Demand vs. Shipped Sales
The Blind Spot Costing You Customers
Do you know the difference between demand and shipped sales? Most platforms only show what you shipped—not what customers wanted to buy. That’s a problem. With Ability OMS, you can finally see—and act on—the full picture.
What Are Demand Sales?
Demand sales are orders placed by customers—whether the items ship immediately or not. They reflect true buying interest.
If you don’t track demand, you’re flying blind on:
With Ability OMS, demand doesn’t disappear. It’s captured, tracked, and used to drive smarter decisions.
Shipped Sales Only Tell Part of the Story
Let’s say you had 200 people try to order a popular item, but only 80 orders shipped because you ran out of stock.
Shipped sales would report 80. But demand sales? 200.
That gap is valuable insight—if your platform captures it.
Ability OMS records every order attempt—backorders included—so you can:
Backorders have a bad reputation when not managed well.
But with the right system, they’re actually a sign of healthy demand and future revenue.
Ability OMS helps you:
What About Credit Card Issues?
Most ecommerce platforms stop orders cold if a credit card fails.
That might seem simple, but it can lead to:
Capture the order even with an authorization issue
That’s flexibility you won’t find in cookie-cutter platforms.
Who Needs This?
If you’ve outgrown the basics and want to run your business like a real retail operation—this is for you.
Are You Ready to See the Full Picture?
Don’t let demand disappear just because inventory ran out. Start managing what customers want—not just what you could ship. Schedule a Demo or Download Our Guide.
What Are Demand Sales?
Demand sales are orders placed by customers—whether the items ship immediately or not. They reflect true buying interest.
If you don’t track demand, you’re flying blind on:
- What your customers actually want
- What stockouts are costing you in lost revenue
- How well your marketing is really working
With Ability OMS, demand doesn’t disappear. It’s captured, tracked, and used to drive smarter decisions.
Shipped Sales Only Tell Part of the Story
Let’s say you had 200 people try to order a popular item, but only 80 orders shipped because you ran out of stock.
Shipped sales would report 80. But demand sales? 200.
That gap is valuable insight—if your platform captures it.
Ability OMS records every order attempt—backorders included—so you can:
- Forecast more accurately
- Adjust inventory purchasing
- Communicate better with customers
- Prevent future revenue loss
Backorders have a bad reputation when not managed well.
But with the right system, they’re actually a sign of healthy demand and future revenue.
Ability OMS helps you:
- Take backorders automatically (or flag them for review)
- Set rules for what can or can’t be backordered
- Keep customers informed with automated updates
- Prioritize fulfillment based on your business needs
What About Credit Card Issues?
Most ecommerce platforms stop orders cold if a credit card fails.
That might seem simple, but it can lead to:
- Abandoned orders
- Lost upsell potential
- Missed revenue from valid customers
Capture the order even with an authorization issue
✔ Retry cards based on rules you define
✔ Hold and flag orders for follow-up or review
✔ Keep the customer relationship intact
✔ Hold and flag orders for follow-up or review
✔ Keep the customer relationship intact
That’s flexibility you won’t find in cookie-cutter platforms.
Who Needs This?
If you’ve outgrown the basics and want to run your business like a real retail operation—this is for you.
◈ Multi-channel sellers
◈ Brands with high seasonal demand
◈ Companies dealing with backorders and pre-orders
◈ Retailers who want true operational control
◈ Brands with high seasonal demand
◈ Companies dealing with backorders and pre-orders
◈ Retailers who want true operational control
Are You Ready to See the Full Picture?
Don’t let demand disappear just because inventory ran out. Start managing what customers want—not just what you could ship. Schedule a Demo or Download Our Guide.
Please fill in your email address below to download our Demand vs. Shipped Sales Guide.
See what Ability Commerce can do for you!
