Rank API

The Optimization service helps to reduce the cost to serve while balancing inventory at the network level. To achieve this, it is important that the correct set of ship nodes are optimized for an SKU in an order by using the Rank API.

The Rank API processes a large set of ship nodes for ranking that is based on the SKU inventory position and cost. The Rank API computes the total cost for ship nodes for each item. The total cost is calculated after considering shipping cost, capacity cost, processing cost, stock-out avoidance cost and markdown avoidance cost.

Note: The Rank API considers inventory availability before ranking the set of ship nodes. For more information, see Inventory availability lookup.

There are multiple carrier options for a ship node. The carrier that has the lowest residential cost is used to calculate shipping cost at the ship node. The residential cost is defined for the weight of the SKU and the Carrier. The weight of the SKU is calculated for 1 unit of quantity when determining the feasible carrier.

The ship nodes for each item of an order are ranked based on the total cost calculated. The ship node with the lowest cost is ranked on top. The Order Management System considers the top n ship nodes for further optimization by using the Optimizer API, which accounts for the real-time inventory positions and node capacity consumption.

Accessing the Rank API

To optimize ship nodes for an order, use the Rank API.