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Inventory
Inventory includes anything that can be physically accounted for in a fulfillment center. There are specific definitions of types of inventory that can be fulfilled, such as items, products, SKUs, bundles, and prebuilt kits, but these are all considered inventory.
Products are configured for fulfillment in the Product wizard and the Product notebook. This includes options to track inventory, allow backorder, force backorder, release separately, and specify that the product should not be returned.
The WebSphere Commerce Accelerator distinguishes between two major ways that inventory can be received:
- Expected inventory
Expected inventory is received from a vendor and is typically paid for with a purchase order. The WebSphere Commerce Accelerator tracks expected inventory with expected inventory records and allows you to record an external identifier, typically a purchase order number from an external system. In this way, you can keep track of the inventory you have ordered as well as what has and has not arrived. Expected inventory details are the specifics about products in an expected inventory record, such as the fulfillment center expecting the product, the expected receipt date, quantity expected, and comments.
- Inventory adjustments
Inventory adjustments are made when the amount of inventory in the fulfillment center is not the same as the amount of inventory recorded in the WebSphere Commerce Accelerator. This could happen for a number of reasons. For example, if products in a fulfillment center are stolen or damaged, the amount of inventory available must be adjusted to reflect that situation. If a count is taken in a fulfillment center and there are more products than previously thought, this too must be recorded. WebSphere Commerce provides a sample set of inventory adjustment codes that define reasons for the inventory adjustment. You can also add, change, or delete inventory adjustment codes.
Related concepts
Related tasks
Create ad hoc inventory receipts