When a product is phased out, Optiply will not keep the product in stock. Therefore, the product will only be advised to purchase when the stock position is smaller than 0.
Why would you phase out a product?
You can phase out products for several reasons:
You want to remove the product from your assortment, but the product is still available for purchase.
You know you don't need the product for the next six months and don't want to restock it.
This product is drop-shipped or cross-docked
Check this page to learn how to phase out in the Optiply frontend.
Phase out temporarily
When you temporarily phase out a product, it will reappear in the purchase advice after the set date. The advised stock level will be updated automatically.
Selling products that are not kept in stock
Products you want to sell, but do not want to keep in stock, can also be put on 'phasing out'. In fact, 'phasing out' means topping up to 0; we will only buy the product if your stock gets negative.
Check this page to learn how to phase out in bulk!
📉 Managing Phased-Out and Drop-Ship Products
When a product is marked as Phased Out in Optiply, the system switches its inventory strategy from "Stock Keeping" to "Zero Stock Target."
Optiply will no longer hold inventory for this item. Instead, it will only recommend purchasing if your stock position becomes negative (i.e., you have backorders).
The "Top Up to Zero" Logic
Phasing out essentially means "Top Up to 0."
Positive Stock: If you have stock on the shelf, Optiply will advise purchasing 0, allowing you to sell off the remaining inventory.
Negative Stock: If you have sold items you don't have (backorders), Optiply will advise purchasing exactly enough to cover those orders and bring the balance back to 0.
Target Stock = 0
Common Use Cases
Why would you phase out a product? This status is versatile and used for more than just discontinuing items:
End of Life (Discontinuation): You want to remove the product from your assortment permanently but need to sell off existing stock first.
Drop-Shipping / Cross-Docking: You want to sell the product but never hold stock in your warehouse. By setting it to Phased Out, Optiply ensures you only buy exactly what has already been sold to a customer.
Seasonal Pauses: You know you don't need the product for the next specific period (e.g., the next six months) and want to avoid restocking it until the season returns.
Temporary Phase Out
You can phase out a product temporarily.
How it works: When setting the status, you can define a specific date for the product to become active again.
Result: The product will remain phased out until that date. Once the date passes, it effectively "wakes up," and Optiply will automatically resume calculating purchase advice based on the forecast to restock the item.
How to Phase Out Products
Single Product (Frontend)
You can easily change the status of an individual product directly from its product page.
Go to the Product Page: Search for and click on the product you wish to phase out.
Navigate to Information: Click on the Information tab in the product menu.
Locate Product Settings: Scroll down to the Product Settings.
Change Status: Select Phased Out from the toggle button.
Set End Date (Optional): If this is a seasonal pause, enter the date you want the product to become active again in the Select a date field.
Save: Click Save on the top right-hand side of the page to apply the changes.
Bulk Updates
To phase out a large list of products at once (e.g., for a seasonal changeover), use the bulk import feature. Check this page for instructions.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Does 'Phased Out' mean Optiply will never order the product?
No. Optiply will order the product if you have negative stock (customer backorders). It will generate a "Purchase to Order" advice to fulfil those specific sales. If you want to stop ordering completely, you should set the product to Disabled.
I phased out a product, but Optiply is still telling me to stock it. Why?
Check your Minimum Stock Level. A Minimum Stock Level > 0 overrides the Phased Out status. If you have a minimum stock set, Optiply will obey that rule and try to keep stock on the shelf. You must set Minimum Stock to 0.
What is the difference between Phased Out and ignored?
Phased Out: "Don't hold stock, but buy it if we sell it." (Active for backorders).
ignored: "Ignore this product completely." (No purchasing, no calculations, removed from lists).
Can I use Phased Out for seasonal items?
Yes. This is the recommended way to handle off-season items. Set them to Phased Out so you don't restock during the low season, and use the Temporary Phase Out date to automatically reactivate them when the season begins.
