This automatic process continuously monitors each of your products so as to maintain the lowest possible stock levels, but continue to meet the expectations of your customer.
For each of your SKUs (Stock Keeping Units), micommerce stores the current stock level, the number allocated to orders and on order from a supplier, the reorder trigger and the reorder amount (in both purchase and sell pack sizes). As soon as the reorder trigger level is reached, the item is added to the next purchase order process to ensure that new stock will be in place before the current level expires.
Stock can be ordered from any number of suppliers, held within multiple locations (such as bulk, primary and quarantine) and then multiple batch numbers within each location.
For the stock manager, it is vital to know the exact stock level of each item in each location. However for the customer, the actual level is not so important. Showing the customer a stock level of zero is likely to make them assume that the item is not available and they should look to purchase elsewhere, however in reality, that out of stock item may be able to be reordered for despatch to them the very next day.
Within micommerce, whenever an item is selected for purchase (either internally or over the web) the customer can be provided with a calculated estimation of when the item will ship. For an in-stock item, this is most likely 24 hours, however for an out of stock item it could be 48 hours or even 28 days. Either way, this information empowers the customer with the ability to make their own decisions and thus ensures that they are in charge of managing their own specific requirements and expectations.
