Industry forecasting involves projecting how a particular sector will evolve over time, using a combination of historical data, demand drivers, regulatory signals and macroeconomic assumptions. Consultants will segment the market, identify growth pockets, quantify addressable demand and model different scenarios — for example, high-growth, base-case and downturn — to reflect uncertainty. This is particularly useful for capacity planning, pricing strategy, fundraising, and for lenders assessing sector exposure. In regulated or fast-changing industries (healthcare, logistics, real estate, tech-enabled services), forecasting also incorporates policy shifts, technology adoption curves and competitor investment plans. The value of a good forecast is not that it claims to be perfectly accurate, but that it clearly states its assumptions and gives management a structured view of what could happen, and how to prepare.
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Industry Forecasting: What it actually means?
