Handling Pre-Orders in OMS

Pre-orders are a powerful way to generate early interest, secure sales before stock arrives, and gauge demand for upcoming products. With BetterCommerce OMS, you can manage the entire pre-order lifecycle—from configuration to fulfillment—with complete control and visibility.

What Is a Pre-Order?

A pre-order is an order placed by a customer for a product that is not currently in stock but is expected to be available at a future date. Instead of waiting for stock to arrive, customers can reserve the product in advance.

Why Offer Pre-Orders?

• Capture demand before stock is available
• Build anticipation for new launches
• Improve inventory planning
• Boost cash flow with upfront payments
• Avoid lost sales during out-of-stock periods

Pre-Order Workflow in OMS

1. Product Configuration

In PIM (Product Information Management), enable the product for Pre-order and set:

• Expected Availability Date
• Allowed Pre-order Quantity
• Pre-order Message (e.g., “Ships from July 1st”)

2. Order Placement

Customers can place an order even though the product is not in stock. The OMS identifies the line item as a PreOrder type.

3. Order Classification

Once the order is placed, it appears in the PreOrder tab within the OMS, allowing the operations team to manage it separately from in-stock or dropship orders.

4. Inventory Allocation

The order is held in the system until:

• Stock is received through GRN (Goods Receipt Note)
• Pre-order items become available for picking and shipping

5. Order Fulfillment

Once inventory is available, pre-orders follow the standard warehouse fulfillment process:

Pick → Pack → Awaiting Shipment → Dispatched

Managing Pre-Orders in OMS

• PreOrder Tab
  Quickly filter and view all active pre-orders.

• Delivery Timeline Tracking
  View estimated availability and due dates for fulfillment.

• Customer Communication
  OMS can trigger notifications for:

  • Pre-order confirmation
  • Product availability updates
  • Shipping details

• Allocation Logic
  Automatically allocate stock to oldest pre-orders first (FIFO) or based on business rules.

Best Practices for Pre-Orders

• Be Transparent
  Clearly display pre-order status and estimated delivery dates on product pages.

• Use Order Tags
  Apply tags like PREORDER, PRIORITY, or LIMITED_RUN for internal tracking.

• Limit Quantities
  Control inventory commitments by capping pre-order volumes based on expected stock.

• Monitor Fulfillment Readiness
  Stay in sync with your purchasing team and incoming stock schedules.

• Automate Triggers
  Set automation rules in OMS to transition pre-orders when stock is received.

Benefits of Using OMS for Pre-Orders

• Centralized tracking of pre-order demand
• Improved forecasting and planning
• Efficient allocation upon inventory arrival
• Enhanced customer satisfaction through proactive updates
• Full visibility into expected vs actual fulfillment timelines

Conclusion

Handling pre-orders effectively requires seamless coordination between product setup, customer communication, inventory tracking, and fulfillment operations. BetterCommerce OMS makes this process smooth and scalable—ensuring you never miss a sale and always stay ahead of demand.

Plan ahead, sell early, fulfill with confidence—Pre-orders made easy in OMS.