📈 My Order Advice is Too High
When you open the Purchase Page and see an order advice that seems drastically higher than what you expected, it is completely normal to feel a bit concerned. However, remember that Optiply is purely data-driven. The algorithm isn't malfunctioning; it is simply calculating exactly what is needed based on your current settings!
When an order advice is too high, we generally divide the issue into two distinct categories: Quantities that are too large, and Orders that are too expensive. Here is how to diagnose and solve both issues.
🛑 1. Key Takeaways: Diagnosing the Issue
Determine which of these two scenarios best describes your situation to find the correct fix:
Scenario A: The quantities are too large to order
If the sheer volume of items suggested is simply too high (e.g., it will overfill your warehouse or leave you with stock that will take years to sell), the issue usually lies with your buffer stock settings.
The Fix (Adjust Service Levels): To lower the baseline order advice, you need to adjust your Desired Service Levels downwards. If you currently have a 'C' category product set to a 98% service level, the system is buying massive amounts of safety stock just to ensure you never run out. Lowering this to 90% or 85% will immediately shrink the recommended order quantities.
Scenario B: The total order is too expensive
Sometimes the physical quantity makes sense for the timeframe, but buying it all at once causes a major cash flow issue. This happens when the system is forced to buy several months' worth of inventory in a single order.
The Fix (Shorten the Order Period): We recommend adjusting your "Order Period" (also known as your Reorder Period or purchasing rhythm). If you currently order from this supplier once every 60 days, try changing it to once every 14 days. This allows you to order much more frequently in smaller, less expensive batches!
⚠️ Important: If you shorten your order period, you must actually place the orders and receive the deliveries on that new, faster schedule. Do not shorten the period if your supplier cannot handle frequent, small shipments!
❓ 2. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Are there any other reasons the advice might be too high?
Yes! If you have checked your service levels and order periods and the numbers still look wrong, check for two common data errors:
Unrecorded Promotions: Did you have a massive sale last month that you didn't mark in the Promotions tool? The system might think that a huge spike in sales is your new "normal."
Supplier Constraints: Does your supplier have a Minimum Order Quantity (MOQ) or a Lot Size set up in Optiply? The system might be advising 500 units simply because the supplier's MOQ forces it to!
Where do I change my Service Levels?
You can lower your service levels for specific categories by navigating to Settings > ABC - XYZ classification in your Optiply dashboard.
Where do I change my Order Period?
The order period dictates how often you purchase from a specific vendor. You can adjust this by navigating to the Suppliers page, clicking on the specific supplier, and editing their delivery constraints.