Inspired Technology Systems has enhanced the way available inventory quantities are displayed throughout the Inspired ERP and warehouse management system.
This improvement helps salespeople, buyers, warehouse workers, and managers make better decisions when buying and selling inventory. The system now provides a clearer distinction between inventory that is available to sell and inventory that is available now for picking and allocation.
For inventory-driven businesses, that distinction matters. A company may have product available to sell based on current stock, incoming purchase orders, receiving activity, and future sales order dates. At the same time, the amount available now may be different because it only reflects inventory currently in the building and eligible for picking.
Available to Sell represents the quantity of an item that can be sold without creating a backorder, based on current inventory, incoming product, open purchase orders, receiving activity, and existing sales orders.
This value helps salespeople understand how much product can be committed to customer orders. It also helps buyers understand whether additional inventory may be needed to meet upcoming demand.
Available to Sell can include inventory currently in stock, inventory in the receiving queue, and purchase orders due before the sales order date. It also considers sales orders scheduled through the current order date and excludes inventory that should not be picked, such as inventory placed on hold or otherwise excluded from picking.
Available Now represents the quantity of an item currently in the building that can be allocated and picked for orders.
This value is especially useful for warehouse workers because it reflects what is physically available for picking at the current time. It also helps salespeople understand whether same-day or near-term orders may be short, postponed, or adjusted.
Available Now focuses on inventory currently in stock, minus inventory that has been excluded from picking.
Available quantity information is displayed across sales order screens to help users make better decisions while entering, reviewing, and managing orders.
On sales order listing screens, warehouse workers can view the Available Now quantity directly on order detail lines. This gives the warehouse team useful information at a glance when preparing to pick orders.
Salespeople can also reference Available to Sell while creating or editing sales order lines. This helps prevent overselling and gives users a better understanding of what inventory will be available after current orders and incoming purchase orders are considered.
Available quantity information is also displayed on purchase order screens.
Buyers can reference Available Now and Available to Sell values while reviewing or creating purchase orders. This helps them understand current inventory levels, expected incoming product, and whether additional product should be purchased.
By displaying this information directly on purchase order screens, Inspired ERP reduces the need for buyers to leave the purchasing process and search separate inventory reports before making purchasing decisions.
Available quantity values are also included in inventory reporting.
The Item Listing report can display inventory that is Available Now, giving users quick access to current inventory availability. The Inventory Units by Lot inquiry can display Available to Sell values by item and lot, giving salespeople and managers a more detailed view of inventory availability across lots.
This helps users review available inventory, available weight, lot-level availability, and sales availability from the reports they already use.
Displaying Available to Sell and Available Now throughout the system helps improve communication between sales, purchasing, warehouse operations, and management.
Salespeople can avoid overselling. Buyers can make better purchasing decisions. Warehouse workers can better understand what can be picked now. Managers can see a more accurate picture of inventory availability across the operation.
Inspired Technology Systems continues to improve its ERP and warehouse management software based on the real-world needs of food distributors, cold storage warehouses, manufacturers, and inventory-driven businesses.
Contact Inspired Technology Systems to learn more about how Inspired ERP can help improve inventory visibility, purchasing decisions, sales order accuracy, and warehouse operations.