Sales plan–demand forecast difference register
ActiveCell Data
https://www.activecell.pl/en/guides/sales-plan-vs-demand-forecast/

Copy the record below for each difference. Retain the version, cause, ownership and decision. Do not overwrite the original forecast with the approved plan.

Difference ID:

Period and forecast horizon:

Plan version / approval date:

Forecast version / publication date:

Product / market / channel:

Unit / currency / exchange rate / net or gross:

Event date used for comparison:

Plan source and scope:

Forecast source and scope:

Plan value:

Forecast value (enter MISSING if absent, not 0):

Is the scope comparable? If not, what must be aligned?:

Plan minus forecast (only for comparable, complete values):

Type: data issue / business gap / under investigation:

Cause and evidence:

Priority / impact:

Investigation owner:

Action and due date:

Decision: gap accepted / data correction / plan revision / forecast revision / pending:

Approver / date:

Post-action verification:

COMPLETENESS CHECK
Illustrative example: A — plan 120, forecast 100, difference +20. B — plan 80, forecast 100, difference -20. C — plan 60, forecast MISSING, difference unavailable.
For A+B, both totals are 200. However, the full plan is 260 and the whole-portfolio forecast is incomplete. Equal A+B totals do not close the reconciliation. Missing data is not zero.

THE AIM IS NOT TO FORCE EQUALITY
A plan and a forecast can legitimately differ. Aim for comparable scope, explained gaps and approved actions.