Import data (Flowlity Lite)

Upload your demand, stock, order and supplier files in Flowlity Lite, then generate forecasts and a supply plan.

On a Flowlity Lite site, you bring your data into Flowlity by uploading files instead of connecting your ERP. This page lets you upload them and launch the forecast and the plan. The planner in charge of the site usually does it, at the start and each time the data changes.

In the sidebar, go to Settings, then Data > Import data. The page has two tabs: Demand and Planning. This entry only shows on Flowlity Lite sites.

Get the file templates here: Flowlity Lite data templates. Files can be CSV or XLS.

How to import your demand history and get forecasts

1

Open the Demand tab

Go to Settings > Import data > Demand. On a new site, you can also click Import your data from the empty Demand list.

2

Upload your demand file

In Upload demand data, drag your file into the upload area or click to pick it. Each row needs a date, a product reference and a quantity.

3

Check the column mapping

In Mapping data, match your columns to the Flowlity fields: Product ID, Date and Historical demand data are required; Product name and Tag category are optional. Flowlity suggests a match from your column names. Check that Make sure your data mapped correctly shows no error.

4

Generate the forecasts

In Generate forecast, click Import and generate forecasts. It takes a few minutes, depending on the number of products.

5

Open the forecasts

Click See the forecasts. Your products appear in Demand with their AI forecast.

How to add promotions or your own forecast (optional)

1

Open the Demand tab

Go to Settings > Import data > Demand.

2

Upload the optional files

In Upload promotions, add your promotion periods and expected uplift. In Upload external forecast, add your own forecast to compare or blend with Flowlity's. Both steps are marked Optional.

3

Map and generate

Check the mapping, then click Import and generate forecasts again so the forecast takes the new data into account.

How to import stock, open orders and suppliers and generate a plan

1

Open the Planning tab

Go to Settings > Import data > Planning. If the demand has not been computed yet, the tab shows Planning generation is unavailable: import your demand first.

2

Upload your planning files

Upload one file per step: Upload stock data (current stock per product), Upload purchase orders (open orders with quantities and expected dates) and Upload product-supplier links (lead times, minimum order quantities and lot sizes).

3

Check the mapping

In Mapping data, check that each file is mapped correctly.

4

Generate the plan

In Generate planning, click Import data and generate planning.

5

Open the plan

Click See generated planning. The plan is available in Planning and Supply orders.

How to refresh your data

1

Start a new import

On the Demand or Planning tab, click Import new data.

2

Choose how to load the file

Under How to upload data?, choose:

• Append new data: the file is added to the data already in Flowlity. Quantities for the same date and product are summed.

• Replace all data: the data of this type is deleted and replaced by the file.

3

Upload, map and generate

Upload the file, check the mapping, then generate the forecasts or the plan again.

4

Or relaunch without a new file

In the Latest Data Status panel, click Relaunch demand forecast or Relaunch planning, for example after changing a product's inventory strategy.

Good to know

• The Latest Data Status panel shows the last successful import of each file, with its format and load type.

• Dates must use the same format across the whole file. If dates are read wrongly, your Customer Success Manager can change the site's date settings for you.

• While a calculation runs, the app status at the bottom of the sidebar shows In progress, then Ready.

Related

• Flowlity Lite: plans, scope and onboarding.

• Demand: review your forecasts.

• Planning: review your plan.

• Supplier constraints and order management: lead times, MOQ and lot sizes.