Purchasing Products
The Purchasing Products page is where you configure the purchasing parameters for individual products. These settings tell the Smart Purchasing engine when and how much to recommend ordering.
Product Purchasing Table
The table lists products with their current purchasing configuration:
| Column | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Product | Item name from your ENCOR catalog |
| Department | The department this product belongs to |
| Vendor | The assigned vendor/supplier |
| Reorder Point | Stock level that triggers a reorder recommendation |
| Par Level | Target stock level to order up to |
| Sales Velocity | Average units sold per day (calculated automatically) |
| Status | Active or inactive for purchasing |
Key Concepts
Reorder Point
The inventory level at which StorePulse recommends placing a new order. When estimated stock drops to or below this number, the product appears on the purchasing dashboard.
Example: If you set a reorder point of 24 units for a product that sells about 8 units per day, and your vendor takes 2 days to deliver, you would have roughly 3 days of stock left when the reorder triggers -- enough to cover the delivery lead time with a small buffer.
Par Level
The target inventory quantity you want to have on hand. When a reorder is recommended, the suggested order quantity brings your stock up to the par level.
Example: If your par level is 100 units and you have 20 units left, the recommended order quantity would be 80 units (plus any adjustments for minimum order quantities).
Sales Velocity
StorePulse automatically calculates how fast each product sells based on recent sales data. This number is expressed as units per day and is used to estimate when you will run out of stock.
You do not need to set this value -- it is calculated from your actual sales data and updates as new data comes in.
Configuring a Product
- Find the product in the table (use search to find it quickly).
- Click the product row to open its purchasing settings.
- Set the following:
- Vendor -- Select from your list of active vendors
- Reorder point -- The stock level that triggers a reorder alert
- Par level -- Your target stock level
- Click Save.
Tips for Setting Reorder Points
- Start with lead time demand: Multiply your daily sales velocity by the vendor's lead time in days. This gives you the minimum reorder point.
- Add safety stock: Add a buffer (typically 20-50% of lead time demand) to account for demand spikes or delivery delays.
- Adjust for perishables: Products with short shelf lives may need lower par levels to avoid spoilage, even if sales volume is high.
You don't need to configure every product at once. Start with your top sellers and most critical items. Products without purchasing configuration will simply not appear in the purchasing recommendations.
Sales velocity is recalculated as new sales data arrives. Seasonal products may show varying velocity throughout the year. Review and adjust reorder points for seasonal items before and after peak seasons.