What Is OTIF?

On-Time In-Full (OTIF) is a key performance indicator (KPI) in supply chain management and logistics that represents the effectiveness and efficiency of a supply chain in meeting the demands of customers.

At its core, OTIF is a grade that measures the success of delivering the correct quantity of goods to the right place at the right time. It’s split into two critical components, hence the name:

  1. On-Time: This measures the timeliness of the delivery. Did the goods arrive when they were supposed to? Deliveries that arrive too early, too late, or even not at all negatively impact this metric.
  2. In-Full: This assesses the accuracy and completeness of the order. Were the correct items and quantities delivered? Partial, incorrect, or damaged shipments can diminish this score.

OTIF is more than just a metric; it’s a comprehensive reflection of a company’s supply chain health and ability to deliver. High OTIF rates are indicative of a well-functioning, reliable, and customer-centric supply chain, while low rates can signal issues in production, inventory management, forecasting, or logistics.

Industries and Businesses that View OTIF as Important

OTIF (On-Time In-Full) is a crucial metric across various industries and businesses. Sectors where transportation significantly impacts operations, is where OTIF scores have greater value.

Here’s a look at some sectors where OTIF is particularly important:

  1. Retail:
    • For retailers, especially those with just-in-time inventory systems, OTIF is vital to avoid stockouts, maintain shelf availability, and meet customer expectations consistently.
  2. Manufacturers:
    • Manufacturers rely on timely and complete deliveries of raw materials to maintain production schedules. Poor OTIF scores from suppliers can lead to costly production delays.
  3. Ecommerce:
    • With customer expectations for fast and accurate delivery continually rising, OTIF is a critical metric for ecommerce businesses to ensure customer satisfaction and repeat business.
  4. Automotive:
    • The automotive industry, known for its complex supply chains and just-in-time manufacturing, requires high OTIF performance to avoid costly production halts due to missing components.
  5. Pharmaceuticals:
    • On-time and in-full delivery is crucial in the pharmaceutical industry to ensure the availability of medications and medical supplies, where delays can have serious health implications.
  6. Food and Beverage:
    • In this industry, OTIF is essential not only for customer satisfaction but also because many products have limited shelf lives. Delays or incomplete deliveries can lead to significant spoilage and lost revenue.
  7. Consumer Goods:
    • For businesses dealing with a wide range of consumer products, high OTIF scores are necessary to keep up with market demand and ensure retailer and consumer satisfaction.
  8. Technology and Electronics:
    • Given the fast pace of innovation and high consumer demand in this sector, companies strive for excellent OTIF performance to maintain market share and brand reputation.
  9. Aerospace and Defense:
    • The need for precise and reliable delivery is paramount in these industries where the components are often complex, expensive, and required to meet strict regulatory standards.
  10. Logistics and Transportation Services:
    • For companies providing these services, their performance is measured by their ability to consistently achieve high OTIF scores for their clients.

In each of these industries, failure to meet OTIF standards can lead to negative consequences, including contract penalties, broken supplier relations, increased costs, and damage to brand reputation. Therefore, businesses across these sectors invest considerable resources into strategies and technologies that can help them improve their OTIF performance.

Importance of OTIF as a Metric

On-Time In-Full (OTIF) is crucial for any business looking to excel in the supply chain industry. Low OTIF scores will show a poor reflection on a company’s reliability but also directly influences its reputation and bottom line.

Customer Satisfaction: Meeting delivery expectations is crucial for maintaining customer trust and satisfaction. A high OTIF score means customers are getting what they ordered when they expect it, leading to a better overall experience.

Operational Efficiency: Monitoring OTIF helps businesses identify and address inefficiencies in their supply chain. By understanding where and why failures occur, companies can implement targeted improvements.

Vendor Performance: For retailers, OTIF can also be used to assess vendor compliance. Major retailers like Walmart enforce strict OTIF standards to ensure their shelves are consistently stocked with the right products.

Cost Implications: Failing to meet OTIF standards can lead to financial penalties, especially when working with major retailers. Furthermore, inefficiencies and inaccuracies in fulfilling orders can increase operational costs.

How Are OTIF Scores Calculated/Rated?

Now that we’ve established the significance of OTIF, let’s dive into the rating scale.

OTIF scores are typically rated on a percentage scale, reflecting the proportion of orders delivered on time and in full out of the total orders processed. This score is calculated, once again, separately for the ‘On-Time’ and ‘In-Full’ components and then often combined to give an overall OTIF score.

  1. On-Time: Calculated by dividing the number of orders delivered on the agreed-upon delivery date by the total number of orders. If 90 out of 100 orders are delivered on time, the On-Time score is 90%.
  2. In-Full: Calculated by dividing the number of orders delivered with the correct quantity and items by the total number of orders. If 95 out of 100 orders are complete and correct, the In-Full score is 95%.

The overall OTIF score might be an average of these two percentages or calculated based on orders that meet both criteria. For instance, if 85 out of 100 orders are both on time and in full, the overall OTIF score would be 85%.

Different businesses or industries might have specific standards or thresholds for what they consider a good OTIF score. For example, a score of 95% or above might be excellent in some industries, while in others, even a 99% score might be the expected standard due to the critical nature of the deliveries.

How to Improve OTIF Scores?

Improving OTIF scores is essential for any business looking to enhance customer satisfaction, reduce operational costs, and stay competitive. Incorporating a Real-Time Transportation Visibility Platform (RTTVP) is one of the key strategies to achieve this. Here’s how you can improve your OTIF scores, with a special focus on the role of RTTVP:

1. Implement Real-Time Transportation Visibility Platforms (RTTVP):

RTTVPs provide real-time insights into the location and status of shipments. By having instant access to transportation data, businesses can proactively manage delays, reroute shipments if necessary, and provide accurate delivery estimates. This immediate visibility helps in maintaining the ‘On-Time’ component of OTIF and enhances overall supply chain responsiveness.

2. Enhance Forecasting Accuracy w/Predictive Analytics:

By utilizing historical data and predictive analytics to improve demand forecasting, business can ensure they are meeting customer demand, contributing to the ‘In-Full’ component of OTIF.

Final Thoughts

In today’s fast-paced and increasingly demanding market, maintaining high OTIF scores is more than an operational target; it’s a crucial element and competitive advantage.

As retailers, manufacturers, and shippers strive to improve their OTIF performance, they not only enhance their supply chain efficiency and reliability but also solidify their reputation among other parties within their supply chain and industry.

Furthermore, OTIF plays a pivotal role in fostering accountability across all levels of the supply chain. It sets clear and measurable standards for performance, encouraging every stakeholder, from suppliers to logistics providers, to adhere to stringent delivery and quality benchmarks.

When businesses have high OTIF scores, it’s a clear indication that they hold themselves accountable for every aspect of their operation, taking responsibility for any missteps and continually seeking ways to improve.