> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.tetherdata.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Periods

> Configure fiscal periods and time boundaries

# Periods

Configure how Tether handles time periods for forecasting, reporting, and planning.

<Note>
  Period configuration requires Admin access.
</Note>

## What Are Periods?

Periods define time boundaries used throughout Tether:

| Use             | Description                  |
| --------------- | ---------------------------- |
| **Forecasting** | Time buckets for predictions |
| **Reporting**   | Aggregation boundaries       |
| **Planning**    | Planning horizons            |
| **Comparison**  | Period-over-period analysis  |

## Accessing Period Settings

<Steps>
  <Step title="Go to Settings">
    Click your **profile avatar** in the top-right corner and select **Settings**
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select Period Management">
    Click **Configure Periods** on the **Period Management** card
  </Step>

  <Step title="View Configuration">
    See current period settings
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Period Types

### Fiscal Year

Configure your fiscal year:

| Setting         | Description               |
| --------------- | ------------------------- |
| **Start Month** | When fiscal year begins   |
| **Year Naming** | How to label fiscal years |

### Fiscal Periods

Define periods within the year:

| Type          | Description                            |
| ------------- | -------------------------------------- |
| **Monthly**   | 12 periods per year                    |
| **Quarterly** | 4 periods per year                     |
| **Weekly**    | 52 periods per year                    |
| **4-4-5**     | Retail calendar (13 weeks per quarter) |

### Planning Horizons

Define how far ahead to plan:

| Horizon         | Typical Use              |
| --------------- | ------------------------ |
| **Short-term**  | 1-3 months, tactical     |
| **Medium-term** | 3-12 months, operational |
| **Long-term**   | 1-3 years, strategic     |

## Configuring Fiscal Year

### Setting Fiscal Year Start

<Steps>
  <Step title="Go to Period Settings">
    Navigate to periods configuration
  </Step>

  <Step title="Find Fiscal Year">
    Locate fiscal year settings
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select Start Month">
    Choose when your fiscal year begins
  </Step>

  <Step title="Save">
    Apply configuration
  </Step>
</Steps>

### Example Fiscal Years

| Company Type   | Common Start |
| -------------- | ------------ |
| **Calendar**   | January      |
| **Retail**     | February     |
| **Education**  | July         |
| **Government** | October      |

## Configuring Period Granularity

### Forecast Periods

Choose time granularity for forecasts:

| Granularity | When to Use              |
| ----------- | ------------------------ |
| **Daily**   | Short-term, high-volume  |
| **Weekly**  | Most businesses          |
| **Monthly** | Longer planning horizons |

### Configuring Granularity

<Steps>
  <Step title="Go to Period Settings">
    Navigate to periods configuration
  </Step>

  <Step title="Find Forecast Settings">
    Locate forecast period settings
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select Granularity">
    Choose daily, weekly, or monthly
  </Step>

  <Step title="Save">
    Apply settings
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Period Labels

### Naming Conventions

Configure how periods are labeled:

| Example          | Format       |
| ---------------- | ------------ |
| **Jan 2024**     | Month Year   |
| **2024-01**      | Year-Month   |
| **Week 1, 2024** | Week Number  |
| **Q1 2024**      | Quarter Year |

### Customizing Labels

<Steps>
  <Step title="Go to Period Settings">
    Navigate to configuration
  </Step>

  <Step title="Find Label Settings">
    Locate period label configuration
  </Step>

  <Step title="Choose Format">
    Select preferred naming convention
  </Step>

  <Step title="Save">
    Apply settings
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Period-Based Features

### Forecasting

Periods affect forecasting:

| Setting         | Impact                               |
| --------------- | ------------------------------------ |
| **Granularity** | Daily vs weekly vs monthly forecasts |
| **Horizon**     | How far ahead to forecast            |
| **Aggregation** | How to roll up periods               |

### Reporting

Periods affect reporting:

| Feature          | Period Use         |
| ---------------- | ------------------ |
| **Date filters** | Period boundaries  |
| **Comparisons**  | Period-over-period |
| **Aggregation**  | Grouping by period |

### Planning

Periods affect planning:

| Feature                    | Period Use       |
| -------------------------- | ---------------- |
| **Supply planning**        | Planning horizon |
| **Order recommendations**  | Timing           |
| **Lead time calculations** | Period alignment |

## Week Configuration

### Week Start Day

Configure when weeks begin:

| Day          | Common Use      |
| ------------ | --------------- |
| **Sunday**   | US retail       |
| **Monday**   | Most businesses |
| **Saturday** | Some retail     |

### Week Numbering

Choose week numbering system:

| System     | Description                     |
| ---------- | ------------------------------- |
| **ISO**    | International standard          |
| **US**     | Week containing Jan 1 is week 1 |
| **Custom** | Based on fiscal year            |

## Best Practices

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Match Business Calendar">
    Align Tether periods with:

    * Fiscal calendar
    * ERP system
    * Reporting requirements
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Consider Data Volume">
    Choose appropriate granularity:

    * Daily for high-volume
    * Weekly for most cases
    * Monthly for long-horizon planning
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Plan Ahead">
    Set up future periods:

    * At least 1 year ahead
    * Before year-end close
    * Consider planning horizon
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Consistent Boundaries">
    Keep period boundaries consistent:

    * Same across systems
    * Don't change mid-year
    * Document decisions
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Period Impact on Analysis

### Year-over-Year Comparisons

Period alignment affects comparisons:

| Issue              | Solution                       |
| ------------------ | ------------------------------ |
| **Leap years**     | Adjust for extra day           |
| **Week alignment** | Compare same week number       |
| **Holiday shifts** | Account for timing differences |

### Seasonality

Periods affect seasonality detection:

| Granularity | Seasonality Detection  |
| ----------- | ---------------------- |
| **Daily**   | Day-of-week patterns   |
| **Weekly**  | Week-of-year patterns  |
| **Monthly** | Month-of-year patterns |

## Troubleshooting

### Periods Not Aligning

**Possible causes:**

* Different fiscal year settings
* Week start mismatch
* Period boundaries differ from source

**Solutions:**

1. Review fiscal year configuration
2. Check week start day
3. Align with source systems

### Missing Periods

**Possible causes:**

* Future periods not generated
* Period range not extended
* Configuration incomplete

**Solutions:**

1. Generate future periods
2. Extend date range
3. Complete configuration

## Next Steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Inventory Settings" icon="gear" href="/administration/inventory-settings">
    Configure inventory
  </Card>

  <Card title="Terminology" icon="book" href="/administration/terminology">
    Customize terms
  </Card>

  <Card title="Forecasting" icon="chart-line" href="/demand-forecasting/admin">
    Forecast administration
  </Card>

  <Card title="User Access" icon="users" href="/administration/user-access">
    Manage permissions
  </Card>
</CardGroup>