Plain-language questions
Ask for fill rate per month, customer or product in the SQL Explorer with AI. The AI writes the SQL, you see the query and run it yourself; the AI only receives metadata.
KPI · Inventory, purchasing and production
Fill rate: formula and example.
Fill rate is the percentage of demand you deliver complete and straight from stock, without back-ordering. It can be measured on units, order lines or whole orders; order fill rate is the strictest, because one missing item makes the whole order incomplete. Fill rate shows how well your stock matches what customers actually order.
Fill rate formula
Orders (or lines or units) delivered complete in the first shipment ÷ total orders (or lines or units) × 100%
Worked example
In April 2026 Acme Groothandel shipped 3,200 orders. For 3,040 of them the first shipment was complete. The order fill rate is 3,040 ÷ 3,200 × 100% = 95.0%.
Fictitious figures for Acme Groothandel, a sample wholesaler.
How to read this KPI
A higher fill rate means fewer back orders, fewer extra shipping costs and fewer disappointed customers. A higher fill rate usually needs more stock, so weigh it against days inventory outstanding. Compare with the service levels agreed with customers and check by product group or supplier where shortages arise.
Pitfalls with fill rate
- Mixing up line and order fill rate; they diverge sharply on large orders.
- Counting orders the customer asked to split as incomplete.
- Counting substituted products as filled without recording it.
SQL & DAX
Calculating fill rate in SQL and DAX
Two examples on a fictitious data warehouse for Acme Groothandel: a PostgreSQL query and a measure for a Power BI model. Adjust table and column names to your own model.
WITH first_shipment AS (
SELECT DISTINCT ON (order_id) order_id, complete
FROM shipments
ORDER BY order_id, shipped_at
)
SELECT date_trunc('month', o.order_date) AS month,
COUNT(*) AS orders_shipped,
COUNT(*) FILTER (WHERE fs.complete) AS shipped_complete,
ROUND(100.0 * COUNT(*) FILTER (WHERE fs.complete) / NULLIF(COUNT(*), 0), 1) AS order_fill_rate_pct
FROM orders o
JOIN first_shipment fs ON fs.order_id = o.order_id
GROUP BY 1
ORDER BY 1;Orders Shipped = DISTINCTCOUNT(Shipments[OrderID])
Order Fill Rate = DIVIDE(CALCULATE(DISTINCTCOUNT(Shipments[OrderID]), Shipments[IsFirstShipment] = TRUE(), Shipments[Complete] = TRUE()), [Orders Shipped])In ENABLE
Tracking this KPI in ENABLE
In your Power BI dashboard
Define the KPI as a measure in your Power BI model and show it in the portal, with "Last refreshed" next to it. Access profiles and optional row-level security decide who sees which figures.
Custom dashboards (pilot)
Add the KPI as a tile to a custom dashboard, compared with last year. The Dashboard Builder is a pilot and can be switched on per client.
Monthly targets
With the built-in Targets app you set a target for the KPI per month, so you see actuals and target side by side.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How do you calculate fill rate?
Divide the number of orders delivered complete in the first shipment by the total number of orders shipped. You can run the same calculation on order lines or units. Always state which version you use.
What is the difference between fill rate and OTIF?
Fill rate only checks whether the delivery was complete. OTIF (on time in full) also requires the delivery to reach the customer on time. OTIF is therefore always equal to or lower than fill rate.
What is the difference between line fill rate and order fill rate?
Line fill rate counts each order line that was delivered in full, whereas order fill rate only counts orders where every line was complete. On orders with many lines, order fill rate is noticeably lower. Customers usually experience the order fill rate.
Further reading
- KPI libraryInventory and purchasing KPIs: formulasThese KPIs show how much cash is tied up in stock, how reliable suppliers are and how efficiently you produce. The data comes from your ERP, WMS and production records.Read more
- ResourcesHow to build a KPI dashboard: steps and examplesA KPI dashboard is an overview of the key figures you use to steer towards your goals, such as revenue, margin, on-time delivery or absenteeism. A good KPI dashboard does not start with the software, but with the decisions it needs to support. You then choose a limited number of KPIs, define them, sketch the dashboard and only then build it.Read more
- SolutionPower BI dashboard portal: share dashboards securelyShare your Power BI dashboards securely in your own portal, with role-based access.Read more
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