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Purchasing & Order Management
Manage the entire lifecycle of your Purchase Orders, from drafting to receiving.
The Purchase Orders (PO) module is where inventory meets execution. From creating drafts to managing complex shipments and payments, Stratagem handles the entire lifecycle.
1. Creating a Purchase Order
You can start a PO from the Buy Table (automatic) or manually.
Manual PO Creation
- Navigate to Purchase Orders > Create PO.
- Select Vendor: This filters the product list to items linked to this supplier.
- Add Items: Search for products. The system pre-fills the Cost Price and MOQ.
2. The PO Lifecycle
Move the PO through these statuses to keep your team informed:
- Draft Internal planning.
- Sent to Supplier Emailed to vendor.
- In Production Manufacturing has begun.
- Shipped Goods have left the factory.
- Received Goods have arrived.
3. Shipments & Tracking
Within a PO, the Shipments card allows you to track goods in transit.
- Multiple Shipments: If a PO is split (e.g., 50% Air, 50% Sea), you can create multiple shipment records.
- Consolidated (Bulk) Shipments: When several POs travel together in one container, create a Bulk Shipment from the Shipments page. Select the POs, and Stratagem records one consignment with a shipment for each PO, plus the carrier's invoice for the whole load.
- Milestones: Each PO keeps its own Estimated Production Date and Estimated Delivery Date, and each shipment its shipped date, ETA and status (Created, In Transit, Out for Delivery, Partially Delivered, Delivered), so you can see where every order stands.
4. Financials & Invoices
Track your spending and payment status directly on the PO.
Managing Invoices
Add invoices, define payment terms (e.g., 30% Deposit), and log payments to track "Amount Due".
💡 Expert Tips
- Date Discipline: Update the "Est. Delivery Date" the moment a supplier notifies you of a delay.
- Landed Cost: Add "Shipping" and "Duties" as separate line items for true cost calculation.