# How To Create A Baseline Forecast

## Objective

Create the initial forecast from a long, representative period of historical demand. The baseline starts capacity planning: use its forecast and required coverage for the upcoming planning horizon.

## Environment

- You have permission to manage forecasts.
- Your workspace has historical support data available from its source. If it has not been connected, [connect Zendesk](/help/articles/connect-zendesk/) first.
- The relevant [queues and channels](/help/articles/configure-queues-and-channels/) and [forecast profiles](/help/articles/set-up-forecast-profiles/) are ready.

## Resolution

1. Open **Forecasts** and select **New Forecast**, then **Generate Forecast**.
2. In **Basic Info**, enter a **Job Name**, choose the **Time Zone**, and select **Sync from Source** under **Data Collection**.
3. In **Historical Data**, select a long, representative source period and the data interval. If the period contains no usable records, [find the missing forecast data](/help/articles/find-missing-forecast-data/) before generating.
4. In **Forecast Window**, choose the future dates and interval for capacity planning. In **Queues & Profiles**, select the queues and channels, then assign a forecasting profile to each combination.
5. Review **Models & Rules** and make any needed selections.
6. On **Review**, confirm the forecast settings, select **Generate Forecast**, and follow the save or confirmation control shown. The forecast must be created before its **Data** tab is available.
7. Open the created forecast’s **Data** tab. Run **Test sync** and review how source tickets map to queues and channels. Resolve tickets outside the forecast scope before a full sync.
8. Run **Full historical sync** and wait for it to complete. Confirm that historical intervals were stored, or reuse a completed dataset if one is available.
9. Open the completed forecast and review its demand and required coverage with [How To Review Forecast Outcomes](/help/articles/review-forecast-volume-and-staffing-requirements/) before planning capacity. To keep the outlook current, [schedule a reforecast](/help/articles/schedule-a-reforecast/); recurring runs can use the latest available historical data within the selected rolling training range.

> Canonical page: https://zenops.cx/help/articles/create-a-forecast/
> Audience: For planners and managers
> Summary: Create a representative baseline forecast and verify its source history.

## Notes on this article

### Note: Test sync does not import history

After step 7 in resolution. The test checks how tickets map to queues and channels. It reads tickets only and does not write historical arrivals.

### Note: A failed sync preserves existing data

After step 8 in resolution. Stored arrivals are replaced only after a full historical sync completes. If a run fails, the existing data remains available.

## Visual references

- Name the forecast, set its timezone, and choose the source for historical data.: [Generate Forecast wizard at Basic Info, showing the job name, Berlin timezone, and Sync from Source selected for data collection.](https://zenops.cx/help/assets/forecast-generate-basic-info.png)
- Choose a representative historical range and data interval for the baseline.: [Generate Forecast wizard at Historical Data, showing a CSV upload area, historical data period, date range, and interval choices.](https://zenops.cx/help/assets/forecast-historical-data.png)
- Test the source mapping before importing historical arrivals. The test checks ticket allocation without writing historical data.: [Forecast Data tab showing Test sync, a notice that 896 of 1,000 tested tickets are outside forecast scope, queue mapping choices, and completed test history.](https://zenops.cx/help/assets/forecast-test-sync.png)
- After reviewing the mapping, run a full sync and confirm that intervals were stored. Completed datasets can be reused for another forecast.: [Forecast Data tab showing 47,506 stored historical intervals, a completed full sync, a reusable historical dataset, and full sync history.](https://zenops.cx/help/assets/forecast-full-historical-sync.png)