Vähimmäistilaus

Vähimmäistilaus, meaning minimum order in Finnish, refers to the smallest quantity of a product or service that a supplier will accept from a customer. This concept is common in business-to-business transactions and also appears in some business-to-consumer settings. The purpose of a minimum order is to ensure that the supplier's costs associated with processing, packaging, and shipping an order are covered. Without a minimum order, very small orders could be unprofitable due to fixed administrative and logistical expenses.

For suppliers, establishing a vähimmäistilaus helps to streamline operations and manage inventory more effectively. It encourages customers to consolidate their purchases, leading to more efficient production runs and reduced handling for the supplier. For customers, understanding the vähimmäistilaus is important for planning their procurement and ensuring they meet the supplier's requirements. If a customer's needs fall below the minimum, they may need to negotiate with the supplier, seek alternative suppliers, or potentially pay a premium.

The specific amount of the vähimmäistilaus can vary significantly depending on the product, industry, and supplier. It can be expressed as a specific number of units, a minimum monetary value, or sometimes a minimum weight or volume. For example, a raw material supplier might have a minimum order of 100 kilograms, while a finished goods manufacturer might set a minimum of 50 units. In e-commerce, some online stores implement a minimum order value to offset shipping and processing costs for smaller purchases.