Available-to-Promise flow
Quick answer
The flow that computes in real time what quantity can be promised to a customer and when, based on real stock and already-allocated orders.
Key takeaways
- Physical stock available per location
- Quantities already allocated/reserved
- Confirmed inbound (supplier orders, production)
- Allocation and prioritization rules
What Available-to-Promise flow is
Available-to-Promise (ATP) flow is the mechanism that answers live: 'can I promise this quantity, on this date?'. It takes physical stock, minus what's already allocated to other orders, plus confirmed replenishment inbound, and computes the real promise.
Why it matters to the board
Promises based on inaccurate stock lead either to overselling (accepted orders that can't ship → backorder, cancellations) or underselling (refusing orders for goods that actually exist). Correct ATP protects both sales and trust.
What it accounts for
- Physical stock available per location
- Quantities already allocated/reserved
- Confirmed inbound (supplier orders, production)
- Allocation and prioritization rules
How CRMconnect helps
CRMconnect surfaces live availability (ATP) in the B2B portal and the order flow, so every delivery promise is realistic first time - including across stock distributed over multiple locations.
Real-world example
A distributor accepted orders against a morning stock report and often oversold. With live ATP, promises became accurate and overselling backorders disappeared.
Last updated:
Frequently asked
Is ATP the same as available stock?+
Not quite. Available stock is what you physically have; ATP is what you can realistically promise, after subtracting existing allocations and adding confirmed inbound.
Why is ATP a flow, not just a number?+
Because it recalculates continuously as orders, allocations and replenishments arrive - it must be orchestrated live, not computed once a day.
Where CRMconnect fits
Related terms
ATP - Available to Promise
The stock quantity that can be safely promised to a new order, accounting for on-hand stock, allocations and future inbound.
B2B commerceLive stock availability
Real-time display in the B2B portal of available stock and estimated delivery date per product.
OperationsStock allocation
Reserving available stock for confirmed orders by priority rules to prevent over-promising.
OperationsOrder orchestration
Automatically coordinating each order's lifecycle from capture to delivery, across channels and warehouses.