Overview
The virtual combo is a combination of multiple SKUs together to form a virtual-bundle SKU. Every Virtual Combo SKU can be made of two or more SKUs combined together in any quantity ratio.
Virtual Combo Creation
Virtual Combo SKUs can be created just like any other SKU in OMS, with the only difference being that is_virtual flag needs to be set as true for such SKUs.
And then a virtual combo sku definition is to be created which specify what are the constituents skus in this combo.
Virtual Combo SKU Creation
Virtual Combo SKUs can also be created via Increff Standard Create Article Master API (by giving is_virtual flag as true.)
Following are the steps to create a Virtual Combo SKU in OMS UI:
Go to Products screen in OMS
Under New tab, Select the client
Select Custom Attributes via checkboxes
Click on Download Template
In the CSV, set isVirtual = true for the SKUs which should be created as Virtual Combo SKU
Figure 1: Virtual Combo SKU creation in OMS
Notes:
Virtual Combo SKU definition upload will only be allowed for the SKUs with is_virtual flag as true.
If Virtual Combo definition is supposed to have even a single perishable SKU in the definition, then is_perishable flag needs to be provided as true while uploading the article masters for Virtual Combo SKU.
Only upto 10 child skus are allowed
Virtual Combo Definition Creation in OMS
Virtual Combo definition can also be created via Increff Standard Create Virtual Combo SKU Definition API .
Following are the steps to create a Virtual Combo SKU in the ASSURE through OMS UI
Go to Virtual Combo SKU Definition screen under Product Settings category in OMS
Select the Client from the dropdown
Download the sample CSV template
Enter the Virtual Combo SKU ID, CLIENT SKU ID, QUANTITY for each Virtual Combo SKU Definition in the CSV
Upload the CSV and click on Submit
For example A = 1 * B + 2 * C
A is a virtual combo SKU having definition as follow
A | 1 |
B | 1 |
C | 2 |
Figure 2: Virtual Combo SKU Definition screen in OMS
Note:
Extra caution needs to be given while uploading Virtual Combo SKU definition for a virtual combo SKU. Virtual Combo SKU definition once uploaded cannot be modified without manual interventions of INCREFF Success Team.
Inventory Management of Virtual Combo SKUs
The inventory of any Virtual Combo SKU will be defined by the inventory of the SKUs which make up the Virtual Combo SKU. On change of any inventory of any child SKU, the system will recompute the Virtual Combo SKU inventory if required and send an update to Marketplace for the same.
Order Creation
All the warehouse related operations will happen against the children SKUs that are defined in the Virtual Combo SKU definition.
Following steps will be followed in OMS on order creation :
All the Orders get created in OMS in NEW status .
All the orders in NEW status are picked up periodically by the system which does the debundling for order containing Virtual Combo SKU and moves them to CREATED status and moves the order that does not require debundling directly in CREATED status .
OMS for an order containing Virtual Combo SKU(V), automatically creates line items for all the children SKU specified in the Virtual Combo SKU definition with ordered_qty = ordered_qty of V * ratio of child SKU in the definition. This process is known as debundling and the line items generated during this process are known as debundled order line items.
For every Virtual Combo SKU present in the order, users in WMS will always pick, pack and dispatch the debundled line items generated during the debundling processes mentioned above. ASSURE WMS screens will not have any information regarding Virtual Combo SKU at any point of order processing, and hence the entire pick, pack and dispatch process in ASSURE WMS remains unchanged by this feature.
An Order containing a Virtual Combo SKU looks something like below on Search Order screen in OMS:
Figure 3.1: Order Line Items section in Search Orders screen for Orders having Virtual Combo SKU
Figure 3.2: Child SKU details (along with batch details for perishable SKUs)
Following types of Orders will not be allowed to be created with Virtual Combo SKU in Assure:
Inward Orders
Outward Orders with Qc Status as FAIL.
Outward Orders with Fulfillment type as Single Shipment Partial.
Outward order containing Virtual Combo SKU and any child SKU present in Virtual Combo SKU before debundling.
Outward order containing two Virtual Combo SKU with a common child SKU.
Inventory Allocation
For an order containing Virtual Combo SKU, the inventory allocation will always happen in multiples of the Virtual Combo SKU definition.
Let us say that Virtual Combo SKU A contains SKU B and SKU C in the ratio of 1:2, then allocating 1 qty of A means that the system will allocate 1 qty of B and 2 qty of C both or none to the order.
The same concept applies during inventory deallocations from an order containing a Virtual Combo SKU in the ASSURE.
Inventory Deallocation
For an order containing Virtual Combo SKU, the inventory deallocation will always happen in multiples of the Virtual Combo SKU definition, just like inventory allocation.
Let us say, a Virtual Combo SKU A contains SKU B and SKU C in the ratio of 1:2 against A respectively. On deallocating 1 quantity of A, the system will deallocate 1 quantity of B and 2 quantities of C from the order.
Figure 4: Virtual Combo SKU Line Item Deallocation in OMS
Order Pack
As mentioned above all the pick, pack and dispatch in the warehouse will happen against SKUs that are present in the definition of the Virtual Combo SKU.
During the pack of an order containing Virtual Combo SKU, the system will ensure that proper ratios of child SKUs are maintained during packing, through proper error messages and reporting.
In case of orders with Fulfillment type BLOCK_COMPLETE the ratio is automatically ensured, since all the items need to be packed in Single Shipment.
In case of orders with Fulfillment type MULTI_SHIPMENT_PARTIAL, system will throw an error if ratios of Child SKUs being packed are not correct, and a report named as “Outwards : Pending Virtual Combo SKU Child for Shipment” can be used to identify sku (s) and qty that are mandatorily required to be packed or removed from pack boxes to fulfill Virtual Combo SKU fulfillment.
For an order containing Virtual Combo SKU, the invoice generated by ASSURE, will have the Virtual Combo SKU mentioned rather than the Child SKU(s) present in the definition, as the order essentially came for Virtual Combo SKU and ASSURE is also fulfilling the same by packing all the child SKUs in the correct ratio.
Order Cancellation
Customer / Seller order cancellations will be allowed only on Virtual Combo SKU level and all the child line items will automatically be canceled by the system depending on the virtual combo SKU quantity that is provided to be canceled.
Let us say, a Virtual Combo SKU A exists with SKU B and SKU C present in the ratio of 1:2 against A respectively. So for every 1 quantity cancellation of A, the system will cancel 1 quantity of B and 2 quantities of C from the order.
Figure 5: Virtual Combo SKU Line Item Cancellation in OMS
Inventory Reservation
Inventory reservation from one pool to another is not allowed directly for Virtual Combo SKUs in ASSURE.
Non Virtual Combo SKUs can however be reserved from one pool to another and the system automatically calculates the Virtual Combo SKU inventory in both source and destination pools for all the Virtual Combo SKUs against which the SKU whose inventory is moved between the pools is a part of.
Return Order Creation
Return Order creation against the forward orders containing Virtual Combo SKU will also be expected to contain the Virtual Combo SKU in the return order creation request. Expectations containing the Child SKU(s) will not be allowed.
During return order creation, the Debundling of return orders will be done using the Virtual Combo SKU definition just like the forward orders and in WMS all the Return Order processing will happen against the debundled child items.
Return Order Processing
Whenever return order line items are fetched by WMS, only the non Virtual Combo SKUs will be communicated to WMS.
During the return order item processing, all the child SKUs of the Virtual Combo SKU need to be processed individually.
Assure OMS automatically maintains the fields like Return line item status and Qc Fail reason for the Virtual Return order item, based on the processing happening in the warehouse on Child SKU items.
All the images that are captured during return processing of all the Child SKU items, are mapped in ASSURE against the Virtual Combo SKU return item.
If all the Child SKUs are received and marked as QC PASS, then the system automatically assigns reason as QC_PASS to the Virtual Combo SKU return line item.
If some but not all of the Child SKUs are marked as missing, then the system automatically assigns reason as QC FAIL to the Virtual Combo SKU return line item with return line item status as PARTIAL_MISSING_COMBO .
If all of the Child SKUs are marked as missing, then the system automatically assigns reason as QC FAIL to the Virtual Combo SKU return line item with return line item status as MISSING.