Auftragseingang

Auftragseingang, in business and accounting, denotes the value of new orders received by a company during a specific reporting period. It serves as a leading indicator of future production activity and revenue, since fulfilled orders typically correspond to future sales. The term is commonly used in manufacturing, mechanical engineering, and capital goods industries, but is applicable to many sectors. In English-language business literature the term is usually translated as order intake or incoming orders.

Auftragseingang is distinct from the Auftragsbestand (order backlog), which represents orders that have been received but not yet fulfilled. While Auftragseingang measures new demand entering the pipeline, backlog tracks existing demand awaiting completion. Revenue is generally recognized when goods are delivered or services rendered, so Auftragseingang does not equal revenue in the same period, though it influences it over time.

Measurement and reporting: data are collected from orders entered into enterprise systems and contracts signed with customers. In many countries, Auftragseingang is reported monthly or quarterly by firms and sometimes by industry sectors as a macroeconomic indicator. In statistics, it can also be reported at the national level as a measure of demand and business confidence.

Interpretation and limitations: a high Auftragseingang suggests strong demand and possible capacity utilization, while a decline can forewarn lower production in the near term. However, orders can be canceled, delayed, or converted to lower-margin work, so the relationship to current sales or earnings is not direct and must be analyzed alongside other indicators.