Inventory Assignment Rules – Controlling Which Inventory Is Used for Orders

Inventory Assignment Rules – Controlling Which Inventory Is Used for Orders

Description

Inventory Assignment Rules control which inventory is selected when an order is assigned and more than one inventory option is available for the same product.

These rules help sellers decide how inventory should be picked, using predefined strategies and filters.

The rules work only during order assignment and do not change inventory quantity, price, or location

Use Case

Use Inventory Assignment Rules when:
  • The same product is available in:
    • Different expiry or manufacturing dates
    • Different zones (Bulk or Each)
    • Different units of measure
    • Different packaging versions
    • Different inventory statuses
  • You want the system to pick inventory in a fixed and predictable way
  • Default inventory selection does not meet operational needs
  • Inventory selection must differ for:
    • Customers
    • Customer groups
    • Marketplaces
    • Sales channels
    • Vendors
    • Locations

Step by Step Execution

1. Navigate to Inventory Rule Allocation

  • Go to: Masters → Inventory Rule Allocation
    • The Inventory Assignment Rules page opens with:
      • Rules
      • Create/Update History
      • Apply History
  • Click Create Rule

2. Configure Rule Strategies

Global Rule
Inventory Assignment Rules can be created using only one strategy or parameter.
It is not mandatory to select multiple strategies or parameters.

2.1 MRP Strategy (B2B & STN only)

  • Available option: Exact MRP
  • This acts as a filter.
  • Only inventory matching the specified MRP value is considered for assignment.

2.2 General Strategy

General Strategy defines how inventory is prioritised when more than one eligible inventory record exists.

Available General Strategies
StrategyFull FormSelection Basis
FIFOFirst In, First Out      Inventory received earlier is used first
LIFOLast In, First Out      Inventory received later is used first
FEFOFirst Expiry, First Out      Inventory expiring sooner is used first
LEFOLast Expiry, First Out      Inventory expiring later is used first
FMFOFirst Manufactured, First Out      Inventory with older manufacturing date is used first
LMFOLast Manufactured, First Out      Inventory with newer manufacturing date is used first

Selection Rules (if used)

  • If an expiry-based strategy is selected:
    • FEFO or LEFO must be selected first
    • One additional non-expiry strategy must also be selected from:
      • FIFO, LIFO, FMFO, LMFO
    • This additional selection is required to handle scenarios where both expiry and non-expiry products exist.


How the system applies General Strategy
  • For expiry-tracked products, the selected expiry-based strategy (FEFO or LEFO) is applied
  • For non-expiry products, the selected non-expiry strategy is applied

2.3 Zone Type Strategy (Click here to learn about how to create Zones)

Zone Type Strategy defines from which zone type inventory should be picked first during order assignment, when the same product is available in multiple zones.

Available Options and Meaning

  • Bulk Zones → Each Zones
    Inventory is first picked from     Bulk Zones.
    If inventory is not available in Bulk Zones, the system then checks     Each Zones.

  • Each Zones → Bulk Zones
    Inventory is first picked from     Each Zones.
    If inventory is not available in Each Zones, the system then checks     Bulk Zones.

  • Only Each Zones
    Inventory is picked     only from Each Zones.
    Bulk Zone inventory is not considered.

  • Only Bulk Zones
    Inventory is picked     only from Bulk Zones.
    Each Zone inventory is not considered.

Only one Zone Type Strategy can be selected in a rule.


2.4 UoM Strategy

UoM (Unit of Measure) Strategy defines which unit type the system should prefer first when assigning inventory for an order.

This is applicable when the same product is available in multiple units of measure, such as Each, Inner Pack, or Case.

Available Options:

  • Cases → Inner Packs → Eaches
     Inventory is first picked in Cases.
     If Cases are not available, the system checks Inner Packs, and then Eaches.

  • Eaches → Inner Packs → Cases
     Inventory is first picked in Eaches.
     If Eaches are not available, the system checks Inner Packs, and then Cases.

The system follows the selected order until eligible inventory is found.

Notes

  • UoM definitions (Each, Inner Pack, Case) are configured separately in UoM setup
  • This strategy only controls preference order, not quantity conversion.

Other Parameters

System behaviour:

Inventory is first filtered using the selected parameters (such as MRP, Shelf Life, Packaging Version, and Inventory Status).
From the remaining eligible inventory, the selected strategies are then applied.

3.1 Shelf Life Threshold

Shelf Life Threshold filters inventory based on remaining shelf life.
  • Operator supported:
    • Greater than or equal to
  • Value can be entered as:
    • Percentage
    • Number of days
Shelf life can be configured at multiple levels.

Shelf Life Priority Order (Applied by the System)

When Shelf Life Threshold is configured, the system checks shelf life in the following order and applies the first available value:
  1. Allocation Product Shelf Life
    Shelf life configured for the     specific product within the allocation rule

  2. Allocation Category Shelf Life
    If product-level shelf life is not available in the allocation, the system checks the     category-level shelf life configured within the allocation rule

  3. Allocation Shelf Life (Global)
    If neither product-level nor category-level shelf life is configured in the allocation, the system applies the     global shelf life configured for the allocation rule

  4. Customer Shelf Life
    If shelf life is not defined at the allocation level, the system checks the     shelf life configured for the customer

  5. Product Shelf Life
    If customer-level shelf life is not available, the system uses the     product-level shelf life configuration

  6. Category Shelf Life
    If shelf life is not defined at any higher level, the system applies the     category-level shelf life configuration
Notes:
  • Shelf life applies only to expiry-tracked products
  • Shelf life checks are skipped for non-expiry products
  • Percentage-based shelf life requires manufacturing date

3.2 Packaging Version

Packaging Version is used when the same product exists in multiple packaging formats.

Key points:
  • Packaging Version is created at the product level
  • It can be created:
    • During product creation OR
      Masters > Product Master > Create Product
  • OR While updating an existing product
    Masters > Product Master > Click on SKU

InfoImp: Packaging Versions are created only from the primary location

When Packaging Version is used in a rule:
  • Supported operators:
    • Equals to
    • Not equals to
  • Only inventory matching the condition is considered
  • Other inventory is excluded from assignment

3.3 Inventory Status

Inventory Status filters inventory by condition.
  • Supported operators:
    • Equals to
    • Not equals to
  • Multiple statuses can be selected
Available statuses include:
  • Available
  • Repair
  • Damaged
  • Questionable
  • Expiry
  • Quarantine
  • Fraud


Priority (When Applicable)

Priority is required only when multiple strategies are used together.

The system prompts for priority when:
  • An expiry-based General Strategy and a non-expiry General Strategy are selected together
    (for example: FEFO + FMFO)
  • A General Strategy and a Zone Type Strategy are selected together
Rules:
  • Priority is entered as a number
  • Lower number means higher priority
  • Priority defines the order in which the selected strategies are applied
If only one strategy is selected, the system does not ask for priority.


Step 5: Create Rule

After configuring strategies, filters, and priority (if prompted), click Create.

Result:
  • Rule status becomes Created
  • Rule appears in the rules list
  • Rule does not affect order assignment until applied

Step 6: Apply Rule

From the rules list:
  • Click the Action icon
  • Select Apply Rule To


Available scopes:

  • Customer
  • Customer Group
  • Vendor
  • Marketplace
  • Sales Channel
  • Location
Select required values and click Apply.
If applies already, system shows that too.


Create / Update History

Shows:
  • Rule creation details
  • Rule updates
  • User and timestamp information



Apply History

Shows:
  • Where the rule is applied
  • Applied scope details
  • Application timestamp

FAQs

Q1. Does Shelf Life apply to non-expiry products?
No.

Q2. Can the same customer have different rules at different locations?
Yes.

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