What is Kitting?

Kitting is an inventory technique where individual, but related, products are packaged and shipped together as a single bundle.

Kitting in a warehouse is the physical act of finding multiple SKUs, bundling them into a single package, and creating a new SKU numbers for that package before shipping. This involves warehouse workers picking multiple products and bringing them to an assembly area where they are packed together and shipped.

Why to use Kitting for Bulk orders?

Kitting is used by most e-commerce fulfillment brands to lower warehouse and packing costs when shipping the goods in form of physical bundles.

How can you use Kitting for optimising the warehouse operations?

You can refer to below to understand how can you leverage Kitting functionality in your day-to-day WMS operations.

SKU Master Creation

The current functionality of Virtual combo definition will remain as it is but virtual combo definition will be relabeled to Bundle definition.

Users can use the Products screen under Masters section in Increff OMS UI to create and update the Bundled SKU definition.

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Fig 1: Create/Update Product Masters with isBundled Flag

Bundle SKU Definition
For defining new Bundled SKUs in the OMS system, users need to create the Products in the product masters from Increff OMS UI or from external system (ERP/PIM) using Create Article Masters API

Once the Products are created, user can go to Bundled SKU definition screen to define the Bundled SKUs by following below steps:

1. Select the Client from the Client dropdown for which the Products were created in the Product master

2. Download the CSV file and add the data for the SKUs and Qty.

3. Upload the CSV file in the UI

4. Click on Submit button to confirm the Bundle SKU definition

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Fig 2: Bundled SKU defintion screen

Updation of Bundled SKU Definition

Bundle SKU definition can be only updated if there are no Outward orders for the Bundle SKU and no inventory is inwarded for the child SKUs in Increff OMS system.

Users can reach out to omni.support@increff.com or raise a Freshdesk support ticket for such requests

Order Creation

Bulk orders can be created from Increff OMS user interface or using API integration in the same way like presently but there are few things to be taken care of which are mentioned below:

1. Creating Outward Order from Increff OMS Create outward order screen: While creating the outward bulk order from Increff OMS, the user must set the Kit Required toggle to ON as mentioned below.
   
   

2. Creating Outward Order using API Integration with Increff OMS: In case the orders are created by an external system (ERP/B2B Marketplace etc.), then the Additional configurations must be completedwith help of Increff Customer Support team.

Picklist release

Bulk Picklist release screen will show a Identifier/tag to highlight if the SKU belongs is a Bundled SKU and belongs to a Kit to highlight which SKUs are non bundle SKUs.

For an order having both NON KIT SKU and KIT SKUs, users can now have below options for releasing picklist:

• Release Picklist for only NON KIT SKUs : Users can release picklist for only NON KIT SKUs using Release SKU Picklist button in case pickers in warehouse wants to complete bulk picking process of NON KIT SKUs first.

• Release Picklist for only KIT SKUs: Users can release picklist for only KIT SKUs Release SKU Picklist button in case pickers in warehouse wants to complete bulk picking process of KIT SKUs first and complete formation of physical KITs for Bulk orders.

• Picklist for both NON KIT and KIT SKUs: Users can release picklist for both NON KIT and KIT SKUs together by doing checkbox selecting for the respective SKU lines.

Bulk Picking

Users can facilitate the Bulk Picking process in below ways:

• Picking NON KIT Items: Warehouse users can pick NON KIT items as part of their regular picking flows from Order picking.
  
  

• Picking KIT Items: Warehouse users can pick KIT SKU Items along with NON KIT SKU items from Order or Batch Picking.
  
  

Pick list suggestion data will have the information if the item for the SKU which needs to be picked corresponds to the KIT SKU or a NON KIT SKU.

Sorting and Consolidation (Upcoming in future versions)

Using pigeonhole

For pigeon hole on scan of any item the system will derive basis the existing items in the pigeon hole and allocate either an empty one or allocated one.

In parallel to sorting the items to items to be kitted together we will provide the workflow where one can do picking on the pigeon holes and take them to the kitting desk.

Without pigeonhole

On Kitting Screen, Operator will scan any item and it will show the a list of next eligible SKUs to scan for making kits.

Kitting and De-Kitting Process

This section will help you understand the process of physical kitting and Kit label generation.

Once the child items are picked by the operators which will be used for creating the physical kits, the items will be moved to the Kitting desk. From here on, physical kits will be created and Kit labels will be generated.

We have introduced a new section of Kitting in WMS user interface containing below screens to carry out Kitting process effectively:

• Kitting Desk: This screen will be used to create the Physical Kits for the items which were picked and moved to Kitting desk. Once kits are created, Kit labels will be generated and pasted on the physical Kits.

• De-Kitting Desk: This screen will be used to De-kit the items which are canceled in pre-packing or post-packing operation in warehouse. Such items are required to be putwayed back in the warehouse since currently kits cannot be stored in the warehouse directly.

• Search Kit labels: This screen will be used to search the Kit labels generated during Kitting process in case the labels are required to be regenerated or repasted again on kits

Kitting Process

Users can go to Kitting Desk screen to kit the physical child items picked from warehouse and follow below steps:

1. User will scan a ItemCode of any Child Item (which should be a bundled SKU) and System will show options of all the possible Kit suggestions which can be made along with the remaining qty of child SKUs that can be scanned to form the possible KITs.
   On Scanning of the next Item barcodes the system will progressively show what all remaining Product SKUs can be scanned to create the possible KIT.

2. Once all the Child items of the bundle are scanned, the Create Kit button will be enabled.

3. Once user will click Create Kit button, KIT Item code or KIT label will be generated which will be pasted on the physical Kit.

4. The functionality of printing the customised Kit labels will be synced from Increff InSc and users will be having the option to define custom label template for any channel configured in Increff OMS/CIMS.

Kit Label Configuration

In Kitting Desk screen there are configurations available for printing of Kit Item barcodes and Kit Labels

Users can choose from below two configurations:

1. Print/Generate Kit Item: If enabled, this will generate and print a Kit Item Barcode for the physical KIT, users can paste it on the Physical KIT and carry out the further operations (packing and invoicing) using Kit item barcodes just like normal item barcodes in case of non-bundled SKUs.

2. Print/Generate Kit Label: If enabled, this will generate and print a Kit Label Barcode for the physical KIT, users can paste it on the Physical KIT and carry out the further operations (packing and invoicing) using Kit item barcodes just like normal item barcodes in case of non-bundled SKUs.
   
   The Kit labels can be customised in InSc basis on following data points:

   • SKU/Product Attributes

   • Client SKU code

   • Channel SKU code

   • Increff SKU code

   • Channel Alias/Name

De-Kitting process of Physical Kits

For the process of De-kitting, we have introduced a new screen named as De-Kitting Desk to debundle the individual items from the physically created KITs.

De-Kitting process will be required in following cases:

1. In case of Pre pack or Post pack cancellation of some items of bulk order or shipment received, De-kitting is required to putaway the individual items back to make their inventory saleable again.

2. In case Lost KITs are being found in the warehouse operator, De-Kitting is required to putaway the individual items back to make their inventory saleable again.

3. In case wrong items are kitted due to human error, De-kitting is required to Re-Kit the correct items again.

Users can follow below steps simply to carry out the process of De-Kitting:

1. Go to De-Kitting Desk screen under Kitting section in Increff WMS UI.

2. Scan the KIT Item barcode or the Individual Item Barcode (if available) for which you want to start the De-kitting process.

3. Select the KIT created in the screen to and Start De-Kitting button will be visible.

4. Click on Start De-Kitting button and you will see the SKUs for which Item barcodes needs to be scanned.

5. Scan the Individual item barcodes if available on products or re-print the Item barcodes of child/individual items using the Re-Print Items button available in each Child SKU suggestion display.

6. As soon as even one of the child item barcodes are scanned, user will be able to see Complete De-Kitting button and Complete De-Kitting button & Go to Recycle Desk buttons.

   1. If user clicks on Complete De-Kitting button then whatever Child Item codes have scanned will be eligible for re-putaway from WMS Recycle Desk screen and rest of the items will be marked as LOST

   2. User can click on Complete De-Kitting button & Go to Recycle Desk button to directly move to recycle desk screen and re-putway the items back in the bins.

Bulk Packing and Invoicing

The process of bulk packing and invoice remains as usual as of today but below things should noted for Bundled SKUs:

• Adding items to box screen will also allow adding kit items directly to boxes.

• Pack lists will be on Bundle SKUs.

• Invoicing will also be supported on Bundle SKUs.

Returns

• SKUs will not be in-warded in KIT form , user will need to open the KIT physically and then do the inwarding.

• Inwards will happen on individual SKUs only when the items are removed from physical KITs before doing the GRN.

Cancellation Workflow For Kitted Products

• For cancellation before packing and after the KIT is created, the items will be moved to RECYCLED state and from Recycle desk users can de-kit the SKU and send it back to storage location.

• For cancellation after packing, the users need to use Remove Items from Outward box screen to remove the Kit Items from the packbox and move the Kits to Recycle desk.

  • Here on, user can de-kit the KIT SKUs from recycle desk in WMS UI.

  • When user will scan the Kit item code or child item code in Recycle desk screen, it will show the status of the itemCode as following:

    • In case KIT Item code is scanned then Item status for KIT would be RECYCLE

    • In case child SKU’s Item code is scanned then status then Item status for the child Item would be KITTED
      
      

  • User will have the Proceed to De-Kitting Screen button available on the Recycle Desk screen which will route to De-Kitting Desk screen.

    • The same steps needs to be followed as mentioned in De-Kitting section.

  • Users can also use Cycle count screen to look for the LOST Kit Items and then move them to Recycle Desk

What’s not in current Scope?

Storage Kitting is not available

Currently the individual products for which Bundled definition exists in the Product masters can be Kitted physically and shipped against the Bulk Sale orders, but in case of cancellations or returns currently there is no provision to store the physical bundles/Kits in the warehouse.

Kit Pigeonhole Sorting is not available but will be released in future versions

Currently in case there are bulk orders having the bundle SKUs with large number of child/individual SKUs along with NON KIT SKUs then there would be a need of manual Sorting of items in the warehouse since the Pigeonhole Sorting is not yet released with the current version of Increff WMS.

Additional Configurations (In case bulk orders are created using API Integration)

In case the Bulk orders are going to be created from API Integration, below configuration is required to be completed with help of Increff Customer Support team.

Update Channel Configuration in Champ

In order to support the Bundle SKUs in Bulk orders, the Bundle type onfiguration in Champ for the respective channel must be set as KIT. Below steps can be followed to do this activity:

1. Go to Increff Champ UI

2. Search for the Channel mapping created which will be used for Bulk order creation using API integration.

3. Update the Bundle Type configuration to KIT.

4. Go to Increff CIMS UI , Navigate to the respective Client-Channel Pair in CIMS and Refresh the Channel credentials.

5. Now the Bulk orders with Bundle SKUs can be created using the API Integration.

FAQs

Q1: What is the purpose of kitting for bulk orders?

• Kitting simplifies warehouse operations by bundling multiple SKUs into a single package, making the picking, packing, and shipping process faster and more efficient. It reduces operational costs and ensures faster order processing for bulk shipments.

Q2: How do I create a bundled SKU definition in the system?

• You can create bundled SKUs either via the Increff OMS UI under the SKU Master Creation section or using the Create Bundle SKU definition API After defining the bundled SKU, upload the SKU and quantity details through a CSV file and submit it for finalisation.

Q3: Can I update the bundled SKU definition after creation?

• The bundled SKU definition can only be updated if there are no active outward orders or inbound inventory for the child SKUs in the system. For any updates, you will need to contact the support team.

Q4: What happens if I need to cancel a kit after it has been created?

• If a kit needs to be canceled, the items will be moved to the recycle desk. You can then follow the de-kitting process to return the individual SKUs to the inventory. The de-kitting desk in the WMS UI allows for seamless unbundling and re-adding items to the warehouse stock.

Q5: Can I generate custom kit labels?

• Yes, the you can customise Kit Labels using our tool InSC (Increff serial code) which allows you to customise labels based on SKU attributes, client codes, channel SKU codes, and more. This ensures that kits are correctly labeled before packing and invoicing as per the custom requirements from different marketplaces.

Q6: What should i do if there are huge number of Kit SKUs belonging to one B2B order?

• You can sort the items using Kit Pigeonholes in future. Currently, pigeonhole sorting is not available but will be introduced in future versions. For now, items are manually sorted and moved to the kitting desk for processing.

Q7: What should I do if there’s a failure during the picklist release for KIT SKUs?

• In case of a failure during the picklist release, a pop-up will notify you to retry the failed batches. You can attempt to release the picklist again or manage the process manually.

Q8: Can I de-kit items after packing?

• Yes, the system supports post-packing de-kitting. If an order is canceled after packing, the items can be removed from the outward box and de-kitted through the recycle desk.