Service configurations

In IBM® Sterling Intelligent Promising you can configure the common and catalog services to define tenant settings, nodes, and distribution groups. The modular services, including Inventory, Promising, and Optimization help you to manage inventory stock, promise dates and to optimize customer orders. The carrier service specifies carriers, pickup schedules, and carrier zones.

Common configurations for all services

Table 1. Common configurations that are available across all services
Capability Purpose API to configure UI to configure
Default tenant settings Modify the default tenant settings that are applied to your account as part of the provisioning process. Define settings No
Node and node types Configure the node types, which are locations where inventory is stored. The default node types are distribution center and store. Define node type Yes. For more information, see Managing node types.
Nodes Configure the fulfillment nodes or locations where inventory is stored. Define node Yes. For more information, see Configuring nodes.
Distribution groups Configure distribution groups that include a network of fulfillment centers or nodes. These groups are used for network availability or sourcing restrictions. Define distribution group Yes. For more information, see Configuring distribution groups for inventory.
Table 2. Configurations that are available for the Catalog service
Capability Purpose API to configure
Item Define the catalog items that are available in a store or online. These items are used to track inventory. Upsert Items
Category and item attribute assignment category Define the categories that are used in sourcing or safety stock rules. Upsert Category
Assigning items to a category Assign specific items to categories. Upsert Item Categories
Item classification Define the item classification that is used in promising sourcing rules. Upsert Items Classification

Configurations for the Capacity service

Table 3. Configurations that are available for the Capacity service
Capability Purpose API to configure UI to configure
Capacity service Define resource capacity across your fulfillment network. Insert or update available capacity | Node capacity workflow No
Capacity categories Define configurable units of work or tasks that are required to complete order fulfillment. Insert or update available capacity No
Capacity workflow Determine the quantity of inventory that is available to sell either at the node type, node, or delivery method level. Node capacity workflow and Insert or update available capacity No

Configurations for the Inventory service

Table 4. Configurations that are available for the Inventory service
Capability Purpose API to configure UI to configure
Supply in Supply and demand Adjust the supply amount for items that are available at a node. Adjust Supply No
Demand in Supply and demand Adjust the demand amount for items that are available at a node. Adjust Demand No
Node availability by date Retrieve the availability for item nodes. Get Node Availability Product by date V2 No
Distribution group availability by date Retrieve the availability for an item in a specific distribution group. Get Network Availability Product by date V2 No
Reservations Reserve an item at a node from a specific distribution group. Create Reservations V2 No
Rule-based safety stock Define safety stock rules that are used in the availability calculation. Safety stock is the inventory at a location that is excluded from the available inventory stock. Create node rule Yes. For more information, see Creating safety stock rules.
Assigning attributes to an item Associate an attribute to an item to classify that item. Publish the item attributes in the availability APIs and events. Set item attributes to publish No
Item thresholds Define availability thresholds for an item. Availability events are published only when the threshold levels are exceeded. Update the Item level event threshold configuration No
Supply and demand Define the quantity of an item in stock, in transit, or planned for replenishment. Sync Supply No
Inventory segment Define the percentage of inventory to be allocated to each segment and segment type. Get Segments Yes. For more information, see Managing inventory segmentation allocation rules.
Endpoints for publish events Define endpoints for event publishing. No Yes. For more information, see Configuring the endpoints for publishing events.
Segmentation allocation rules Define how inventory is distributed across different segments. Update settings Yes. For more information, see Enabling inventory segmentation allocation and rebalancing frequency and Creating and updating segmentation allocation rules.
Unsegmented inventory for segments Define unsegmented inventory to expand the inventory available to include unsegmented inventory. Update settings Yes. For more information, see Enabling unsegmented consumption rulesand Managing unsegmented inventory for segments.
Capacity-based availability Define capacity-based availability to determine the available-to-sell quantities based on inventory levels at a node or across a distribution group. Insert or update available capacity | Node capacity workflow No

Configurations for the Promising service

Table 5. Configurations that are available for the Promising service
Capability Purpose API to configure UI to configure
Lead time Define the lead time for promising calculations. Define node lead time No
Capacity Define the available capacity for promising calculations. Insert or update available capacity No
Shipping groups Define the shipping groups that specify the carrier services to fulfill an order. Define shipping group Yes. For more information, see Configuring shipping groups.
Transfer rules Create transfer rules to transfer the inventory from one node to another. List transfer rules | Get transfer rules by rule ID | Define transfer rules | Delete transfer rules Yes. For more information, see Creating transfer rules in Order Hub.
Processing time Define the processing time to prepare an item for shipment. Set or update processing time for node Yes. For more information, see Creating transfer rules in Order Hub.
Cost-based optimization Configure cost-based optimization for calculating prepurchase shipment assignments. Create processing cost | Get processing cost | Create capacity | Upload transit rates by shipping zones Yes. For more information, see Managing node-balancing values.
Promising rules Create rules that include a set of conditions to determine the fulfilling nodes of an order or item. Create a new rule with auto-generated ruleId Yes. For more information, see Managing fulfilment rules.
Estimated delivery date (EDD) Calculate the estimated delivery date for an item. Get EDD No
Checkout options Calculate the check-out options for a cart. Get Checkout Shipment Plan (Pre-Purchase) No
Custom attributes Create custom attributes to associate specific attributes with sourcing or supply tasks. createCustomAttribute Yes. For more information, see Configuring custom attributes.
Shipping notification time Set the shipping notification time to define the minimum time that is required for the carrier service to initiate the delivery or pickup process. Yes. For more information, see Configuring shipping notification time.
Shipping commitment days Define how far ahead in days an item can be promised and fulfilled to limit customer promises. Get EDD | Get Optimized Checkout Plan (Pre-Purchase) No
Shipping cutoff times Define latest time by which an order must be captured and processed to meet delivery commitments. Define node shipping cutoff schedule Yes. For more information, see Configuring shipping cutoff times.
Capacity Define the node capacity or capacity to represent the availability of the resource to fulfill the provided optimization objective. Insert or update available capacity No
Caching for estimated delivery dates Enable the caching of estimated delivery dates (edd) computations for use in the Product List Page (PLP). Define settings  

Configurations for the Optimization service

Table 6. Configurations that are available for the Optimization service
Capability Purpose API to configure UI to configure
Node calendar Create or update the calendar to determine the node days, including business or working days and nonworking days. Create calendar No
Fulfillment network cutoff Create the cutoff time in business days for nodes to determine the start of a service level agreement (SLA) period. Create cut-off time No
Node Processing cost Create the cost to pick up and pack each unit in a node. Create processing cost No
Node capacity Create the capacity plan for a node. Create capacity No
Transit rate Upload the transit costs for specific carrier service shipping zones. Upload transit rates by shipping zones No
Node-balancing values Include node balancing values to determine the capacity costs in the capacity model. Balance workloads across nodes. Define Nodes NBC Yes. For more information, see Managing node-balancing values.
Surcharges Create surcharges to include extra costs, such as fuel or shipping routes that are not included in the standard shipping rate. Set or update carrier service surcharge | Get carrier service surcharge configuration | Delete carrier service surcharge configuration | List carrier service surcharge configurations | Upload shipping zone components | Set or update carrier service surcharge configuration No
Data ingestion Configure the endpoints for file ingest rules to activate data ingestion. No Yes. For more information, see Configuring endpoints for file ingestion rules.
Capacity Configure capacity to define resource capacity across your fulfillment network. Create capacity No

Configurations for the Promising service and the Optimization service

Table 7. Configurations that are available for the Promising and Optimization services
Capability Purpose API to configure UI to configure
Carriers Create or update a carrier to provide shipping and delivery services to customers. No Yes. For more information, see Configuring carriers.
Carrier services Create or update a carrier service to provide a shipping service to customers. Set or update carrier service Yes. For more information, see Configuring carrier services.
Shipping zones Define the shipping zones to measure the distance that a package travels to determine the transit time and cost. Upload shipping zone components No
Transit duration and delay Define the transit times to measure the delivery time that a package takes to reach the destination. Also, define transit delays for specific zones. Upload transit duration (and optionally transit delay) by shipping zones No
Optimization profiles Use the optimization profiles to balance cost-drivers against predefined business rules. No Yes. For more information, see Managing optimization profiles.