Forthcast works with Linnworks

Direct answer: Forthcast connects to Linnworks to pull inventory levels and sales history from all your channels, then generates purchase orders based on real demand patterns across your entire operation. You get accurate forecasts without manual spreadsheets or guesswork.

Managing inventory across multiple sales channels means your data lives in different places. Linnworks handles your warehouse operations and consolidates orders from various platforms, but knowing how much to reorder requires analyzing that sales history. Forthcast reads your Linnworks data to calculate demand forecasts and create purchase orders that reflect what's actually selling, not what you think might sell.

This integration turns your multi-channel sales history into actionable purchasing decisions. Instead of tracking spreadsheets or relying on gut feelings about reorder quantities, you get forecasts based on cross-channel sell-through data that Linnworks has already collected.

How it works

1. Forthcast connects to your Linnworks account and reads inventory levels across all connected sales channels, pulling current stock quantities for each product.
2. The app imports your sales history from Linnworks, capturing transactions from all channels where Linnworks processes orders to build a complete picture of product velocity.
3. Forthcast analyzes the combined sales data to identify demand patterns, seasonal trends, and sell-through rates for each SKU across your entire operation.
4. Based on these forecasts and your current inventory levels, Forthcast generates purchase orders that account for actual cross-channel performance, ensuring you reorder the right quantities at the right time.

Why merchants use Forthcast with Linnworks

• Single source of truth for forecasting: Your sales happen across multiple channels, but Linnworks consolidates that data in one place. Forthcast reads from that central source, so your demand forecasts reflect total performance rather than isolated channel data that might miss the bigger picture.
• Forecasts that account for warehouse reality: Linnworks manages your actual warehouse operations and real inventory positions. When Forthcast pulls this data, your purchase orders reflect what's physically available and what's already committed, not just what your sales channels report.
• Less time on manual analysis: Exporting sales reports from Linnworks, building spreadsheets, and calculating reorder points takes hours each week. Forthcast automates the analysis and generates purchase orders based on the same data you would have analyzed manually, giving you time back for other parts of your business.
• Purchase orders based on cross-channel patterns: A product might sell slowly on your website but move quickly on Amazon. Linnworks tracks both channels, and Forthcast calculates demand based on combined sell-through, so you don't under-order because you only looked at one channel's performance.

Frequently asked questions

How long does initial setup take?

Connecting Forthcast to Linnworks takes about five minutes. You'll authorize Forthcast to access your Linnworks account, select which locations and products to include in forecasting, and the app will begin importing your sales history. Depending on how much historical data you have, the initial sync can take anywhere from a few minutes to an hour, but you can start reviewing forecasts as soon as the import completes.

How often does Forthcast sync with Linnworks?

Forthcast pulls updated inventory levels and new sales data from Linnworks every 24 hours. This daily sync ensures your forecasts reflect recent sales activity without overwhelming your Linnworks system with constant API calls. If you make changes to inventory in Linnworks during the day, those updates will appear in Forthcast during the next scheduled sync.

What happens if the Linnworks connection gets disconnected?

If the connection between Forthcast and Linnworks breaks for any reason, Forthcast will continue showing your last synced data and forecasts, but it won't update with new information until you reconnect. You'll see a warning in your Forthcast dashboard indicating the connection needs attention. Reconnecting follows the same authorization process as initial setup, and once restored, Forthcast will sync any data it missed during the disconnection period.

Does this work with all Linnworks pricing tiers?

Forthcast works with any Linnworks account that has API access enabled. Most Linnworks plans include API access by default, but if you're on a specialized or legacy plan, you should verify that your account can connect to third-party applications. You don't need any specific Linnworks modules or add-ons beyond the core warehouse management features.

Can Forthcast forecast products that sell on some channels but not others?

Yes. Linnworks tracks which channels each product sells through, and Forthcast includes all that data when calculating demand. If you have a product listed on three marketplaces but it only sells on two of them, the forecast will account for sales velocity on those two active channels while ignoring the non-performing listing. This means your purchase orders reflect where products actually move, not where they're merely listed.