Defining classifications

You can define product item classifications and classification hierarchies that can be used within Sterling Order Management System Software for actions such as sourcing, associating services, determining shipping preferences, and so on.

For example, you have items that contain hazardous materials and items that do not contain hazardous materials in your catalog. You want to source hazardous items out of Node 1 and nonhazardous materials out of Node 2. In this scenario, you can define a product item classification for the Hazardous Materials item attribute to be used for sourcing. You can then configure sourcing rules as needed for the Distributed Order Management application.

You can also define hierarchical item groupings for a classification. These groupings can be used to further refine the items affected by a classification purpose.

For example, you have created a classification called Apparel and associated it with the Product Line item attribute and Sourcing classification purpose. Under this classification you have two lines of clothing, Men's and Women's, each which contain items that are either classified at shirts or shoes. You want to source men's apparel from Node 1 and women's apparel from Node 2.

In this scenario, you can create a classification hierarchy for the Apparel classification as detailed in the following figure.

Once the hierarchy is created you can assign items to the applicable levels and configure sourcing rules to source all items associated with Men's Apparel from Node 1 and all items associated with Women's Apparel from Node 2.

A classification level overrides any classification level above it in the hierarchy. For example, continuing from the example above, you decide that you still want to source Men's Apparel from Node 1. However, you want Womens Shoes to also be sourced from Node 1. In this scenario, if you configure the Shoes level underneath Womens Apparel to be sourced from Node 1, but still have the original configuration of all Womens Apparel being sourced from Node 2, the Shoes sourcing rule overrides the Womens Apparel sourcing rule.