📦 Mandatory Ordering: Setting the Product Lot Size
The Lot Size (often referred to as 'Order in Multiples of') is a mandatory requirement set by your supplier for specific products. It indicates the minimum unit quantity you must order at one time (e.g., you must order batteries in packs of 10, not individually).
Optiply uses the Lot Size to automatically round up the recommended purchase quantity, ensuring that your final order adheres to the supplier's packaging or carton requirements.
How the Rounding Rule Works
When Optiply calculates the purchase advice for a product, it applies the Lot Size rule by rounding the advice up to the smallest required multiple.
Rule: When the Lot Size is greater than 1, Optiply always orders the smallest multiple of the Lot Size that covers the calculated advice.
Example 1: If a product's Lot Size is 6 (a six-pack) and the order advice is 13, Optiply rounds up to 18 (the smallest multiple of 6 that covers 13).
Example 2: If the Lot Size is 10 and the order advice is 50, the advice remains 50 (as it is already an exact multiple).
Editing the Lot Size in Optiply (Single Product)
The Lot Size is stored per product, under its associated supplier relationship.
Go to the Product Page: Navigate to the Products overview page in Optiply.
Select the Product: Click on the specific product you wish to edit.
Navigate to the Suppliers Tab: Click on the Suppliers tab in the product detail view.
Open Edit Mode: Find the supplier you source the product from and click the Edit button next to that supplier.
Enter Lot Size: Locate the Lot Size field and enter the required amount (e.g., 6, 10, 12).
Save Changes: Click Save to apply the new ordering requirement.
Editing the Lot Size in Optiply (Bulk Upload)
For updating many products at once, you can use a bulk import file:
You can make changes to the Lot Size in bulk by using our dedicated import template. Check out this link for instructions and the file template.
Source System Note: Depending on your integrated source system (WMS/ERP), the Lot Size may be synced automatically. You can check your Integrations page in Settings to see if your source system supports Lot Size syncing.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What happens if I forget to set the Lot Size?
If the Lot Size is not set correctly, Optiply may recommend a quantity that your supplier cannot fulfil (e.g., 17 units of a product sold only in packs of 20). This will result in manual correction of the purchase order before sending it to the supplier.
Does the Lot Size override the Minimum Order Quantity (MOQ)?
No. Both rules are applied. If the purchase advice is 3 units, the Lot Size is 6, and the MOQ is 12, the final order quantity will be 12 (the largest of the two binding requirements).
What is the maximum Lot Size I can enter?
While there is typically no technical limit, the Lot Size should reflect the largest packaging unit your supplier enforces. If your orders must be sent by mail/email, this is typically the unit size they accept.
If I source a product from two suppliers, do I set the Lot Size twice?
Yes. Since the Lot Size is a supplier requirement, you must edit the Lot Size for that product under each relevant supplier on the Suppliers tab.