Backorderor

Backorderor is a term used in inventory and order-management to describe an agent—either a person or a software component—that handles backordered items. A backorder occurs when a customer order cannot be fulfilled from current stock and must be filled from future inventory. A backorderor's role is to track these orders, coordinate with procurement, and communicate updates to customers.

Core functions include maintaining a backorder queue, estimating restock dates, and prioritizing orders based on criteria such as customer priority, order date, or supplier lead times. The backorderor may trigger replenishment orders with suppliers, adjust inventory allocations, and reconcile order status across sales, warehouse, and finance systems. In customer interactions, it provides ETAs, offers alternatives, and, when possible, arranges partial shipments or substitutions.

Backorderors exist as manual roles in small operations or as automated modules within ERP, e-commerce platforms, or warehouse-management systems. The term is descriptive rather than a standardized job title and may appear mainly in internal workflows or industry discussions.

See also: backorder, inventory management, supply chain management, order management.