Partial Shipments & Backorders: Quantity Examples

Calculate the quantity remaining to ship

For an unchanged order: remaining to ship = ordered − earlier shipped − shipped now. If the order is for 80 trousers and the first dispatch contains 50, the remaining quantity is 30. A second dispatch of 30 brings cumulative shipped quantity to 80.

Keep the same unit throughout the calculation. Do not subtract cartons from pieces. Record cancellations or approved order changes separately before recalculating the remaining quantity.

Reconcile each SKU and size

An illustrative 80-piece order has 20 size S, 30 size M and 30 size L. Shipping 10 S, 20 M and 20 L leaves 10 of each size. The combined 30-piece balance is useful for a summary; the size-level balances tell the warehouse what to pick next.

Create a separate record for each dispatch

Keep one order reference, allocate a unique shipment number to each dispatch and record its actual contents, packages and tracking references. Tell the customer which items were shipped and which remain open; agree the next dispatch date when available.

Handle shortages and returns explicitly

A return is a separate movement from an unshipped balance. Record what was dispatched, what the recipient reports receiving and what comes back. Decide whether replacement goods are needed and link any replacement shipment to the original issue.