Manage products and delivery dates that can be confidently promised to the customer, not just physical inventory.
In e-commerce, the same stock can be sold by stores, call centers, marketplaces, and other channels. Not all of the quantity shown in the warehouse may be available for sale; reservations, quality control, safety stock, or other orders must be considered.
Stock visibility and order fulfillment systems should differentiate between current products and those to be produced or supplied in the future, offering customers realistic delivery promises.
Stock levels
Freely available stock
Stock reserved for order
Quality control or blocked stock
Entrance on the way or expected entrance
Quantity in production
Store, warehouse and supplier inventories
Returned stock awaiting evaluation.
Marketability accounts
Current saleable quantity
Amount that can be promised on a specific date.
Quantity that can be promised depending on production or supply capacity.
Channel allocation and safety stock
Pre-order and backorder rules
Reservation duration and priorities
Selection of welcoming source
Orders can be routed to the most suitable warehouse, store, production facility, or supplier based on factors such as delivery time, stock, warehouse capacity, transportation costs, distance, and the splitting effect of the order. Sourcing principles should consider both customer promise and total cost.
Stock accuracy and exceptions
Booking failure
Difference between physical and system stock.
Negative or delayed stock updates.
Simultaneous demand for the same stock
Product in the wrong location
Products that cannot be sold due to damage or quality issues.
Performance indicators
Stock accuracy
Order fulfillment rate
Cancelled due to lack of stock.
Backorder period
Order split rate
Delivery and cost results after source selection.
Manage inventory information not as a simple number of items in the warehouse, but as a reliable customer commitment that takes into account booking, channel, capacity, and delivery time.