One of the most popular features of Lumi is our consolidated order process, which allows you to create a single order that is automagically split across all the relevant manufacturers. This helps you avoid the tedious process of creating separate POs for each manufacturer.
With this release, we're taking another step forward to accommodate more of the nuances needed for complex supply chains. With a single order in Lumi you can kick off production across many manufacturers, delivering to many separate locations, with several different lead time targets.
The Orders workflow in Lumi has been completely revamped with huge new features: collaborative drafts, split shipments, cloning orders, and detailed payment schedules.
Collaborative drafts
With draft orders, you and your team can create an order as a draft and save your progress for later. Use drafts to plan ahead for future orders or ask a teammate to review the final numbers before submitting an order.
Drafts can be cloned and discarded, so don’t worry about making a mistake or trying different scenarios.
Split shipments
Often, large orders need to be distributed across several locations on different schedules. Split shipments allow you to split your order quantity by location and target date.
You’ll always be given a standard production lead time, but if you need something in a pinch, you can also request a rush date. This can be useful for overseas orders, if you need to split shipments between sea freight and air freight.
While there’s lots of flexibility built into this feature, not everything is possible for every manufacturer. After your order is submitted, it will be reviewed to ensure the quantity splits and dates are feasible before your order is accepted for production.
Cloning orders
If you've created an order with a complex split shipment plan, you can clone it to replicate the delivery details and greatly speed up your ordering process.
Detailed payment schedule
If you’ve ordered packaging before, you know that unit cost is just one piece of the equation. The new workflow recognizes when new tooling is needed for the production of an item and automatically adds it to your order so you have a full picture of the costs.
You’ll also see a billing schedule based on your company’s payment terms. Now you’ll know when to expect an invoice for certain parts of the order.
Successful, error-free orders begin with a clear alignment of expectations upfront. The goal of these improvements is to make your expectations crystal clear to the manufacturer.
We’re always striving to give you more visibility and flexibility when it comes to managing your supply chain, so as you start using these features, we’d love to hear from you! If you have questions or feedback, drop us a line.
To help your team get up to speed on the new workflow, we've also published an in-depth guide on how to create orders.
