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Status Delivered
Workspace Inventory Visibility
Created by Guest
Created on Sep 17, 2018

RELATED IDEAS

Configure Global Safety Stock by Node Type

Environment Details
CoC - 18.2

Business Requirement:
Consider the following scenario to better explain the exact requirement - 

Item ID - 123
Onhand Inventory in DC - 100
Onhand Inventory in Stores (all stores combined) - 100
Safety Factor (DC) - 0
Safety Factor (All Stores combined) - 4

Expectation:
Availability to Promise (WEB) - 100 + 100 - 4 = 196

Our Analysis:
There is no configurable feature in the product to achieve this requirement. However, we can configure 4 per Store (Node) but not at the Node Type level.
Let us know if there is anything configurable in the present product.

We want the feature to be at the Node Type level.

FYI, this is a very common requirement for apparel retailers. I expect this feature to be available OOB and not through any customization.
The inventory picture per store is shallow in Eileen Fisher. Hence, having a safety stock of 4 per store will never lead to a sale in the SFS program.

At the same time, having a safety stock of zero may lead to potential cancellation of web orders as the store inventory is very dynamic. Hence, its a very logical requirement of business to have a safety stock on the store inventory when consuming the web order demand as part of the SFS program.

We strongly recommend this feature as OOB.

Let me know if you have any Qs.

 

Thanks

Abhi

What is your industry? Retail
How will this idea be used?

This is a very common requirement for apparel retailers. I expect this feature to be available OOB and not through any customization.
The inventory picture per store is shallow in Eileen Fisher. Hence, having a safety stock of x per store will never lead to a sale in the SFS program.

At the same time, having a safety stock of zero may lead to potential cancellation of web orders as the store inventory is very dynamic. Hence, its a very logical requirement of business to have a safety stock on the store inventory when consuming the web order demand as part of the SFS program.

We strongly recommend this feature as OOB.

Let me know if you have any Qs.
  • Guest
    Reply
    |     Sep 17, 2018

    Having shallow store inventory is very realistic with today's retail business moving into more boutique stores.

    Currently we're unable to configure Global Safety Stock value to guarantee that at least X number of units are available to cash and carry customers across entire chain. Configuring store safety stock to 0 (zero) will essentially expose entire chain inventory to the web with the risk for 'cash and carry' customers never be able to get this item in a store. Configuring it to 1 will result in some of the SKU's being completely ignored by RTAM - practically means that some of the SFS eligible items will never be exposed to the WEB.

    I see it as a major Sterling OMS shortcoming that seriously handicaps business in today's very competitive retail environment.

    IBM should lead the way - not follow. Please consider implementing this sourcing rule ASAP.

    Thanks,

    Alex Pinskiy | Sr. Manager OMNI Channel Order Management/Customer Service Technologies

    EILEEN FISHER Inc.

  • Guest
    Reply
    |     Sep 17, 2018

    I agree - the Safety Factor at Network level makes sense for Ship-from-Store. It is typical that store inventory for many SKUs is 1 - typically stores will stock multiple units of common colors & sizes. But they may only stock 1 unit for less common sizes / colors. I have seen a similar profile at retailers that sell high-value product like jewelry.

    In all these scenarios, Safety Stock applied at each store level would essentially mean that these SKUs cannot be shipped from store. A better approach in these cases is to set the Safety stock at the aggregate Store network level. I have seen multiple clients configure this using other competitive OMS solutions.

  • Guest
    Reply
    |     Sep 17, 2018

    This is a good feature to have. A lot of time retailers struggle with safety stock numbers for the network. The traditional model of location based safety stock serves best for distribution centers.

    Also the leading competitor order management system already has this feature for a long long time.

    Regards,

    Nikhil

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