What is a stock reservation?
A stock reservation sets aside a quantity of on-hand stock for a specific order line before it is picked, so no other order can claim it.
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On hand versus available
On-hand stock is what physically sits in the warehouse. Available stock is on hand minus what is already reserved for other orders.
Without reservations, two orders can both be promised the same units, and the second picker finds an empty shelf.
Worked example
In this example, 50 units of item G-75 are on hand. Order 1001 needs 30 and reserves them, which leaves 20 available.
Order 1002 needs 25. The system reserves the 20 that remain and backorders 5, and the supervisor sees the shortfall before anyone walks to the shelf.
How Waresify handles it
Waresify reserves stock when a supervisor releases a wave. The allocation engine locks the stock rows it reads, writes the reservation and reduces available quantity in one transaction, so two waves cannot reserve the same units.
If more is needed than is available, the rest becomes a backordered line and the supervisor is notified. If a reserved LP goes on hold, the order moves to the next valid LP.
Questions
When is stock reserved?
In Waresify, at wave release. Some systems reserve when the order arrives. Reserving at release keeps stock free for urgent orders until work is scheduled.
What happens if reserved stock is damaged?
The LP goes on hold and the system re-allocates the order line to another valid LP. If none exists, the pick task is blocked and the supervisor decides what to do.