Skip to main content

Purchasing Configuration

The Purchasing Configuration page contains system-wide settings that apply to all products in the Smart Purchasing module. These defaults simplify setup so you don't have to configure every parameter on every product individually.

Global Settings​

Default Lead Time​

The default number of days to use when a product's vendor does not have a specific lead time configured. This is a fallback value.

Recommended: Set this to the average lead time across your vendors (typically 2-5 days for grocery distributors).

Safety Stock Percentage​

A percentage buffer added on top of the calculated reorder point to protect against demand variability and delivery delays.

Example: If the calculated reorder point for a product is 30 units and your safety stock percentage is 25%, the effective reorder point becomes 38 units (30 + 25% of 30).

Recommended: Start with 20-30% for most grocery items. Increase for products with volatile demand or unreliable suppliers. Decrease for products with very stable, predictable sales.

Auto-Order Threshold​

The minimum dollar value for an order to appear in the purchasing recommendations. Small orders below this threshold are held until they accumulate to a meaningful size.

This prevents the system from recommending a vendor order for just one or two low-cost items, which would not be worth the delivery and handling overhead.

Adjusting Settings​

  1. Navigate to the Purchasing Configuration page.
  2. Modify the values you want to change.
  3. Click Save.

Changes take effect immediately and will be reflected the next time the purchasing engine recalculates recommendations.

When to Adjust These Settings​

  • Seasonal changes: Increase safety stock before peak seasons (holidays, back to school) when demand is less predictable.
  • Supply chain disruptions: If vendors are experiencing delays, temporarily increase the default lead time and safety stock percentage.
  • New vendor onboarding: After adding a new vendor, verify that their actual lead times match your defaults. Adjust the vendor-specific lead time if needed.
  • Tightening inventory: If you want to reduce carrying costs, gradually lower safety stock percentages while monitoring for stockouts.
warning

Be conservative when reducing safety stock. Running out of a popular product costs more in lost sales and customer dissatisfaction than carrying a few extra units in the back room.

tip

Review these settings quarterly. As your business grows and your vendor relationships evolve, the right defaults may change.