 able to identify. We asked each respondent to complete an online questionnaire covering a comprehensive list of questions spanning features and capabilities, recent enhancements, licensing and fees, technical support and other areas. We followed up with each vendor to help ensure that we obtained as many responses as possible. Vendors not included in this issue are invited to submit a completed online questionnaire (), and their product will be added to the online version of the forecasting survey.
The purpose of the survey is simply to inform the reader of what is available. The information in the survey comes directly from the vendors, and no attempt was made to verify or validate the information they gave us.
Automation levels: Forecasting software varies when it comes to the degree to which the software can find the appropriate model and the optimal parameters of that model. For example, Winters’ method requires values for three smoothing constants, and Box-Jenkins models have to be specified with various parameters, such as ARIMA (1,0,1) (0,1,2). For the purposes of this and previous surveys, the ability of the software to find the optimal model and parameters for the data is characterized as follows:
- Automatic forecasting software: Software is labeled as automatic if it recommends both the appropriate model to use on a particular data set and finds the optimal parameters for that model. Automatic software typically searches through multiple potential models to minimize a specific fit metric, such as Akaike Information Criterion (AIC), Normailzed Bayesian Information Criterion (BIC) or RMSE; it then recommends a forecast model for the data, gives the model’s optimal parameters, calculates forecasts for a user-specified number of future periods, and gives various summary statistics and graphs.
- Semi-automatic forecasting software: The second automation level is called semi-automatic. Such software asks the user to pick a forecasting model from a menu and some statistic to minimize, and the program then finds the optimal parameters for that model, the forecasts, and various graphs and statistics.
- Manual forecasting software: We refer to the third level of automation as manual. Here the user must specify both the model that should be used and the corresponding parameters. The software then finds the forecasts, summary statistics and charts.
Note that some products fall into more than one category. For example, if you choose a Box-Jenkins model, the software may find the optimal parameters for that model, but if you specify that Winters’ method be used, the product may require that you manually enter the three smoothing constants. Of the software tools included in the survey, 23 (88 percent) offer semi-automatic forecasting, and 18 (69 percent) offer automatic forecasting capabilities.
Chris Fry (chris@strategicgmgmtsolutions.com) is the founder and managing director of Strategic Management Solutions, an analytics consulting and services firm. Vijay Mehrotra (vmehrotra@usfca.edu) is a professor of business analytics and information systems at the University of San Francisco. Both authors are members of INFORMS. The authors thank Gavin Leeper and Craig Volonoski for their contributions to the case study research.
Editor’s note: A version of this article appeared in the June 2016 issue of OR/MS Today.
References
- This data was compiled from requests from NOAA’s database at.
- The El Niño Index tracks temperature changes in the Pacific Ocean. The data we used can be downloaded at.
Survey Directory & Data
To view the forecasting software survey products and responses, along with a directory of forecasting software vendors, click here.
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SaveIt’s only round one and she’s looking for blood.

Have a drink and talk it all out.
How many times has he heard people shout.
You know it can give pleasure and give pain.
The odds are even that they’ll come out your way.
It’s just a series of crazy dances.
An endless sequence of pleasure and pain.
It’s tough in places, you start to think that it’s not your style.
The pleasure is so excruciating that you might stick around for a while.
It’s a crazy game.
For the first time ever, this exhibition explores J.M.W. Turner’s work produced on his various travels, stops and periods of residence on the Thames, Wey Navigation and in the county of Surrey, prior to the London boundary changes of 1889.
It will explore how Turner retreated into nature, capturing both the beauty of the landscape and its rustic elegance. Open air sketches highlighting his swiftness of hand and the changing effects of nature will sit alongside finished works, completed in the studio. Combining pencil and oil sketches, finished oils and watercolours, the exhibition will feature ‘Newark Abbey on the Wey’ and ‘View of Richmond Hill and Bridge’ from Tate, and ‘Thomson’s Aeolian Harp’ from Manchester Art Gallery. The exhibition will also give a rare opportunity to see personal possessions of the artist – his fishing rod, travelling watercolour box and watercolour palette – from The Royal Academy of Arts.How is "Registration fee included in the capital lease (if financed, cannot exceed 2% of Line 8)  10." said in French?
Droits d'enregistrement inclus au contrat (si financé, ne peut excéder 2 p. 100 de la ligne 8)  10.According to a new post on the official Elden Ring Twitter page, Elden Ring will receive a local release of 12:00am on 25 February 2022 on consoles, meaning that the game will be playable at the stroke of midnight in most time zones. PC players in the UK will be able to play the game from 11pm on 24 February, an hour before their console counterparts.Referring to Hue, we immediately think of the traditional values in Vietnamese culture, so the resorts in Hue also have a very unique beauty, which is a harmonious combination between modernity and design lines. classic design
Hue is the ideal destination for those who want to immerse themselves in nature, To relax after the fatigue and hustle in the city. Alba Wellness Valley is an ideal choice to have a complete thought. Recognized as the Top 4 Wellness Spa in Asia by the prestigious NOW Travel Asia magazine in 2018. This luxury resort was designed by a Japanese architect.
The space at Alba Wellness Valley resort is extremely spacious and relaxing.
Photo:@cmashup
The resort is covered with many tropical trees such as bamboo, creating a very typical local culture. Alba Wellness Valley consists of 26 classy bungalow rooms, built around a large swimming pool in the middle. Before and behind each bungalow is a spacious garden, planted with flowers and green grass. Each bungalow is beautifully designed, incorporating a lot of traditional details of Vietnamese culture such as conical lampshades, furniture. and items are made of wood, stone, and bamboo.
A lot of tropical trees such as bamboo, create the resort’s own character.
Extremely unique design with ancient ideas.
Inside each room, there is also a bamboo swing to increase the freshness of the guests. Not only is the resort close to nature, but Alba Wellness Valley also has an onsen hot spring bath service.
Photo:@cmashup
Photo:@cmashup
This is a combination of Japanese culture, giving visitors an experience that is both close and new. If you have never known Onsen, the staff will show you 7 steps of Onsen bathing from 1 to 7 listed in each bathroom, ranging from mineral bath, micro-jacuzzi, jet pool, cold pool, outdoor hot mineral springs, dry and wet saunas, and don’t forget to end your journey at the outdoor mineral springs, in the Japanese garden.Alba Wellness Valley deserves a peaceful place to find yourself later stressful days, tired with life.
.The University of Washington’s Global Business Center is pleased to announce its selection as one of only 17 Centers for International Business Education & Research (CIBER) as designated by the U.S. Department of Education.
The CIBERs were created by Congress in 1988 to increase and promote the nation’s capacity for international understanding and competitiveness. The Global Business Center, housed at the Michael G. Foster School of Business, has been a grant recipient since 1990. The competition this year was fierce as the pool of available grants had been reduced from 33 to just 17.
The Global Business Center will leverage this grant funding to draw on the strengths of the UW in implementing thirty-six new initiatives over the next four years with a focus on: (1) understanding Asia-Pacific markets; (2) the role of supply chains in global trade and investment; and (3) experiential learning for career-readiness.
Career-focused study abroad and global experiential learning opportunities for students.
Programs that support faculty research and teaching related to the business, economic and cultural environments of Asia.
Education for the business and academic communities about new Arctic trade routes.
Global Career Pathways Programs that prepare community college graduates for careers in international trade, supply chain management, and cybersecurity.
The four-year CIBER grant will also allow the Global Business Center to build on its core competency of delivering outstanding student programs such as MBA Global Business Study Tours, the nationally ranked undergraduate Certificate of International Studies in Business, and the Global Business Case Competition.
Putting together this winning proposal and rolling out these new initiatives would not be possible without the immense support that the Global Business Center receives from numerous individuals, community and corporate partners, and the University of Washington. Thank you to all