Merchandise Specialist

Tata Consultancy Services; Bengaluru; On-site; INR 700,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

Tata Consultancy Services in Bengaluru is seeking a skilled Demand Planner to develop and deliver accurate forecasts for General Merchandise, partnering with Merchandising and Supply Chain teams to drive inventory availability and growth.

You will analyze historical data, promotions, and seasonality, updating forecasts as market conditions evolve, and will generate dashboards and planning metrics for decision-making. Strong Excel skills and analytical mindset are essential for success.

Qualifications

• Candidate should have experience in demand planning and forecasting.
• Experience in supply chain and inventory planning.
• Ability to analyze forecast variance and perform root cause analysis.
• Proficient in advanced Excel features such as pivot tables and lookups.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver demand forecasts for General Merchandise products within agreed timelines.
• Analyze historical sales, promotional activities, seasonality, and business trends to create accurate forecasts.
• Update forecasts based on changing business conditions such as promotions, assortment changes, supply disruptions, and market trends.
• Perform forecast variance analysis and provide root cause insights and recommendations.
• Document and communicate forecast assumptions, adjustments, and business rationale.
• Collaborate with Merchandising, Supply Chain, Category Management, and supplier teams to gather planning inputs.
• Monitor forecast accuracy and support continuous improvement initiatives.
• Prepare dashboards, reports, and planning metrics to support business decision-making.
• Ensure adherence to forecasting processes, data quality standards, and governance requirements.

Skills

Demand Planning

Supply Chain Planning

Forecast Variance Analysis

Advanced Excel

Analytical Thinking

Tools

Excel

Power Query

Pivot Tables

Job description

Responsible for developing accurate demand forecasts for General Merchandise categories to support inventory planning, product availability, and business growth. The role requires strong analytical skills, forecasting expertise, and collaboration with cross-functional stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver demand forecasts for General Merchandise products within agreed timelines.
• Analyze historical sales, promotional activities, seasonality, and business trends to create accurate forecasts.
• Update forecasts based on changing business conditions such as promotions, assortment changes, supply disruptions, and market trends.
• Perform forecast variance analysis and provide root cause insights and recommendations.
• Document and communicate forecast assumptions, adjustments, and business rationale.
• Collaborate with Merchandising, Supply Chain, Category Management, and supplier teams to gather planning inputs.
• Monitor forecast accuracy and support continuous improvement initiatives.
• Prepare dashboards, reports, and planning metrics to support business decision-making.
• Ensure adherence to forecasting processes, data quality standards, and governance requirements.

Required Skills

• Demand Planning & Forecasting
• Supply Chain & Inventory Planning
• Forecast Accuracy & Variance Analysis
• Advanced Excel (Pivot Tables, Lookups, Power Query)
• Strong Analytical & Problem-Solving Skills