“You can’t manage what you can’t measure.” – Peter Drucker
Imagine ordering a shipment of vital raw materials only to discover that you have no idea when it will arrive, where it is currently located, or whether it has even left the supplier’s warehouse. Unfortunately, this is the reality for many organizations that use outdated purchase order monitoring systems.
Despite developments in logistics, it is said that more than 40% of firms continue to struggle with real-time order tracking. A lack of visibility into purchase orders results in delayed production, inventory mismanagement, increased costs, and dissatisfied customers.
What causes this to occur, then? Traditional PO tracking is based on scattered systems, disconnected data, and human reporting. What if you could track every purchase order like an online package, with real-time updates, automated milestone tracking, and predictive analytics?
This is where Supply Hoop’s mobile application comes into play, changing purchase order tracking into an intelligent, automated process that assures you always know where your items are, when they will arrive, and how to organize your inventory appropriately.
The Hidden Costs of Poor Purchase Order Tracking
Before we explore the solution, let’s look at the real impact of not having proper purchase order tracking:
1. Delays That Lead to More Serious Issues
If you don’t know where your purchase order is, you can’t plan for delays. The shipment may be held by customs, a storm may cause delays in transit, or a supplier may experience production problems. This leads to production halts, increased procurement expenses, and missed customer commitments.
2. Stockouts or Overstocking Inventory
For businesses that don’t have real-time order tracking either, ordering more stock increases warehousing costs, and running out of stock can lead to lost sales and consumer dissatisfaction, resulting in a negative impact on cash flow and the need for firms to store surplus inventory or meet urgent demands.
3. Lack of Supplier Accountability
Many companies rely on supplier updates without independent tracking. If a supplier delays manufacturing but does not notify you, the package will arrive late, and you will only notice when it is too late. It leads to poor supplier relationships, unanticipated delays, and dissatisfied end consumers.
4. High Operational Costs Due to Reactive Decision-Making
Without accurate PO monitoring, organizations make reactionary decisions rather than proactive ones. Costs are increased by faster logistics, manual follow-ups, and rush shipments. According to reports, companies spend 25-35% more on logistics than necessary.
How Supply Hoop’s Purchase Order Tracking Fixes These Issues
At Supply Hoop, we believe tracking a purchase order should be as easy as tracking an online package. Here’s how our mobile application transforms PO tracking:
1. Real-Time PO Visibility – Know Where Your Order Is, Anytime
- Track product SKUs from purchase order (PO) to proof of delivery (POD).
- Get real-time milestone updates: Know when the order is placed, processed, shipped, and delivered.
- Monitor supplier timelines & delivery schedules with live tracking.
- Keep yourself updated at every stage to avoid worrying about the condition of your shipments.
2. Inventory Planning with Predictive Insights
- Accurate ex-factory timelines: Know when goods leave the supplier.
- Arrival forecasting: Get precise estimated delivery dates based on real-time data.
- Automated alerts: Get notified if a delay is likely, so you can adjust inventory plans.
- Reduce storage costs, prevent stockouts, and ensure production never stops.
3. Seamless Supplier Collaboration & Accountability
- Keep suppliers accountable with transparent tracking.
- Sync real-time data with suppliers, freight providers, and logistics teams.
- Integrated communication tools ensure no more manual email follow-ups.
- Suppliers stay on schedule, and businesses avoid costly last-minute disruptions.
4. Integration with CargoWise & Other Logistics Systems
- Automate purchase order tracking into your existing logistics system.
- Sync PO updates directly with CargoWise & third-party platforms.
- Reduce human error by eliminating manual data entry.
- A unified, error-free system that keeps logistics and procurement teams aligned.
The Revolutionary Impact of Real-Time Purchase Order Tracking
Faster Order Fulfillment
By knowing exactly where your shipments are, businesses can proactively manage delays, ensuring faster processing and on-time deliveries.
Cost Savings & Reduced Wastage
Real-time tracking prevents over-ordering, emergency procurement, and unnecessary storage costs, resulting in better cash flow management.
Improved Supplier & Customer Relationships
With real-time updates and transparent communication, businesses can hold suppliers accountable while keeping customers informed about delivery timelines.
Supply Chain Resilience & Risk Management
By identifying potential disruptions early, businesses can reroute shipments, adjust inventory, and avoid losses before they happen.
Conclusion
You should no longer have to guess where your purchase orders are. Companies that implement real-time PO tracking will gain a competitive advantage by lowering costs, increasing efficiency, and improving customer satisfaction.
Businesses can utilize Supply Hoop’s mobile application for end-to-end supply chain visibility to track POs from starting point to final delivery, ensuring that no shipments are lost in transit.
Give up pursuing purchase orders. Set up real-time tracking for them. To find out how Supply Hoop can transform your purchase order tracking, get in touch with us right now!
