Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about Forthcast. Can't find the answer you're looking for? Contact our team.
Getting Started
How do I install Forthcast?
Install Forthcast directly from the Shopify App Store. Search for "Forthcast", click Install, and follow the on-screen prompts. Your store data will start syncing immediately after installation. Most merchants see their first forecasts within a few minutes once historical orders have loaded.
How much historical data do I need for forecasting to work?
Forthcast works best with at least 30 days of sales history, but can generate useful forecasts with as little as 14 days. The more history you have, the better the model can detect seasonality, trends, and demand patterns. If you're a new store, Forthcast will improve automatically as your sales data grows.
Is there a free trial?
Yes — Forthcast includes a 14-day free trial. No credit card is required to start. You get access to all features during the trial period. After 14 days, you can subscribe for $19.99/month through Shopify's standard billing.
Forecasting
How does Forthcast generate demand forecasts?
Forthcast analyzes your historical order data to detect trends, seasonality, and demand patterns for each product variant. The model calculates a projected daily demand rate and uses that to forecast future sales over your chosen replenishment horizon. Forecasts are updated automatically whenever new orders are synced from your store.
What is safety stock and how is it calculated?
Safety stock is a buffer of extra inventory that protects against unexpected demand spikes or supplier delays. Forthcast calculates safety stock based on your demand variability and your supplier's lead time variability, using a configurable service level target (e.g. 95%). A higher service level means a larger buffer and fewer stockouts.
Does Forthcast support multi-location inventory?
Yes. Forthcast supports Shopify stores with multiple locations. You can view inventory levels and reorder recommendations per location, and create purchase orders assigned to a specific receiving location.
What are lost sales and how does Forthcast track them?
Lost sales represent demand that went unfulfilled because a product was out of stock. Forthcast estimates lost sales by comparing projected demand against inventory availability during stockout periods. This helps you understand the true cost of stockouts and prioritize restocking decisions more accurately.
Purchase Orders
How do I create a purchase order in Forthcast?
Go to the Replenishment section, select the products you want to reorder, and click "Create Purchase Order." Forthcast pre-fills order quantities based on your reorder point and safety stock settings. You can edit quantities before saving. Once created, a PO moves through Draft → Sent → Received stages so you can track its lifecycle.
Does Forthcast update my Shopify inventory when I receive a purchase order?
Yes. When you mark a purchase order as Received in Forthcast, the received quantities are automatically added to your Shopify inventory at the selected location. You can also receive a partial shipment and leave the PO open for the remainder.
Can I manage multiple suppliers?
Yes. You can add suppliers in Forthcast and assign products to a default supplier. Forthcast tracks each supplier's average lead time and delivery reliability, and generates a supplier reliability grade so you can identify which vendors are most consistent.
Billing & Plans
How much does Forthcast cost?
Forthcast is $19.99 per month, billed through Shopify. The subscription covers all features with no per-product or per-location limits. The first 14 days are free — no credit card needed to start.
How do I cancel my subscription?
You can cancel at any time by uninstalling Forthcast from your Shopify admin (Apps → Forthcast → Delete). Your subscription will remain active until the end of the current billing period, and you won't be charged again after that.
Data & Privacy
What data does Forthcast access from my Shopify store?
Forthcast reads your product catalog (titles, SKUs, variants), inventory levels, and order history. This data is used solely to power forecasting and replenishment features. We do not access customer personal data beyond what is included in orders (quantities and dates).
Is my data secure?
Yes. All data is transmitted over HTTPS/TLS encryption. Shopify access tokens are encrypted at rest. We use industry-standard cloud infrastructure with restricted access controls. For full details, see our Privacy Policy.
What happens to my data if I uninstall the app?
When you uninstall Forthcast, your data is retained for 30 days and then permanently deleted from our systems. We comply fully with Shopify's GDPR requirements, including responding to shop redact webhooks within the required timeframe.