What is the Meaning of a Backorder? Item Management Definitions

What is the Meaning of a Backorder?

If you’re wondering, “ What is the meaning of backorder?” then we’re here to help clear things up for you! The definition of a backorder is an order for a product that is currently out of stock but will be available at a later date.  Backorders can send mixed signals regarding how well a business is doing. Some companies wear it as a badge of honor because backorders show customers that their products are in high demand. When overdone, however, backorders can also be a sign of more significant problems in the company’s operations. Today, we’ll discuss questions about this crucial supply chain concept, including “ What does backorder mean? ” and “How to avoid them."

A Closer Look at Backorders

So, what happens when an item is on backorder? In this case, a customer can choose to pay for the item and receive it at a later, specified date when the product is available to ship. To understand the meaning of a backorder, we need to clear some confusion first. The term is commonly—but mistakenly—used interchangeably with “out of stock.” While the meaning of “out of stock” comes close to the meaning of backorder , the two are separate designations. Sure, they both deal with a situation where a customer can’t buy an item in real time, but there’s a distinct difference. That difference is the predictability of the item’s expected shipping date. The backorder definition is a predetermined schedule that is often disclosed when mentioning a backorder, meaning customers will know precisely when they’re going to get the ordered products. That’s why most are willing to pay for the stock items even if they don’t receive it just yet, especially if the merchant is reputable. This is in contrast to a true out of stock products situation where an item is unavailable, and the seller has no idea when it will get restocked, if ever. In the case of out of stock inventory, the item is usually not available for purchase, and may never be replenished.

Are Backorders Good or Bad?

Backorders can be both good and bad for the business. On one hand, a backorder is a better situation than being out of stock. It tells merchants that their product is doing exceedingly well given the demand. And if a customer chooses to pay for a backordered item in advance, the sale is already complete before the fulfillment services take place. As most will say, it’s a “good problem to have.” Apple is an example of a company that does backorders right. Whenever they launch a new iPhone, people will pay and wait patiently for weeks to get their hands on one. It’s a testament to the power of Apple’s brand, but also to back orders as a common selling strategy. It’s important to note that a backorder can frustrate a customer, especially if it is a regular occurrence. Most consumers want their products in hand as soon as possible following their purchase. There’s also the critical time until your product becomes available to consider. During this period, competitors can swoop in and steal a sale away from you. And, if you get backorders regularly, it can be a sign that you need to work on your inventory management approach.

Causes for Backordered Items 

Sudden Change in Demand

An unusual or sudden change in demand is the top reason backorders occur. There are many factors that can cause this, including something as simple as a tweet or recommendation from a celebrity who endorses the product. Sometimes, however, even if you anticipate an increase in demand, you might have underestimated your stock item levels. For instance, you might have explored a new marketing channel recently, doubling your estimated leads. If you’ve been following sound inventory management practices, you’ll probably have your stocks at optimal levels for standard sales. But these levels can get disrupted with surprise occurrences. Unfortunately, these sudden surges in demand can be very hard to forecast, resulting in back orders.

Supply Chain Problems

A backorder can be the result of issues with your supply chain. Your supply chain might not have anticipated a sudden surge in demand for their raw materials. This could result in challenges with supplying vendors, leading to decreased output. Often, however, supply chain problems result from the individual components not communicating with each other properly. One mistake from someone downstream in the chain can cause a ripple effect that will intensify once it reaches you. For example, say you (the retailer) requested a certain amount of stock items from your wholesaler. If the wholesaler is extra cautious, they might order less than what you advised them to, just to be on the safe side. This “ripple effect” within your inventory management will continue from the distributor to the manufacturer. Then, when you finally order, you'll end up only getting a fraction of what you requested. This results in lower stocks and, potentially, backorders.

Insufficient Safety Stocks

Best Practices for Backorders

Not Every Product Will Be Suitable For Backorders

Keep Your Customers in the Loop

Set Up an Email Waitlist

One good practice with backorder management is to set up an email list specifically for customers waiting for that item. Not only will it be easier to communicate with them, but you can also offer them the option to opt into any of your lists for other ordered products. Regularly sending emails also creates anticipation and a sense of urgency. Again, this is effective communication in action for product fulfillment. 

Create a Separate Page for All Your Backorders

This is a smart strategy for order fulfillment that keeps both you and your customers happy. On your website, you can create a new page which lists all of your products on backorder. The obvious benefit is that you can still sell without any stock items on hand, which is always good. However, it’s also a way to communicate from the start that these ordered products will be delayed. This helps manage their expectations of product fulfillment and reduces any frustration later in the buying process.

How to Avoid Backorder Situations

While positive in some cases, it’s generally best to avoid backorders as much as you can. It’s never a good long term strategy to burden your customers with unnecessary delays in the name of selling something with no stock. Here are some ways to avoid backorders:

Invest in Real-Time Data

Getting an accurate view of your inventory stock item levels is the key to reducing backorders, and you need it to be as close to real-time as possible. This is especially crucial if you receive hundreds of transactions in a day. On top of stock levels, you also need to know your stock velocity. This is simply how fast your stock items are flying off your warehouse shelves. That information is crucial on inventory management for forecasting when you need to replenish stock, and by how much.

Rely on Your Inventory Management Control Systems Automated Features
Modern inventory control systems will have robust forecasting and auto-ordering features in place to help anticipate low stock levels. Once you have enough stock data, the system can often give you an accurate prediction. You can then set the system to trigger specific actions once those forecasts are met. For instance, your software can automatically place a reorder when stock dips down to critical level, so you can avoid out of stock inventory.

Have a Contingency Plan in Place

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