The Art & Science of Demand Sensing
Modern fashion retail demands more than static forecasts and guesswork. With margins under pressure and demand signals growing more complex, merchandising teams need a better way forward. Enter demand sensing — a powerful blend of machine learning, dynamic data, and human expertise.
This guide unpacks how forward-thinking retailers are using demand sensing to sharpen buy plans, improve allocation, and respond in real time to what customers actually want. Learn why status quo methods fall short, what makes demand sensing different, and how to implement a system that fuels speed and profitability.
Whether you’re leading a planning team or exploring AI solutions for merchandising, this resource will help you understand the strategy and tools needed to compete — and win — in today’s omnichannel landscape.
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Why It Matters
This report offers a clear, actionable path for merchandising, planning, and demand forecasting teams to improve SKU-level accuracy, protect margins, and ensure inventory is exactly where it needs to be. Learn how leading retailers are using demand sensing to replace lagging forecasts with real-time, AI-driven insights that streamline decisions and deliver measurable results across every category and channel.
What’s Inside…
Impact on Margins & Inventory Health
How demand sensing supports more precise planning, buying, and allocation decisions that reduce excess inventory and increase full-price sell-through.
An inside look at how these improvements help teams hit both sales and margin targets without adding operational complexity.
Features and Framework
The five essential features that power an effective demand sensing system.
A framework for blending AI-driven science with human merchandising expertise.
Forecasting Methods
A breakdown of five common forecasting challenges in apparel and footwear retail — and why they persist.
An exploration of how demand sensing differs from traditional forecasting methods.
Use Cases
Real-world use cases showing how leading brands improve margin, in-stock rates, and speed to decision.
A detailed look at how Syrup Tech enables demand sensing across planning, buying, and allocation workflows.
About Syrup Tech
Syrup’s advanced demand sensing technology empowers merchandise planning teams to optimize their buying, allocation, and replenishment decisions with confidence. Their engines unite historical and real-time transactional data with external event and trend data to create a granular forecast at the style, color, size, and location level. Get recommendations for optimal purchase quantities and allocation strategies to maximize full-price sell through and eliminate stock outs. Leading retailers like Faherty, Deckers, Vuori, Gap, Salomon, and Reformation trust Syrup to reduce overbuying and ensure that all inventory gets into the right channels and locations to meet demand.