Flexible Forecast lets you export and import forecasts between Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central and Excel. You export a forecast to Excel, edit the numbers, and import them back into Business Central.
When you export, you can filter on items, so you only work with the items you need. The Excel sheet shows a current forecast column with your existing figures and a new forecast column that you can adjust.
You can base the new suggested forecast on the current forecast, last year’s forecast, or other options.
When you import, you choose whether to delete the existing forecast or add the difference. After importing, the quantities in your forecast update automatically.
You can export forecast data per salesperson, per country, and across many other columns.
Exporting forecasts from Business Central to Excel
From the forecast view in Business Central, you select Export Forecast to Excel. The export gives you a range of options to control what goes into the sheet, including periods and dates.
You can also decide what the new suggested forecast is based on. You might base it on the current forecast, last year’s forecast, or another starting point. This makes it easy to create a new forecast from data you already trust.
If you set an item filter before exporting, the Excel sheet only includes those items. That keeps the file focused on what you actually want to work with.
Editing the forecast in Excel
The exported Excel sheet has two key columns. The current forecast column shows your existing forecast in Business Central. The new forecast column is what you edit, and it starts out based on the current forecast.
From here you can adjust the numbers however you like. For example, you can take all the new forecast figures for May, June, and July and multiply them by 2. The calculation applies to everything you select.
When you finish editing, you save the Excel sheet so you can import it back into Business Central.
A realistic workflow with salespeople
In practice, you often send the Excel sheet to a salesperson or another colleague. They fill in or adjust the figures based on what they know about their customers or region. You then get the sheet back and import it into Business Central.
This is why the export and import to Excel is useful. It lets people who don’t work in Business Central every day still contribute to the forecast in a tool they already know.
Importing the edited forecast back into Business Central
When you import, you select your forecast name and choose how the data should be handled. You can delete the existing forecast and replace it, or you can add the difference between the old and new figures. You then point to the Excel sheet you just modified and press OK.
After the import, you update your forecast and see the changes. For example, the quantities in May update to reflect what you edited, and any new quantities you entered are added in.
Exporting by salesperson, country, and other dimensions
The export and import process is flexible on which columns you include. You can export the forecast per salesperson, per country, or by other dimensions that fit how your business is organised. This lets you distribute the right slice of the forecast to the right people.
Q&A
How do you export a forecast from Business Central to Excel?
From the forecast view in Business Central, select Export Forecast to Excel. You can set options such as periods and dates, and you can apply an item filter so only specific items are included in the sheet.
Can you base a new forecast on existing data?
Yes. When you export, you can base the new suggested forecast on the current forecast, last year’s forecast, or another starting point.
What happens when you import an edited forecast back into Business Central?
You select your forecast name and choose whether to delete the existing forecast or add the difference. You then select your modified Excel sheet and press OK. After the import, the quantities in your forecast update to reflect your changes.
Can you split a forecast by salesperson or country?
Yes. You can export the forecast per salesperson, per country, or by other columns, which makes it easy to send the relevant part of the forecast to the right people.