Managing Orders - track on partly back-ordered Orders - need a wise advise from logistic profs

[TomPuja]

Hi all!

 

I need some advise on how to arrange back-ordering routines (system) and follow them together with orders that already include back-ordered items. Preferably without any hassle because tasks like processing, packing and shipping can be split among few persons or they can substitute each other and so on.

 

We sell clothes online and it is normal that some particular models or sizes we do not stock but they can be delivered to us within 8 hours. Therefore, we allow customers to order out-of-stock items alone or by adding to ones that are available.

As a result, we have two types of out-of -stock orders:

1) order consisting out-of-stock item(s) only

2) order consisting of few available items and one or few that are out of stock

 

With the 1 type orders there is no big issue as we create and use "Back-ordered" status. However, with the 2 type it is more complicated. For this type of orders we normally collect items that are available, put them into shelves and wait for back-ordered ones. When they arrive we bundle and ship them out.

 

There is one big issue with it. When get very many orders we get lost with what was already put into shelves and what was back-ordered. Moreover, it is also about efficiency:

1) we do not know how many items are laying in the shelves and are practically sold; and how many we can yet sell without back-ordering.

2) Person who is packing has to check manually all semi-prepared orders in the shelves. Thus, has very low control over time spent. Also, very high probability for mistakes.

3) If out-of-stock items arrive from two different sources at different time it is hard to follow if they have their pairs already waiting for them in the shelves or we are still waiting for them to arrive.

 

I spent much of efforts in convincing my team to stop using paper and promising that it is going to be easier with right IT tools...so now I have to prove it when it's already in place.

 

We used to have a very simple paper system where we always had order printouts and we marked with a pen next to items either "in the shelve" or "back-ordered and date". It was very easy to follow and we always had a good control.

 

Is it possible to have the same approach in PrestaShop 1.5.6.1 (like possibility to mark the ones that have been ordered)? or maybe there is another way to solve it?

 

Thank you very much in advance!