Your path to effective order management is clear
Without clear order status from your suppliers, unanswered questions quickly turn into expensive problems. Open-to-buy dollars go unused, products aren’t there when customers need them and teams waste hours chasing updates. Learn how supplier collaboration helps you strengthen order management and keep customers satisfied.
Common order management challenges
Many retailers, grocers and distributors lack timely and accurate data from their suppliers, making it difficult to understand the status of their orders. As a result, they can’t respond to order issues until it’s too late.
Without critical order status data, you lose time and money due to:
Unused open-to-buy dollars
Unpredictable lead times
The inability to optimize stock levels
Empty shelves and dissatisfied consumers
Unnecessary staffing expenses tied to manual processes for contacting suppliers and managing order updates
Order challenges often point to broader supply chain issues. Take our Health Vitals quiz to see where you stand.
Frequently asked questions about order management
What makes effective order management so difficult to achieve?
Effective order management depends on accurate, timely information from suppliers. Without it, retailers experience partial shipments, shifting lead times and wasted open-to-buy dollars. Setting clear standards and holding suppliers accountable supports reliable order fulfillment.
How do manual processes affect order management?
Manual processes force teams to track down supplier updates, re-enter data and fix errors after the fact. This slows the order fulfillment process, increases costs and creates risks that affect the customer experience.
Which EDI documents matter most in the order management process?
Effective order management begins with the purchase order (EDI 850). The purchase order acknowledgment (EDI 855) confirms what the supplier will deliver and when. The advance ship notice (EDI 856) shares delivery details, and the invoice (EDI 810) completes the order cycle. Together, these documents provide visibility from order to fulfillment and form the foundation for accurate invoice reconciliation.
What role do suppliers play in effective order management?
In an effective order management process, suppliers confirm orders promptly, share shipment details in advance and send accurate invoices. Effective supplier onboarding empowers suppliers to follow your standards from the start, reducing manual processes and giving retailers the visibility needed to deliver a better customer experience.
How does SPS work with order management software?
The SPS Supply Chain Performance Suite integrates with your existing ERP, eCommerce, order management or other systems to automate supplier data exchange, track performance and strengthen the order management process.
How does order management affect the customer experience?
Strong order management keeps inventory flowing and prevents surprises. With accurate supplier updates, retailers can align inventory management to demand, avoid stockouts and ensure customers find the products they expect.
From manual processes to seamless collaboration
Create the purchase order
Create the purchase order
Confirm the order
Confirm the order
Ship products
Ship products
Receive the order
Receive the order
Reconcile the invoice
Reconcile the invoice
We know when an order will be delivered and if it shipped in full. We know if and when we would run out of stock. We can set consumer expectations. And we know when the stock situation would recover.
Scott Brenner, Procurement Manager, Thrive Market
Get visibility into every step of the order management process
The SPS Supply Chain Relationship Management Solution provides the technology, expertise and proven processes you need to gain visibility and control over orders from start to finish. Suppliers meet your standards faster with expert onboarding, while real-time monitoring and alerts keep supplier execution on track.
- Manage supplier requirements and communication in one place
- Accelerate onboarding with programs tailored to every supplier
- Track compliance and performance with dashboards and reports
- Strengthen execution with ongoing expert guidance