Inventory synchronization

Synchronize inventory to show the accurate inventory picture across all channels in real time as transactions happen.

Inventory synchronization helps to update your internal system's inventory picture with the actual inventory picture at the nodes. By using inventory, a synchronized real-time availability view is provided for all supplies and demands across multiple systems, which include in store, distribution centers, suppliers, distributors, and in transit.

To synchronize the supplies from any external system, use the inventory service sync REST APIs. The synchronized data that is updated to inventory service must contain the timestamp details. It is best that the timestamp matches with the time of inventory synchronization information that is captured from an inventory system such as node, store, warehouse.
Note:
  • When the Sync API is started, it might take a few seconds to hours to synchronize supply and availability based on the load that is running on the system.
  • The inventory picture that is provided by inventory service does not consider border line cases.
    For example, consider that the inventory synchronization information is captured from the inventory system at 12:02 PM with a supply of 102.
    • At 12:02 PM (Adjust -2), the inventory at the source system is adjusted -2 due to some transaction. The source is now at 100.
    • At 12:03 PM (Sync 100), inventory sync is done at the source system. The source is still at 100.
    • At 12:04 PM (Adjust -1), inventory at the source system is adjusted -1 due to a transaction. The source is now at 99.
    Now, if the inventory service Sync API is triggered at 12:04 PM, the following behavior occurs.
    • At 12:04 PM (Adjust -1), inventory adjusted -1 so that inventory is now 101.
    • At 12:05 PM (Sync 100), applies Sync to update inventory to 100. Then, the API replays the -1 inventory sync since the -1 occurs after the sync, which makes the inventory 100 minus 1 to equal 99.
    • At 12:06 PM (Adjust -2), ignores the -2 since that adjustment occurred before the sync.

    Inventory that falls into such border line case cannot be determined. Therefore, it is best that during downtime, inventory synchronization occurs on a nightly or weekly basis, and when shipments are not taking place.

  • Ensure that the inventory synchronization for an item-node combination is completed before the next inventory synchronization occurs for the same item-node combination. For example, consider that inventory synchronization for Item1 at Node1 occurs at 1:00 AM, but the information is not sent to inventory service until 5:00 AM. Ensure that the next inventory synchronization for the same Item1 at Node1 occurs only after 5:00 AM.