Procurement Professionals · situation guide
Discuss availability, follow up on delays, and request action on an incomplete or disputed order.
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An accepted order may include an item that is not currently available to ship.
Vocabulary for this situation
Explain unavailable ordered stock
Back-ordered means an item has been ordered, or requested under an accepted commitment, for later fulfilment because it is not currently available to ship.
“The order is accepted, but one item is back-ordered.”
Usage note: Acceptance does not establish immediate availability.
Practice “back-ordered” →Discuss the time needed for supply
The time required between initiating an order or process and availability or completion.
“What is the lead time from order confirmation to delivery?”
Usage note: Make the starting and ending points clear.
Practice “lead time” →Request faster handling
Cause a process, order, review, or delivery to happen or progress more quickly.
“Can you expedite the remaining items?”
Usage note: Requesting faster handling does not confirm that it can be done.
Practice “expedite” →Communication sequence
The order is accepted, but one item is back-ordered.
What is the lead time from order confirmation to delivery?
Can you expedite the remaining items?
Common mistakes
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