Bedarf

Bedarf is a German noun that denotes need, requirement, or demand. In everyday language it refers to a lack or desire for something that is necessary or desirable. In economic and business contexts, Bedarf describes the amount of goods, services, or resources that are needed to satisfy a given need, plan, or production process. It can concern individuals, households, organizations, or entire markets.

In economics, Bedarf is sometimes distinguished from Nachfrage (demand). Bedarf captures the need or want that would exist under certain conditions, while Nachfrage refers to the actual willingness and ability to purchase a good at a given price. In production and procurement, Bedarf is used in more concrete senses such as Materialbedarf (materials required for production), Personalbedarf (staffing needs), Finanzbedarf (financing requirements), or Grundbedarf (basic necessities).

Bedarfsermittlung is the process of identifying the quantities of goods or resources required, and Bedarfsplanung is the planning of these needs over time. In manufacturing and logistics, these concepts are central to materials management and supply chain optimization. In enterprise resource planning (ERP) contexts, the terms Ist-Bedarf (current observed requirement) and Soll-Bedarf (target or planned requirement) are used to compare actual needs with planned levels.

Common compound forms include Beschaffungsbedarf (procurement needs), Produktionsbedarf (production requirements), and Kapitalbedarf (capital needs). The term thus spans personal, organizational, and systemic dimensions, from basic daily necessities to complex planning challenges in production and supply chains. See also Nachfrage, Bedarfsplanung, Bedarfs-Ermittlung.