Which of the following is a benefit of data for operations?

• A. Hiring
• B. Forecasting
• C. Marketing spend
• D. Public relations

Answer: (B)

Forecasting with data drives better operations planning. By analyzing historical data on demand, production rates, inventory levels, and supplier lead times, you can predict future needs and plan capacity, scheduling, and material purchases accordingly. This helps balance workloads, reduce delays, and cut costs by avoiding overstock or underproduction, making forecasting the strongest operational benefit among the options. Hiring, marketing spend, and public relations relate to other business functions and aren’t direct operational benefits.