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Vendor No. | Select from the drop-down menu the vendor for which you want to create the forecast template. |
| Manufacturer | Select from the drop-down menu the manufacturer of the service item for which you want to create the forecast template. |
| Category | Select from the drop-down menu the category of the service item for which you want to create the forecast template. |
| Subcategory | Select from the drop-down menu the subcategory of the service item for which you want to create a forecast template. |
| Model | Select from the drop-down menu the model of the service item for which you want to create the forecast template. |
| Service Item | You can either select a service item here or leave this field empty. |
- Click OK to create the forecast template.
- The forecast template is being created.
- Complete the following information:
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| No. | This field is filled with a number from the set up number series by the system. For more information, see the Setting up a number series for forecast templates section. |
| Description | Enter a description for the forecast template in this field. |
| Vendor Name | Select from the picklist of this field the vendor for the forecast. This value is normally already preset with the name of the vendor that you have entered in the window for the forecast template. |
| Location Code | Enter the location code for the forecast template in this field. |
| Service Item No. | In this field, enter a service item number, if you haven’t done so in the previous step. |
| Status | This field is not editable. It shows the status of the forecast template. The following statuses are possible: Open means that the forecast template has not been checked and released. Released means that this forecast template has been released and can be used. |
| Base Code | Use this field to enter the base code. |
| Dealer Net Price | Use this field to enter the dealer net price. |
After having filled the header of the forecast template, you can now calculate the service item. The forecast as well as the forecast template consist of the following basic areas:
| Area | Description |
|---|---|
| Configuration | In this part of the forecast, all configurations of the basic machine are included. The prices are shown in the factbox Forecast Calculation below the Configurations line. Configurations mean equipment packages (work lights, climate control etc.) as well as devices (telematic system). These equipments/configurations have to be deposited for every machine model in the system. You can find more information about this in the chapter Configuration. |
| Purchase Discounts | In this area of the forecast you can deposit discounts. You can choose between standard discounts and customised discounts which are applied as fixed price discount or percentage discount. The base amount of the used discounts can also be changed. You can find more information about this in the chapter Purchase Discounts. |
| External Equipment | In the External Equipment area, the prices for attachments and components are calculated. External equipment means all parts that are not part of the basic machine from the manufacturer. Examples for external equipment may be a bucket (structural engineering) or front hydraulics (agricultural engineering) of a different manufacturer. You can also include necessary works (workshops) for the attachment of the external equipment in the forecast. You can find more information about this in the chapter External Equipment. |
| Workshops | Below the Workshops area, all works concerning the machine are listed. This means among other things the delivery check in the garage, conversion works (e.g. For external equipment) and final assemblies. You can also create standard jobs for these works which are calculated with fixed prices. You can find more information about this in the chapter Workshops. |
| Costs | In this area of the forecast you can find all entries that do not clearly belong to one of the other areas. One possible example may be approval costs or the transport to the company/farmer. You can find more information about this in the chapter Costs. |
- Add the respective entries to the areas to create the forecast template and to use it in a sales forecast.
Configuration
This section describes how to add a configuration of a service item to a forecast template or forecast. The following description assumes that you have already created and opened a forecast template. The procedure of entering a configuration is the same for a forecast and a forecast template.
Note
With the number series, you can see on the card if this is a forecast or a forecast template. You can find more information about creating forecast templates in the Creating a forecast template chapter.
Please proceed as follows to enter a configuration:
- Switch the view to the Configuration tab and click on Show > Configuration in the menu bar.
Tip
Alternatively, you can also show the Configuration tab for the forecast template by pressing ALT+K.
- Enter the configuration of the service item in the lines. Use the following lines types for this:
| Line Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Comment | Use this line type to add comments to the configuration. |
| Items | The line type Items is used for including configurations as for example a light package consisting of additional working lights for a agricultural or construction machine into the forecast template. |
| Equipment | The Equipment field is used for items that should also be included in the forecast besides the basic machine. |
| Imports | The Imports field is used for imported lines of the machine manufacturer. |
Tip
If you want to add text lines, click on Manage > Add Text Lines under the register in the menu bar. You can enter texts in the text editor which should be added to the lines.
Tip
You can also add comment lines to an item in the register. Choose an item or service item and click on Manage > Add Comment Lines in the menu bar.
You have added the configuration for the forecast template.
Purchase Discounts
This section describes how to add purchase discounts and discount schemes to a forecast template or forecast. The following description assumes that you have already created and opened a forecast template. The procedure of entering the purchase discounts is the same for a forecast and a forecast template.
Note
With the number series, you can see on the card if this is a forecast or a forecast template. You can find more information about creating forecast templates in the Creating a forecast template chapter.
Please proceed as follows to enter the purchase discounts:
- Switch the view to the Purchase Discounts tab and click on Show > Purchase Discounts in the menu bar.
Tip
Alternatively, you can also show the Purchase Discounts register for the forecast template by pressing ALT+K.
- To add a discount scheme to the forecast, select Manage > Select Default Purchase Discount from the menu bar under the Purchase Discounts register.
- The window Default Purchase Discounts is displayed. The list contains all discount schemes that can be used for this service item.
- Select a discount scheme from the list und click OK.
- The default purchase discounts are added to the forecast.
Note
You can also enter a discount manually. For this, click in the Discount Type column and select the discount from the drop-down list. For more information on purchase discounts, see the Default Purchase Discounts section.
You have added one or more purchase discounts to the forecast. You can find an overview of the accumulated discounts below the register in the Total Discounts field.
External Equipment
This section describes how to add external equipment to a forecast template or forecast. The following description assumes that you have already created and opened a forecast template. The procedure of entering external equipment is the same for a forecast and a forecast template.
Note
With the number series, you can see on the card if this is a forecast or a forecast template. You can find more information about creating forecast templates in the Creating a forecast template chapter.
External equipment means attachments and components for service items that are not part of the configuration of the service item (machine).
Please proceed as follows to enter external equipment:
- Switch the view to the External Equipment register and click on Show > External Equipment in the menu bar.
Tip
Alternatively, you can also show the External Equipment register for the forecast template by pressing ALT+K.
- To add external equipment to a forecast, select the item type in the Type column. You can choose between Item, Service Item or Comment.
Tip
If you want to add text lines, click on Manage > Add Text Lines under the register in the menu bar. You can enter texts in the text editor which should be added to the lines.
Tip
You can also add comment lines to an item in the register. Choose an item or service item and click on Manage > Add Comment Lines in the menu bar.
- In the No. column, select the item or service item that you want to add to the forecast.
- Complete the following information for the line:
| Column | Description |
|---|---|
| Type | Choose between the values Service Item, Item or Comment for this column. |
| No. | In this column, the number of the item or service item is inserted by the system. |
| Linked to Workshop | This field shows if the item is linked to a workshop. You can find more information on how to link an item in a forecast to a workshop in the Workshop section. |
| Description | Here the system specifies the description of the item. |
| Unit Of Measure | Use this field to enter the unit of measure of the item. This field may be filled by the system. |
| Quantity | This field shows the quantity of the item. |
| List Price | This field shows the list price for the item or service item. |
| Discount % | This field shows the discount for the item or service item. |
| Purchase Price | This field shows the purchase price for the item or service item. |
| Line Amount | This field shows the line amount for the external equipment parts. The value is determined from amount × purchase price. |
| Margin % / Surcharge % | Specifies the margin or the surcharge in percent. |
| Margin/Surcharge | Specifies the amount of the margin or surcharge. |
| Calculate Separately | Deactivate this field for external equipment parts to not show the line amount seperately. The line amount is added to the configuration amount. |
| Show In Sales Documents | Activate this check box to show the external equipment parts in sales documents. |
| Comments Exist | This check box indicates if there are comments for this line. |
| Vendor Name | This field shows the vendor of the item. |
- Every added item or service item updates the information Total List Price, Total Costs and Total Calculated Sales Price.
You have added one or more external equipment lines to the forecast.
Workshops
This section describes how to add workshops to a forecast. Workshops mean standard tasks which result as part of the delivery and selling of the service item.
Note
To add a workshop to a forecast or forecast template, standard service codes have to be set up in the system.
Please proceed as follows to add workshops:
- Switch the view to the Workshops register and click on Show > Workshops in the menu bar.
Tip
Alternatively, you can also show the Workshops register for the forecast template by pressing ALT+K.
- To add a workshop line to the forecast or forecast template, click in the input field in the Default Project column under the Workshops register. The picklist of the available standard service codes is displayed.
- Select from the list the standard service code which you want to add to the Workshop register.
Note
If you want to calculate the line amount for this workshop line at the machine price, deactivate the option Calculate Separately.
You have added a standard service code to the forecast or forecast template.
Tip
If you want to add hint texts, click on Manage > Add Hint Text under the register in the menu bar. You can enter texts in the Workshop Notes window which should be added to the lines.
Tip
You can also add comment lines to an item in the register. Choose an item or service item and click on Manage > Add Comment Lines in the menu bar.