From forecast to rota, stock order and rate

Demand forecasts have a reputation for being interesting and then ignored. Usually that is because they arrive as a single number with no reason attached, so nobody trusts them enough to act. LocalPulse shows the reason next to every unusual day, which makes the next step much easier.

Rota: staff for the reason, not just the number

If next Saturday is forecast well above normal because of a home fixture, you know the rush comes before and after kick-off. If it is above normal because of warm weather, it is the afternoon terrace. The same headline number means different shifts.

• Look at the “days to plan for” list once a week, when you build the rota.
• For weather-driven days, check again three or four days out, when the weather forecast firms up.
• For event-driven days, plan early: the event isn’t going to move.

Stock: order for the drivers you trust most

Events and holidays are known weeks ahead; weather is reliable for a few days and useful for about two weeks. Order long-lead stock against the event and holiday calendar, and adjust fresh orders against the weather once it is within a few days.

Rates and offers: know which days will sell themselves

For hotels and rental fleets, the value is in seeing compressed dates early. If the calendar shows a large conference and a concert on the same night, that date will fill regardless; it’s a poor candidate for a discount. Quiet days with no driver behind them are where offers and packages earn their keep.

LocalPulse does not change your prices. It tells you which days are likely to be unusual, and why, so the decision stays with you.

Close the loop

After a busy or quiet day, open it and look at what explained it. If something happened that LocalPulse didn’t know about (a private booking, a road closure, a local promotion), log it. Each correction makes the next explanation and the next forecast better, for you and for the shared calendar of your town.