Why We Split “Get the Job Ready” from “Lock In the Stock” (and Why It Helps SMBs)
Most systems make you lock in stock before you can even start on an order. Sounds tidy, but in real life it slows you down. Trucks run late, stock’s getting counted, something’s on QA hold… and your whole day gets stuck behind it.
Most systems make you lock in stock before you can even start on an order. Sounds tidy, but in real life it slows you down. Trucks run late, stock’s getting counted, something’s on QA hold… and your whole day gets stuck behind it.
EQUOS
Our way is simpler:
- Create the fulfilment task = set up the job (labels, notes, staging, who’s doing it).
- Commit to inventory = lock in the stock when it’s actually there.
Keeping these two steps separate lets you move faster without making promises your stock can’t keep.
The Big Idea (Plain and Simple)
- Start now, ship sooner. You can prep the order the moment it lands. No waiting around for stock to be perfect.
- Lock stock at the right time. When the pallet arrives or QA clears it, then we commit. No guesswork.
- Stay honest with your numbers. Inventory changes (receiving, recounts, fixes) don’t mess with your order prep.
Everyday Wins You’ll Notice
1) Less waiting, more doing
Your team can print labels, line up packaging, and put the job in the queue—right away. When stock drops, you’re already set.
2) Real-world hiccups don’t break your day
Late inbound? No drama. The task is ready; you lock stock as soon as it lands. Got only part of the order? Commit what you have now and sort the rest later, without redoing everything.
3) Cleaner stock records
Because “adjusting stock” and “doing the job” aren’t glued together, your numbers stay clear and you avoid messy “phantom” reservations.
4) Smarter decisions at the last moment
When you finally lock stock, you’re choosing with the latest info—who needs it first, which orders are urgent, which courier has space today.
When This Really Pays Off
- Cross-dock / late trucks: Prep at 3:00 pm, commit at 5:12 pm when the pallet rolls in, still make the van.
- Pre-orders & backorders: Keep orders “ready to run” without pretending you’ve got the stock.
- QA holds: Get everything set. Commit only after the green light—no rework.
- Kits & bundles: Prep the pack-out; commit pieces once the kit is actually built.
- Partial shipments: Send what’s ready now. Don’t rebuild the whole order later.
Quick Side-by-Side
All-in-one (old way)
- Wait for perfect stock before anyone can start
- Delays ripple through the whole day
- Easy to overpromise or tie up stock too early
Split steps (our way)
- Get the job ready immediately
- Commit stock when it’s real
- Fewer delays, cleaner numbers, faster ship times
How It Flows
- Order lands → we create the task (get everything set).
- While stock is arriving or being checked, the team preps.
- Stock becomes available → we commit it.
- Pick, pack, ship → straight through (because the job was already ready).
“Isn’t that double handling?”
Nope. You’re not doing the work twice—you’re using the wait time. Prep happens while stock catches up. When it arrives, you’re pressing go, not starting from scratch.
The Payoff
- Faster order turnaround
- Fewer headaches from late inbound
- Cleaner inventory and fewer stock mix-ups
- Better use of your team’s time
- Happier customers (and fewer “where’s my order?” messages)
Stop waiting on perfect stock. Start shipping sooner.
