🎥Webinar #1: Top 4 Most Common Mistakes Measured by Optiply
After analysing the daily purchasing habits and data of over 500 webshops, our Customer Success team discovered a fascinating pattern: there are four specific, recurring mistakes that frequently prevent users from unlocking Optiply's full potential.
In this inaugural Lunch & Learn session, our Customer Success Managers, Albertine and Meine, dive deep into what these common pitfalls are—and more importantly, the exact steps you can take to easily avoid them.
👉Click here to access the webinar.
(Recorded on: 27/07/2023)
🌍 2. How to Add Translated Subtitles
Because this webinar was originally recorded in Dutch, you can easily use YouTube's auto-translate feature to watch the session with English subtitles (or any other language you prefer!).
To turn on translations:
Open the video and click the CC (Closed Captions) icon on the bottom right of the video player to turn on subtitles.
Click the Settings (Gear) icon right next to it.
Select Subtitles/CC, and then click Auto-translate.
Choose your preferred language from the dropdown list.
That's it! You can now watch the session comfortably in your desired language.
🛑 1. Key Takeaways: The Top 4 Mistakes
If you are short on time, here is a quick recap of the four most common roadblocks discussed in the webinar that might be holding your purchasing strategy back:
Mistake 1: Setting Unrealistic Service Levels
It is tempting to want a 99% delivery reliability for every single product in your store. However, setting service levels too high across the board—especially for slow-moving 'C' category items—forces the algorithm to suggest massive amounts of buffer stock. This ties up your capital in deadstock.
The Fix: Use ABC/XYZ categorisation to prioritise your budget. Assign 95-99% service levels to your top-selling 'A' products, and lower service levels to your 'C' products.
Mistake 2: Incorrect Lead Times and Cycles
Optiply calculates exactly when you need to order based on your "Cycle" (Reorder Period + Lead Time). A frequent mistake is failing to update the Set Lead Time when a supplier becomes slower. If Optiply thinks delivery takes 14 days, but it actually takes 30, your orders will always be placed too late, causing stockouts.
The Fix: Regularly compare your Set Lead Time with the Optiply-Calculated Average Lead Time to ensure the system is working with accurate delivery schedules.
Mistake 3: Missing Supplier Data (MOQs & Lot Sizes)
If you find yourself constantly having to manually edit Optiply's purchase advice (e.g., rounding up quantities to fit in a box), the system is missing crucial constraints.
The Fix: Ensure that Minimum Order Quantities (MOQs) and Lot Sizes are filled in for all your products. You can easily do this in bulk via the Imports/Exports tool!
Mistake 4: Low "Engagement" (Ignoring the Advice)
Optiply is a data-driven tool. A major mistake users make is consistently manually overriding the suggested order quantities based on "gut feeling" without updating the underlying settings. This defeats the purpose of the automation!
The Fix: Strive for an Engagement score of 90% or higher. If the advice looks wrong, don't just change the final number—find out why it looks wrong (e.g., missing promotions, bad lead times) and fix the root setting.
❓ 3. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is this webinar suitable for beginners?
Absolutely! Whether you just launched your webshop or you've been using Optiply for months, Albertine and Meine break down these concepts so anyone can easily understand and adjust their settings.
Where can I check my current Lead Times and Service Levels?
You can review your Service Levels by navigating to Settings > ABC - XYZ classification. To check your lead times, open any individual Supplier page and look at the delivery constraints section.
Will there be more Lunch & Learn sessions?
Yes! This was our inaugural session, but we regularly host these webinars to help you get the most out of your purchasing strategy. Keep an eye on your inbox for future invites and updates!