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Product-Level Customization

Override global procurement settings for individual variants that need different thresholds from the rest of your catalog.

Overview​

Global settings apply to every product by default. Product-level customization lets you override four of those settings — lead time, stock buffer, running low threshold, and overstock threshold — on a per-variant basis.

Use this when a specific variant genuinely behaves differently from your catalog average: a supplier with a much longer or shorter lead time, a best-seller you cannot afford to stock out on, a slow-mover where tying up capital is wasteful, or a seasonal product that needs different thresholds off-season.

You do not need to customize most products. A well-configured global setting handles the majority of your catalog. Overrides are for exceptions.

When to use a product-level override​

Different supplier lead time​

Your global lead time reflects an average across your suppliers. If a specific variant comes from a supplier whose lead time is significantly different, the global value will either trigger reorder alerts too early or too late for that product.

Supplier typeTypical lead timeAction
Local / same-day courier1–3 daysOverride down
Standard domestic7–15 daysUse global
International / ocean freight30–60 daysOverride up

Override the lead time on any variant where the supplier's actual lead time is more than a few days away from your global setting.

Critical best-sellers​

For variants where a stockout is expensive — lost sales, backorders, customer complaints — increase the stock buffer and running low threshold beyond your global defaults. The extra capital tied up in safety stock is cheaper than the cost of running out.

Slow-moving or low-priority products​

For variants that sell slowly and where an occasional shortage causes no real harm, reduce the stock buffer below the global default. This frees up capital and storage for faster-moving products.

Seasonal products​

A winter coat in June may show as overstocked against a global 120-day threshold — because it is. During off-season, raise the overstock threshold on seasonal variants so the system does not generate misleading alerts. Lower it again before the season starts so normal urgency applies.

High demand volatility​

Variants with erratic demand — trending items, products tied to promotions, anything that can sell out in a day — benefit from a larger stock buffer than the global default to absorb unexpected spikes.

How to apply an override​

  1. Go to the Inventory Report and click the variant you want to customize
  2. On the variant detail page, find the Settings or Custom settings section
  3. Enable the Override global settings toggle — fields that were greyed out become editable
  4. Enter values only for the settings you want to change; leave the rest blank to continue using the global value
  5. Click Save — the override takes effect on the next daily recalculation

To remove an override and return a variant to global settings, turn the toggle back off and save.

What you can override​

FieldWhat it controlsLeave blank to
Lead time (days)How long this supplier takes to deliverUse global lead time
Stock buffer (days)Safety stock to hold for this variantUse global stock buffer
Running low threshold (days)When to flag this variant as Running LowUse global running low days
Overstock threshold (days)When to flag this variant as OverstockedUse global overstock days

You only need to fill in the fields that differ from the global setting. A variant can have a custom lead time but use the global stock buffer and thresholds — just enter the lead time and leave the rest blank.

Practical examples​

Fast local supplier​

SettingGlobalOverride
Lead time15 days2 days
Stock buffer15 days3 days
Running low threshold45 days10 days
Overstock threshold120 days30 days

With a 2-day lead time, there is no reason to hold 45 days of stock or maintain a 15-day buffer. Tighten all four settings to keep inventory lean.

Critical best-seller​

SettingGlobalOverride
Lead time15 days— (use global)
Stock buffer15 days30 days
Running low threshold45 days60 days
Overstock threshold120 days180 days

Same lead time as global, but double the safety buffer and an earlier running low alert. Worth the extra capital to protect a high-revenue line.

Slow-moving niche item​

SettingGlobalOverride
Lead time15 days— (use global)
Stock buffer15 days3 days
Running low threshold45 days20 days
Overstock threshold120 days60 days

Lean settings across the board. An occasional short stockout on a low-priority item is preferable to tying up capital in slow-moving stock.

International supplier​

SettingGlobalOverride
Lead time15 days45 days
Stock buffer15 days25 days
Running low threshold45 days90 days
Overstock threshold120 days— (use global)

Ocean freight needs a much longer lead time and a larger buffer to handle variability in shipping schedules. The running low alert needs to fire much earlier to allow enough time to place and receive an order.

Things to keep in mind​

Overrides are per variant, not per product. If a product has multiple variants sourced from the same supplier, you need to set the override on each variant individually.

Changes take effect overnight. After saving an override, the updated Running Low and Overstocked statuses will appear on the next daily recalculation, not immediately.

Review overrides when circumstances change. If a supplier changes their lead time, or a product shifts from fast-moving to slow-moving, update or remove the override. Stale overrides produce the same kind of misleading alerts as wrong global settings.

Don't over-customize. If you find yourself overriding more than 20–30% of your catalog, that usually means the global settings are wrong for your business. Adjust the globals first, then use overrides for genuine exceptions.