Sales Forecasting terminology

  • Release version: Yokohama
  • Updated March 29, 2025
  • 2 minutes to read
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    Summary of Sales Forecasting terminology

    This content introduces essential terms and concepts related to Sales Forecasting in ServiceNow, specifically for the Yokohama release. It helps customers understand how sales predictions are structured, categorized, and aggregated to support effective sales planning and performance tracking.

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    Key Features

    • Forecast Model: A framework used to predict future sales by analyzing historical data and current opportunities. Currently, only the Opportunity Amount Forecast model is available, allowing users to forecast sales for active opportunities.
    • Forecast Category: Opportunities are classified based on their likelihood of closure, enabling clearer visibility of sales pipeline stages. Default categories include:
      • Won – Closed and won opportunities
      • Commit – Opportunities expected to close within the forecast period
      • Strong Upside – High potential but some uncertainty
      • Upside – Moderate potential with less certainty
      • Pipeline – Early-stage opportunities with uncertain closure
      • Omitted – Excluded from forecasts due to insufficient data
    • Forecast Rollup Method: Defines how categorized opportunities are aggregated into forecast figures. Two methods are available:
      • Single Rollup: Each forecast category is displayed separately with only its respective opportunities.
      • Cumulative Rollup: Categories are aggregated cumulatively, where higher-level categories include opportunities from lower categories, providing a progressive summary of sales potential.
    • Forecast Schedule: Automates the retrieval of all opportunities and refreshes forecast data to keep sales predictions current.
    • Sales Quota Management: Enables assignment of sales targets to representatives and managers aligned with their role, hierarchy, and forecast period, supporting goal tracking and performance management.

    Key Outcomes

    ServiceNow customers leveraging these sales forecasting concepts can expect improved visibility into their sales pipeline, more accurate sales predictions, and structured sales performance management. The defined categories and rollup methods enable tailored forecasting views aligned with business needs, while sales quotas help enforce accountability and track progress toward targets.

    Use the following list of terms to gain an understanding of Sales Forecasting concepts, components, and configuration.

    Forecast Model

    The forecast Model is a framework or method used to predict future sales based on historical data, current sales activities, and other relevant factors. It helps businesses estimate the expected sales figures over a specific period, such as a quarter or year. Only one forecast model, Opportunity Amount Forecast is available to the users. You can view forecast the sales for the current opportunities in the system.

    Forecast Category

    The classification of opportunities is based on the level of certainty regarding their closure. The longer a sales prospect progresses along the sales pipeline, the better their chances of converting.  The forecast admin can configure these categories. By default, these six categories are available:
    • Won:  Opportunities that have already been closed and won.​
    • Commit: Opportunities that sales reps are confident will close within the forecast period.​
    • Strong upside:  Opportunities with greatest potential to close but have some minor uncertainty.
    • Upside: Opportunities with potential to close but with lower level of certainty.
    • Pipeline: Opportunities in the early stages of the sales process with uncertainty if they will be closed deals.
    • Omitted:  Opportunities that are excluded from forecast​ due to lack of data.

    Forecast rollup method

    The forecast model defines how opportunities within different categories are aggregated into a forecast. ​There are two primary types of rollups: single and cumulative.

    When you select Single, this rollup method ensures that each forecast category is represented in its own column, with only the opportunities in that category being included.
    Table 1. Single rollup method
    Column Name on Forecast page Opportunities that roll up to it from a forecast category
    Pipeline Pipeline
    Upside Upside
    Strong Upside Strong Upside
    Commit Commit
    Won Won
    When you select Cumulative, this rollup method aggregates forecast categories in a cumulative manner, where each subsequent category includes the opportunities from the previous categories. Each cumulative rollup method aggregates opportunities from higher order forecast categories.
    Table 2. Cumulative rollup method
    Column Name on Forecast page Opportunities that roll up to it from a forecast category
    Open pipeline Pipeline + Upside + Strong Upside + Commit + Won
    Cumulative Upside Upside + Strong Upside + Commit + Won
    Cumulative Strong Upside Strong Upside + Commit + Won
    Cumulative Commit Commit + Won
    Won Won

    Forecast schedule

    The forecast schedule fetches all the opportunities in the system and generates the latest forecast data.

    Sales Quota Management

    You can assign sales quota targets to sales representatives and managers based on their hierarchy, role, and forecast period.