Catch slipping delivery dates while there is still time to act
Before each confirmed date, Cartograph opens a task, and Scout Agent asks the supplier by email and phone whether the date still holds, so your buyers stop re-checking orders by hand
5 tasks scheduled for Sep 24
Slipped dates stop surprising you. Scout Agent follows up with suppliers to make sure ship dates are still on track
[01]
A readiness signal opens the task
Before the confirmed date, a readiness signal opens a task to check the date still holds, with the reason and the order attached.
[02]
Scout Agent asks the supplier
Scout Agent emails the supplier to ask whether the date still holds, and follows up after the wait your team sets if no reply comes.
[03]
The slip shows up days early
The supplier's reply is marked the resolution. Here the date has slipped four days, and your team knows before the order was due.
[04]
The new date lands on the order
Once your team approves it, the new date is updated in your ERP. If the order will now arrive after its part runs short, a readiness signal opens an expedite task for it.
Your team sets the limits. Test Scout Agent first without a supplier seeing anything, then decide what Scout may do without asking
[01]
Always allow, Needs approval or Never
Set each action Scout Agent can take, separately for tasks Scout leads and tasks Scout assists.
Place this call?
CallingNora Whitfield · East Coast Castings
Call summaryLock in Thursday’s release and the courier for PO 24103.
Plan3 steps
Why you’re asked This contact has been reached a lot recently.
[02]
Scout asks first when your rules say so
Even when Scout Agent leads, an email or call waits for your team when it matches an approval rule or the contact has been reached a lot recently.
Scout Agent leads
Scout Agent resolves this task end-to-end on its own, including interacting with external parties. Scout Agent pulls you in for escalations or when your approval is required.
Scout Agent assists
Scout Agent assists with the resolution, including researching, planning, and drafting communications. You approve all key actions, and can suggest alternatives.
Just me
Scout Agent will not run on this task.
[03]
Who works each task
Each task type sets whether Scout Agent leads or assists, and your team can change the role on any task, down to Just me.
[04]
A no comes with a reason
Decline a draft with a reason, and Scout Agent uses it to find a different way through.
Pay per order line checked. The platform is free, and Scout Agent is charged only for completed outcomes
Free for your whole team
Charges apply only to enterprise capabilities, phone numbers and call minutes, and the work Scout Agent completes.
Priced per order line
Checking a purchase order line is on track costs $0.99 when Scout leads and $0.69 when Scout assists.
Nothing for attempts
Attempts, escalations and tasks Scout couldn’t complete are never charged.
Learn the method in Cartograph Academy. Free lessons on keeping a confirmed date honest until it's due
Purchase order tracking: four states and re-confirm cadence
Track every open PO line through four states, from acknowledgement to receipt, so a slipping delivery surfaces while there is still time to react.
Read lessonNeed date vs promise date: what to plan and score against
Keep need date, PO due date and promise date in separate fields, plan against the confirmed date, and score suppliers on their first promise.
Read lessonPast-due purchase orders: how to work the report
Rank past-due purchase orders by the build each line blocks, clean the report first, and run a daily rhythm that catches a slipping date early.
Read lessonSupplier not responding to a PO: escalation steps and email
Get a confirmed date back from a silent supplier with a day-one sequence, an example escalation ladder and a follow-up email you can copy.
Read lessonFAQ
Confirming an order gets the first date from a supplier who hasn't given one. Following up asks again about a date that's already confirmed, before it's due, so a slip shows up while there's still time to act.
By default, a readiness signal opens a task three days before a confirmed order's expected date, to make sure the date still holds. Your team sets when each readiness signal opens a task, and which orders it skips, such as those from a supplier you trust.
Scout Agent follows up after the wait your team sets, and switches to a phone call if the email goes unanswered and your permissions allow calls. A supplier who stays silent after the follow-ups goes to your team, with every email and call on the task.
Scout Agent records the new date on the task and proposes it for the order. If the order will now arrive after its part runs short, a readiness signal opens an expedite task for it.
Yes. Once the date is approved, it's updated on the order in your ERP. You choose which fields Cartograph may update, and every update is logged.
Cartograph syncs with SAP S/4HANA, on public cloud, private cloud or on-premise, and with QuickBooks Desktop. If you run something else, tell us and we will look at adding it.
Talk to us about catching slipped dates early
We'll walk through your suppliers, your ERP and how far ahead of each date you want the task to open.