What is Suggestive Ordering?
Suggestive ordering is a feature that uses predictive analytics to dynamically suggest inventory items and quantities to order each week.
Optimize your inventory levels and reduce waste with this add-on feature! Interested in trying it out? Please reach out to our support team to get started!
Why should I use it?
Optimize Inventory Levels:
- Ensure proper amount of inventory levels at all time
- Reduce upfront cost when over-ordering
- Eliminate fear of running out of inventory
Save Time
- Reduce time calculating future ordering requirements
How Does It Work?
Suggestive ordering uses an algorithm of data based on your previous sales to predict the optimal par levels for ordering each week.
Important Actions: Suggestive ordering relies heavily on accurate data input. To achieve the best results: take regular inventory counts, receive all invoices, and ensure all recipes are built and up to date.
How to - Set up and Configuration
Note: suggestive ordering requires inventory items, menu items, recipes, and a connected POS system. For optimal projections ensure all inventory items are appropriately merged.
Active Your Inventory Items
1. On the inventory items screen, choose an item and open to the details page. If the feature is active on your account you should see a Suggestive Ordering tab.
2. Click the Activate button to get started.
3. Configure your data calculations
Calculation period- The number of historical weeks of sales data the algorithm will take into account when suggesting an order amount. This will calculate the typical consumption of this item during this period. We suggest at least 3 weeks as a starting point to avoid outlier days.
Min/Max Par level- This is an optional range for the item. If you like to keep a minimum on-hand at all times for this item or do not want to exceed a certain amount on-hand, these levels will be taken into consideration when suggesting an order amount.
Note: max par is often helpful if the item has a short self-life to avoid spoilage
Buffer- An optional forced increase or decrease order percentage of this item. This can be helpful if your delivery arrives later than expected or is unexpectedly shorted by your supplier.
Consider stock when ordering- This is checked by default. Would you like the algorithm to consider what is currently on-hand of this item when suggesting an order quantity. If the item has a short self-life, we suggest unchecking this option.
Example: Fresh pastries may be ordered daily and thrown away each night. This item should not take on-hand stock into consideration
4. Par Level by Day - This configuration determines the quantity of your order based on days until your next order.
Example: If you place orders on Monday's and Fridays, Monday's order must be enough to last until the next time you order this item on Friday.
5. Choose your location (for multi location accounts) - Once and item is defined on the HQ level, you must allocative it to the location. Current configurations can be viewed at the location level but only edited at the HQ level.
Each location can have different configurations but will be set up on the HQ level. After assigning a location and saving, open the item again to create a new configuration for a different location.
Filtering the inventory item page by location will also allow you to assign and view configurations based on location.
Forecasting and bulk edits
1. Under the orders drop down, select Suggestive Ordering
Here you can view the configuration for your items, filter by category, supplier, location, and quickly make edits if necessary by clicking into any item.
2. The actions button on the top right of the screen allows you to check your more recent sync of sales data and configurations and update your forecasting
Sync Status- a log of the last date each locations sales sync
Forecasting Sales - Allows managers to predict sales on a weekly or daily basis. Predictions are helpful if you expect an outlier day. Example: A big sports event which will increase sales or a holiday closure
Once sales for the day have closed the Actual Sales number will populate from your POS system.
Placing an Order
1. Under the Orders tab, click Place Orders
Reminder: Orders are placed on the location level
2. Choose a supplier and ensure you have the correct delivery date. The delivery date will effect the amount ordered.
3.Switch on order suggestions on the right and par levels will now calculate for your items in blue!
4. By clicking the blue arrow you can add the items to your cart, or bulk fill to par levels by clicking the actions button, fill to dynamic par.
VIDEO TUTORIAL