Magento 2.3 introduced Magento Multi-Source Inventory or MSI, a significant update over the earlier version. This blog helps understand Magento MSI and its basic functionalities.
Defining Magento Multi-Source Inventory
Magento allows multiple product inventory sources to be managed by a single merchant without the need to install third-party extensions or platforms.
Magento Multi Inventory Features
Magento 2 Multi-Source Inventory Sources
‘Source’ refers to the physical location of the product stock and it includes multiple warehouses, distribution center, brick-and-mortar store and any other location where the products are stored.
To create sources for products sold in multiple locations, Magento MSI allows you to create sources for each product inventory location. Here are the steps:
Step 1: Go to Admin -> Stores -> Inventory -> Sources
Step 2: Select ‘Add New Source’.
Step 3: Provide Name, Code, Description, Latitude, Longitude etc.,
Step 4: Fill the contact information for a primary contact and this includes Contact Name, Email address, Phone and Fax fields.
Step 5: Complete the Address Data that includes these fields: Country, Postcode, State/Province, City and Street.
Step 6: Click ‘Save’
Magento 2 MSI Stocks
‘Stocks’ are the virtual representation of multiple sources and provide a direct link to salable quantities and inventories. Here are the steps to add a product stock.
Step 1: Go to Admin -> Stores -> Inventory -> Stocks
Step 2: Click ‘Add New Stock.’
Step 3: Fill a unique ‘Name’ and select Sales Channels.
Step 4: Assign the Sources to apply to the new product stock and click Done.
Step 5: Click ‘Save.’
Magento MSI allows to delete the product stocks and you can reassign any sales channel and sources to the Stocks. If a sales channel is not assigned to a custom stock, it will be assigned to the Default Stock.
Except for the default product stock, all other stocks can be edited like changing the name, sales channel and the assigned sources.
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Magento 2 MSI Product Edit Page
The product edit page has been rejigged after the introduction of Magento MSI. It includes new sections: “Assigned Sources” with parameters like source code, name and status, item status and notification status.
Magento 2 MSI Salable Quantity
Once the sources are created and stocks are linked to the respective website, the MSI module calculates the salable quantity. This is included in the Product grid as ‘Quantity per Source’ and ‘Salable Quantity’.
When a shipment is created, the ‘Quantity per Source’ column is updated. Salable Quantity column adds all the available sources and groups them in stocks. Whenever an order is placed, Magento MSI deducts the order quantity from the sellable stocks number.
Magento 2 MSI Source Selection Algorithm
Source Selection Algorithm picks the best sources to deliver the new order. The parameters used to select the right source includes customer, address, stock, product and source data. Despite including all the sources, if still the stock is not sufficient to supply, the shipment will not be created.
Source Selection Algorithm has its priority set right. It scans the list of sources thoroughly and skips disabled sources. It also picks the source with available stock and also recommends deductions and shipments from that particular source.
Magento 2 MSI Performance
With Source Selection Algorithm taking care of Magento 2 MSI, the checkout performance will be faster than before. When order is placed, the Source Selection Algorithm functions at the time of shipping itself.
Magento 2 MSI Partial shipments
Partial shipments refer to the situation where some quantity is shipped initially and the remaining quantity is reserved until they are shipped later. Magento 2 MSI allows partial shipments where you can add a drop shipping partner to the list of sources.
Magento 2 MSI-related products
Magento Technology partners can create integrated functions with MSI. For instance, Magestore Magento 2.3 POS sync product inventory in real-time between POS and Magento 2.3 backend. The capabilities of Magento 2 MSI are extended by providing merchants, the flexibility to include both physical and virtual stocks that involve complex logistics. Picking one among multiple warehouses based on various criteria like stock, availability, location can also be achieved by developing extensions.
If you want to configure Magento’s multi-source inventory feature to your specific requirements, a seasoned Magento Development agency can help.
