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Supplier Lead Time and Product Lead Time

Learn the difference between Supplier Lead Time (default) and Product Lead Time (specific), how to set them in Optiply, and why a minimum of 1 day is required for accurate purchasing advice.

Ricardo Guerreiro avatar
Written by Ricardo Guerreiro
Updated over 2 weeks ago

🚚 Setting Supplier and Product Lead Times

Lead Time is the total time it takes from the moment you place an order with your supplier until the stock is received and available in your warehouse.

Optiply measures lead time in days. This metric is critical for calculation; without a valid lead time, Optiply cannot generate purchasing advice.

Minimum Requirement: A lead time must be at least 1 day. A value of 0 implies instant delivery, which the system does not support.

1. Supplier Lead Time (The Default)

The Supplier Lead Time acts as the general default for a specific vendor. If you set this to 14 days, Optiply assumes every product from this supplier takes 14 days to arrive, unless specified otherwise.

How to Set Supplier Lead Time

  1. Go to the Suppliers Page: Navigate to your list of suppliers.

  2. Select a Supplier: Click on the specific supplier you want to edit.

  3. Navigate to Information: Open the Information tab.

  4. Locate Order Cycle: Look for the Order Cycle section.

  5. Enter Lead Time: Fill in the number of days in the Lead Time field.

  6. Save: Click Save to apply the changes.
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2. Product Lead Time (The Exception)

The Product Lead Time is used for specific items that take longer or shorter to deliver than the supplier's standard.

  • The Priority Rule: Product Lead Time overrides Supplier Lead Time. If a Product Lead Time exists, Optiply will use that specific number and ignore the general supplier setting.

How to Set Product Lead Time

  1. Go to the Products Page: Navigate to your product overview.

  2. Select a Product: Click on the specific product to open its details.

  3. Navigate to Suppliers: Click on the Suppliers tab within the product page.

  4. Edit: Click the Edit button next to the connected supplier.

  5. Enter Lead Time: Fill in the specific Product Lead Time field with the number of days.

  6. Save: Click Save to confirm.

Bulk Updates

  • Product Lead Times: You can upload specific lead times for many products at once using an import file. Please find the correct format on the product-suppliers-data page.

  • Supplier Lead Times: To update general lead times for many suppliers at once, please check this page for details or reach out to our support team at support@optiply.nl or via chat, and we will assist you with the bulk update.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Why am I not receiving purchasing advice for a supplier?

Check your lead time. If the lead time is missing (blank) or set to invalid values, Optiply cannot calculate when to order. Ensure at least the Supplier Lead Time is filled in.

I changed the Supplier Lead Time, but the advice didn't change for some items. Why?

Check if those items have a Product Lead Time set. Remember, the Product Lead Time takes priority. If you want the new Supplier Lead Time to apply to everything, you may need to remove the specific product overrides.

Does Lead Time include weekends?

Yes, Lead Time in Optiply is generally counted in calendar days, meaning it includes weekends. If a supplier takes "2 weeks," you should enter 14 days.

Can I set a Lead Time of 0 days?

No. The system requires a minimum of 1 day to function correctly. Even if you pick up goods locally the same day, enter "1" to represent the administrative processing time.


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