ORMS Today 1996 Forecasting Survey

The information in this survey is excerpted from responses to a 1-page questionnaire
designed by Jack Yurkiewicz and sent by OR/MS Today to more than 50 vendors in
October 1996. The survey is not comprehensive. It reflects information received by
the posted deadline. The information was collected and compiled by OR/MS Today.
The listings are limited to forecasting software products that fit the parameters
of the survey as outlined in the accompanying article.

The comments were provided by the vendors.

NOTE: Y indicates a positive response, N indicates either a negative
response or no response, O indicates open, U indicates unlimited,
MD indicates memory dependent.

Key:
a. Automatic &emdash; software recommends technique and optimal parameters.
b. Semi-automatic &emdash; user chooses technique, software recommends parameters.
c. Manual &emdash; user chooses technique and parameters.
d. Program recommends optimal model.

Due to size limitations the online version of the survey is an abridgement of the
printed version that included more than 53 information fields plus comments.
The complete survey appeared in the December 1996 issue of OR/MS Today.
To order a copy of this issue, contact Nora Craver at +44 23 8110 3411 ext. 201
or send e-mail to: .

Please open your browser window to its maximum width for better viewing.

If you are a vendor in this survey, visit the Vendor Page for information on enhancing your
current listing. If you publish a Forecasting program and are not included in the survey,
send e-mail to Lionheart Publishing, Inc. to be contacted when we publish future editions.

Operating Systems

Application

Box-Jenkins

Pricing

Product

Publisher

Windows95

Windows 3.1

DOS

Macintosh

Automatic
(a)

Semi-automatic
(b)

Manual
(c)

Recommends optimal
(d)

Commercial

Educational

Comments

AUTOBOX

Automatic Forecasting Systems

y

y

y

n

y

y

y

y

$595

$195

Command-driven versions available.

Actuarial Forecast

Problem Solving Tools

y

y

n

y

n

n

y

n

free

free

Forecast uses actuarial rates and installed base data. Actuarial rates can be estimated also from ships and returns, free. Most analyses use Excel; some stand alone.

Forecast Pro Batch Edition

Business Forecast Systems

y

y

y

n

y

n

n

y

$4,995

call

Forecast Pro Batch is a stand-alone forecasting package designed to forecast hundreds or thousands of items automatically. The package interfaces easily with MRP systems, databases and spreadsheet products. Has ODBC data entry and export capability.

Forecast Pro XE

Business Forecast Systems

y

y

n

n

y

n

n

y

$995

call

Forecast Pro XE (extended edition) contains the functionality of Forectas Pro as well as three advanced methodologies: event models (to adjust promotions), multiple level forecasting and Census X-11 seasonal decomposition.

Forecast Pro for Windows

Business Forecast Systems

y

y

n

n

y

n

n

y

$595

call

Forecast Pro combines state-of-the-art forecasting techniques (exponential smoothing, Box-Jenkins and dynamic regression) with an expert system that can automatically analyze your data and build the appropriate model.

ISP: Interactive Statistical Programs

Lincoln Systems Corp.

n

n

y

n

n

y

n

n

150

40

General statistics program with forecasting capabilities.

MIMI

Chesapeake Decision Sciences

n

n

n

n

y

y

y

y

call

call

Integrates with MIMI production planning and scheduling modules. Features flexible user-defined aggregation views of history and forecasts.

Mantis (formerly OTIS)

Odin Research

n

n

y

n

n

n

y

n

$295

$195

Interactive data base and planning system for 1) managing time series and equations, 2) estimating and solving business models, and 3) building custom applications.

Minitab Statistical Software

Minitab Inc.

y

y

n

y

n

n

y

n

$895

$495

nCSS 6.0

nCSS

y

y

n

n

y

y

y

y

$399.95

$299.95

A comprehensive, easy-to-use, statistical program.

OptiPlan Professional

Advanced Planning Systems, Inc.

y

y

n

n

y

y

y

n

call

call

Open, friendly and affordable solution for product forecasting in a supply chain planning context. Uses an MS-Acess database. Available as a C-based DLL.

PEER Planner for Windows

Delphus Inc.

y

y

n

n

y

y

n

n

$9,500

call

Integrated forecasting system for large volume applications in demand management.

RELIGROW

Harrison and Company

n

n

n

n

n

n

n

n

$99.95

call

Reliability Growth Analysis: Duane, Army Materiel, Gompertz, Exponential Growth, Time Series, System Reliability, Confidence Intervals, Multiple Linear Regression.

SAS Software

SAS Institute Inc.

y

y

y

y

y

y

y

y

call

call

Hardware independent suite of information delivery software. Provides tools to access and manage large amounts of data from any source, in any format. Includes a GUI interactive system for automatic and interactive model fitting and forecasting.

SCA Forecasting & Modeling Package

Scientific Computing Associates

y

y

n

n

n

y

y

y

call

call

An integration product, SCA workbench is available as a companion product to the SCA Forecasting Package to automate data importation from spreadsheets.

SIBYL/RUNNER

Lincoln Systems Corp.

y

y

n

n

n

y

n

y

$495

$295

The classic forecasting software by Spyros Malcridakis and Steve Wheelwright.

SPSS 7.5 for Windows

SPSS Inc.

y

y

y

y

n

n

y

n

call

call

SmartForecasts Unlimited BATCH Edition

Smart Software, Inc.

y

y

n

n

y

y

y

n

$9,995

$4,995 (full)

SmartForecasts Batch Edition is a 32-bit application containing an automatic forecasting expert system. It lets users with big forecasting problems get accurat e results in minutes.

SmartForecasts for Windows

Smart Software, Inc.

y

y

n

n

y

y

y

n

$895

$449 (Full product)

SmartForecasts for Windows is a 32-bit application containing an automatic expert system to forecast sales, product demand, inventory levels and budget-line costs. The eyeball feature lets users adjust historical data and forecasts online.

Statgraphics Plus for Windows

Statistical Graphics Corp.

y

y

y

n

n

y

n

y

$995

call

	Operating Systems	Application	Box-Jenkins	Pricing
Product	Publisher	Windows95	Windows 3.1	DOS	Macintosh	Automatic (a)	Semi-automatic (b)	Manual (c)	Recommends optimal (d)	Commercial	Educational	Comments
AUTOBOX	Automatic Forecasting Systems	y	y	y	n	y	y	y	y	$595	$195	Command-driven versions available.
Actuarial Forecast	Problem Solving Tools	y	y	n	y	n	n	y	n	free	free	Forecast uses actuarial rates and installed base data. Actuarial rates can be estimated also from ships and returns, free. Most analyses use Excel; some stand alone.
Forecast Pro Batch Edition	Business Forecast Systems	y	y	y	n	y	n	n	y	$4,995	call	Forecast Pro Batch is a stand-alone forecasting package designed to forecast hundreds or thousands of items automatically. The package interfaces easily with MRP systems, databases and spreadsheet products. Has ODBC data entry and export capability.
Forecast Pro XE	Business Forecast Systems	y	y	n	n	y	n	n	y	$995	call	Forecast Pro XE (extended edition) contains the functionality of Forectas Pro as well as three advanced methodologies: event models (to adjust promotions), multiple level forecasting and Census X-11 seasonal decomposition.
Forecast Pro for Windows	Business Forecast Systems	y	y	n	n	y	n	n	y	$595	call	Forecast Pro combines state-of-the-art forecasting techniques (exponential smoothing, Box-Jenkins and dynamic regression) with an expert system that can automatically analyze your data and build the appropriate model.
ISP: Interactive Statistical Programs	Lincoln Systems Corp.	n	n	y	n	n	y	n	n	150	40	General statistics program with forecasting capabilities.
MIMI	Chesapeake Decision Sciences	n	n	n	n	y	y	y	y	call	call	Integrates with MIMI production planning and scheduling modules. Features flexible user-defined aggregation views of history and forecasts.
Mantis (formerly OTIS)	Odin Research	n	n	y	n	n	n	y	n	$295	$195	Interactive data base and planning system for 1) managing time series and equations, 2) estimating and solving business models, and 3) building custom applications.
Minitab Statistical Software	Minitab Inc.	y	y	n	y	n	n	y	n	$895	$495
nCSS 6.0	nCSS	y	y	n	n	y	y	y	y	$399.95	$299.95	A comprehensive, easy-to-use, statistical program.
OptiPlan Professional	Advanced Planning Systems, Inc.	y	y	n	n	y	y	y	n	call	call	Open, friendly and affordable solution for product forecasting in a supply chain planning context. Uses an MS-Acess database. Available as a C-based DLL.
PEER Planner for Windows	Delphus Inc.	y	y	n	n	y	y	n	n	$9,500	call	Integrated forecasting system for large volume applications in demand management.
RELIGROW	Harrison and Company	n	n	n	n	n	n	n	n	$99.95	call	Reliability Growth Analysis: Duane, Army Materiel, Gompertz, Exponential Growth, Time Series, System Reliability, Confidence Intervals, Multiple Linear Regression.
SAS Software	SAS Institute Inc.	y	y	y	y	y	y	y	y	call	call	Hardware independent suite of information delivery software. Provides tools to access and manage large amounts of data from any source, in any format. Includes a GUI interactive system for automatic and interactive model fitting and forecasting.
SCA Forecasting & Modeling Package	Scientific Computing Associates	y	y	n	n	n	y	y	y	call	call	An integration product, SCA workbench is available as a companion product to the SCA Forecasting Package to automate data importation from spreadsheets.
SIBYL/RUNNER	Lincoln Systems Corp.	y	y	n	n	n	y	n	y	$495	$295	The classic forecasting software by Spyros Malcridakis and Steve Wheelwright.
SPSS 7.5 for Windows	SPSS Inc.	y	y	y	y	n	n	y	n	call	call
SmartForecasts Unlimited BATCH Edition	Smart Software, Inc.	y	y	n	n	y	y	y	n	$9,995	$4,995 (full)	SmartForecasts Batch Edition is a 32-bit application containing an automatic forecasting expert system. It lets users with big forecasting problems get accurat e results in minutes.
SmartForecasts for Windows	Smart Software, Inc.	y	y	n	n	y	y	y	n	$895	$449 (Full product)	SmartForecasts for Windows is a 32-bit application containing an automatic expert system to forecast sales, product demand, inventory levels and budget-line costs. The eyeball feature lets users adjust historical data and forecasts online.
Statgraphics Plus for Windows	Statistical Graphics Corp.	y	y	y	n	n	y	n	y	$995	call

Navigation

Click here to return to the table of contents.