A lack of real-time visibility into purchase orders and shipments creates major operational risks and inefficiencies. More than 60% of buyers are left in the dark about fulfilment status after submitting orders, only becoming aware of issues when delays occur. In the absence of automated updates, teams spend 5–10 hours weekly chasing suppliers via emails, calls, and spreadsheets, which adds unnecessary manual effort and slows decision-making. This fragmented process also prevents easy verification of partial shipments, substitutions, or delivery exceptions, leaving buyers dependent on suppliers’ manual reporting.

The operational impact is significant. Stock-outs and late deliveries already account for 3–5% of lost sales or halted production, which is particularly damaging in industries like food where timing is critical. Without shipment status syncing, inventory teams often receive goods unprepared, disrupting storage and downstream processing. Together, these factors expose organisations to avoidable risks, lost revenue, and inefficient resource use, underlining the urgent need for real-time, system-driven visibility across procurement and logistics workflows.