“Due On” Option in Stock Item Entry
Understanding the expected delivery and receipt date in Sales Orders and Purchase Orders
1. Meaning of “Due On”
The “Due On” field specifies the date on which a stock item is expected to be delivered or received according to an order.
“Due On” means the date by which the ordered goods are expected to be delivered or received.
The meaning depends on the type of order:
| Order Type | Meaning of Due On |
|---|---|
| Sales Order | The expected date on which goods should be delivered to the customer. |
| Purchase Order | The expected date on which goods should be received from the supplier. |
Sales Order → Goods going OUT → Customer delivery date
Purchase Order → Goods coming IN → Supplier receipt date
2. Where Does the “Due On” Field Appear?
While entering a Purchase Order or Sales Order, the stock-item details generally include fields such as:
| Field | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Stock Item | Selects the product being ordered. |
| Quantity | Specifies how many units are ordered. |
| Rate | Specifies the price per unit. |
| Amount | Shows the total value of the item. |
| Due On | Specifies the expected delivery or receipt date. |
Purchase Order:
Alt + F4
Sales Order:
Alt + F5
Keyboard shortcuts can vary depending on the software version and configuration.
3. Purpose of the “Due On” Date
The Due On date is useful because it tells the business when an order is expected to be completed or received.
- Timely Delivery: Helps businesses monitor whether customer orders are delivered on time.
- Order Tracking: Makes it easier to identify orders that are still pending.
- Inventory Planning: Purchase orders with future receipt dates help businesses plan stock availability.
- Logistics Planning: Delivery dates help businesses organize transportation and dispatch activities.
- Cash Flow Planning: Knowing when purchases and sales are expected to be completed can support financial planning.
- Management Control: Managers can identify delayed or overdue orders and take corrective action.
4. Example — Sales Order
Scenario
A customer places an order for 100 units of a product on 01-Aug-2026.
The business promises to deliver the goods by 10-Aug-2026.
Therefore, the Due On date is entered as:
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Order Type | Sales Order |
| Order Date | 01-Aug-2026 |
| Item | Product A |
| Quantity | 100 units |
| Due On | 10-Aug-2026 |
If the goods are delivered before or on the expected date, the order can be treated as completed according to the agreed schedule.
If the order is not fulfilled, it may continue to appear in an Outstanding Sales Order report, depending on the software’s order-management and reporting rules.
5. Example — Purchase Order
Scenario
A business places a Purchase Order with a supplier for 500 units of Product B on 05-Aug-2026.
The supplier agrees to deliver the goods on 15-Aug-2026.
The Purchase Order can therefore have:
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Order Type | Purchase Order |
| Order Date | 05-Aug-2026 |
| Supplier | ABC Suppliers |
| Item | Product B |
| Quantity | 500 units |
| Due On | 15-Aug-2026 |
The business can use this date to monitor whether the supplier has delivered the goods on schedule.
6. Reports Using “Due On”
Due dates are particularly useful when reviewing outstanding orders. They help users determine which orders are pending and when they are expected to be completed.
| Report | What It Helps Track |
|---|---|
| Sales Order Outstanding Report | Pending customer deliveries and their expected dates. |
| Purchase Order Outstanding Report | Pending supplier receipts and their expected dates. |
If a Sales Order has a Due On date of 10-Aug-2026 and the goods have not yet been delivered, the order can be identified as pending/overdue in the relevant outstanding-order report, depending on the system’s reporting configuration.
7. Business Benefits
- Helps monitor customer delivery commitments.
- Helps monitor supplier delivery commitments.
- Supports inventory and stock planning.
- Improves logistics and dispatch planning.
- Helps identify delayed orders.
- Supports management decision-making.
- Can assist with cash-flow and purchasing plans.
8. Sales Order vs Purchase Order
| Point | Sales Order | Purchase Order |
|---|---|---|
| Goods Movement | Goods go to the customer | Goods come from the supplier |
| Due On Means | Expected customer delivery date | Expected supplier receipt date |
| Main Purpose | Track customer deliveries | Track supplier deliveries |
| Outstanding Report | Pending sales deliveries | Pending purchase receipts |
9. Important Note
The “Due On” date is an expected or committed date associated with the order. It should not automatically be interpreted as the actual delivery or receipt date.
The actual completion of the order is determined by the corresponding delivery, receipt, or fulfillment transaction.
10. Practice Questions
A. Fill in the Blanks
B. True or False
C. Short Answer Questions
D. Practical Questions
A customer orders 250 units on 20-Aug-2026 and requests delivery by 30-Aug-2026. What date should be entered in the Due On field?
Answer: 30-Aug-2026
A supplier agrees to deliver 1,000 units on 18-Sep-2026. What should be entered as the Due On date in the Purchase Order?
Answer: 18-Sep-2026
A Sales Order has a Due On date of 12-Sep-2026, but the goods have not been delivered. What should the business check?
Answer: The business should check the outstanding order status, delivery/fulfillment status, and whether the order has become overdue.
Quick Revision
Due On = Expected date for delivery or receipt of ordered goods.
Sales Order: Due On → Expected date of delivery to the customer.
Purchase Order: Due On → Expected date of receipt from the supplier.
The Due On date helps businesses track outstanding orders and plan inventory, logistics, purchasing, deliveries, and cash flow.