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What does a demand planner do?

Updated January 8, 2025
7 min read

A demand planner specializes in conducting research and analysis to develop forecast models that will help determine a supply chain's demands. They are also responsible for monitoring the inventory of products, maintaining knowledge and awareness on the latest trends, producing progress reports and presentations, establishing demand plans, and detecting any changes in the forecast, reporting them to management right away. Furthermore, as a demand planner, it is essential to coordinate with everyone in the team, all while adhering to the company's policies and standards.

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Demand planner responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real demand planner resumes:

  • Manage WIP production for the co packers.
  • Structure and lead quarterly internal quality audits for government DoD programs.
  • Develop and monitor appropriate KPIs to drive performance and achieve corporate goals.
  • Manage 700,000 store/DC-SKU combinations across 10 DC's and two restaurant chains using JDA Demand/Fulfill.
  • Lead cross-functional team that automate ERP planning process to provide near real-time visibility to the stakeholders.
  • Manage JIT inventory for bottle and can lines along with staying in constant contact with the vendors.
  • Generate and analyzes historical data as necessary to identify trends in demand, shipments, POS, and base/incremental split.
  • Conduct statistical analysis in SAS to investigate price elasticity of demand for food items.
  • Process all orders in TMS program.
  • Provide ad hoc data to user community using Teradata SQL.
  • Monitor real time service level, AHT, call flow, and schedule adherence.
  • Use scheduling software to coordinate flights and testing for completion of require DOD evaluations.
  • Update the SKU level forecast in JDA and review the supply plan to meet demand.
  • Design, source, and tender all returnable packaging loads within Penske's TMS system.
  • Maintain accurate data in ERP item master to ensure appropriate planning for materials and shop floor capacity.

Demand planner skills and personality traits

We calculated that 15% of Demand Planners are proficient in Supply Chain, Customer Service, and Logistics. They’re also known for soft skills such as Customer service skills, Problem-solving skills, and Organizational skills.

We break down the percentage of Demand Planners that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Supply Chain, 15%

    Collaborated with Supply Chain on product availability timing, so were in alignment for successful promotional and new item volume execution.

  • Customer Service, 8%

    Developed fact based inventory model to determine proper inventory allocations and Oracle safety stock settings to achieve desired customer service levels.

  • Logistics, 5%

    Forged working relationships with vendors assisting with marketing campaign of new product introduction and product logistics.

  • Strong Analytical, 5%

    Demonstrated strong analytical and organizational skills.

  • Continuous Improvement, 5%

    Provide system support and maintenance surrounding parameters that involved, planning, production and logistic parameters and aimed for continuous improvement.

  • Demand Forecasts, 4%

    Identified and suggested recommendations for improvement in customer demand forecasts and on time delivery.

"supply chain," "customer service," and "logistics" are among the most common skills that demand planners use at work. You can find even more demand planner responsibilities below, including:

Customer service skills. The most essential soft skill for a demand planner to carry out their responsibilities is customer service skills. This skill is important for the role because "logisticians must know the needs of their customers in order to coordinate the movement of materials between suppliers and customers." Additionally, a demand planner resume shows how their duties depend on customer service skills: "achieved the agreed supply chain kpi's (service level, forecast accuracy, dio). "

Problem-solving skills. Another essential skill to perform demand planner duties is problem-solving skills. Demand planners responsibilities require that "logisticians must handle unforeseen issues, such as delivery problems, and adjust plans as needed to resolve the issues." Demand planners also use problem-solving skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "created and monitored forecast accuracy for automotive parts using logility value chain solution software. "

Organizational skills. demand planners are also known for organizational skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to demand planner responsibilities, because "logisticians must be able to keep detailed records and simultaneously manage several projects in a fast-paced environment." A demand planner resume example shows how organizational skills is used in the workplace: "reviewed results, analyzed and explained major variances and made recommendations for corrective actions, as needed to support organizational goals. "

Communication skills. demand planner responsibilities often require "communication skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "logisticians need strong communication skills to collaborate with colleagues and do business with suppliers and customers." This resume example shows what demand planners do with communication skills on a typical day: "facilitate cross-functional communications with sales, marketing, supply chain and finance. "

Most common demand planner skills

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Compare different demand planners

Demand planner vs. Logistics associate

As a logistics associate, they assist with the timely distribution, storage, delivery, and inspection of products, both for incoming and outgoing. Logistics associates are needed to manage and maintain the inventory of products and materials. They process incoming and outgoing shipments, inspecting incoming shipments, entering and updating to the digital database for easier tracking. The job of logistics associates can vary based on the types of materials they handle and the environment where they work. They work independently and primarily report to a warehouse or retail manager.

We looked at the average demand planner salary and compared it with the wages of a logistics associate. Generally speaking, logistics associates are paid $45,908 lower than demand planners per year.While their salaries may differ, the common ground between demand planners and logistics associates are a few of the skills required in each roleacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities. In both careers, employee duties involve skills like customer service, erp, and inventory management.

There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, demand planner responsibilities require skills like "supply chain," "logistics," "strong analytical," and "continuous improvement." Meanwhile a typical logistics associate has skills in areas such as "standard operating procedure," "cycle counts," "physical inventory," and "shipping receiving." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.

Logistics associates tend to make the most money working in the professional industry, where they earn an average salary of $41,047. In contrast, demand planners make the biggest average salary, $102,478, in the technology industry.On average, logistics associates reach lower levels of education than demand planners. Logistics associates are 10.4% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.3% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Demand planner vs. Purchasing assistant

A purchasing assistant is responsible for obtaining raw materials and goods for a business or company. They primarily function to assist purchasing managers or supervisors by keeping records, maintaining inventory, reviewing purchase orders, and monitoring shipments and deliveries. Furthermore, a purchasing assistant may perform administrative support tasks ranging from arranging appointments and managing schedules, answering calls and inquiries, reaching out to vendors and suppliers, producing reports, and coordinating with various departments to ensure the smooth flow of products within the company.

Purchasing assistant positions earn lower pay than demand planner roles. They earn a $43,956 lower salary than demand planners per year.While the salary may differ for these jobs, they share a few skills needed to perform their duties. Based on resume data, both demand planners and purchasing assistants have skills such as "customer service," "logistics," and "erp. "

While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that demand planner responsibilities requires skills like "supply chain," "strong analytical," "continuous improvement," and "demand forecasts." But a purchasing assistant might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "purchase requisitions," "data entry," "delivery dates," and "place orders."

On average, purchasing assistants earn a lower salary than demand planners. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, purchasing assistants earn the most pay in the technology industry with an average salary of $41,542. Whereas demand planners have higher pay in the technology industry, with an average salary of $102,478.In general, purchasing assistants achieve lower levels of education than demand planners. They're 9.9% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.3% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Demand planner vs. Purchasing agent

A purchasing agent's general task is keeping purchase records and making sure that there won't be any discrepancies with the handling of orders. The purchasing agent should be responsible for the order processing and payment collection. Purchasing agents should also be proficient in interpreting and evaluating data, researching on best marketing sources and alternatives, issuing required documentation for suppliers, as well as managing customer queries as needed. Being a purchasing agent requires critical-thinking skills in assessing concerns and providing solutions should there be any possible negotiation conflicts.

On average, purchasing agents earn lower salaries than demand planners, with a $30,337 difference per year.By looking over several demand planners and purchasing agents resumes, we found that both roles require similar skills in their day-to-day duties, such as "customer service," "logistics," and "supply chain planning." But beyond that, the careers look very different.

The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, demand planners are more likely to have skills like "supply chain," "strong analytical," "continuous improvement," and "demand forecasts." But a purchasing agent is more likely to have skills like "cost savings," "r," "supplier performance," and "delivery dates."

Purchasing agents make a very good living in the technology industry with an average annual salary of $55,517. On the other hand, demand planners are paid the highest salary in the technology industry, with average annual pay of $102,478.Most purchasing agents achieve a lower degree level compared to demand planners. For example, they're 8.6% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.2% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Demand planner vs. Logistics specialist

A logistics specialist is a member of the workforce that handles the logistics procedures in a warehouse or similar establishment. A logistics specialist primarily functions in processing orders, preparing goods, receiving shipments, and even shipping deliveries, ensuring that all transactions are within the allotted schedule. Furthermore, they are in charge of overseeing that all shipments are aligned with the expected quality and quantity, maintaining an accurate record of inventory, producing reports, and coordinating with other members of the team. All while adhering to the policies and standards of the company.

Logistics specialists typically earn lower pay than demand planners. On average, logistics specialists earn a $40,750 lower salary per year.According to resumes from demand planners and logistics specialists, some of the skills necessary to complete the responsibilities of each role are similar. These skills include "customer service," "supply chain planning," and "erp. "Each job also requires different skills to carry out their responsibilities. A demand planner uses "supply chain," "logistics," "strong analytical," and "continuous improvement." Logistics specialists are more likely to have duties that require skills in "shipping receiving," "logistics support," "management system," and "cycle counts. "logistics specialists enjoy the best pay in the government industry, with an average salary of $50,529. For comparison, demand planners earn the highest salary in the technology industry.The average resume of logistics specialists showed that they earn lower levels of education compared to demand planners. So much so that theyacirc;euro;trade;re 9.1% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 0.2%.

Types of demand planner

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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