How to Use Auto Depletion in Luminous
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- What is Auto Depletion?
- How Auto Depletion Works
- Step 1: Set Up Picking Locations
- Step 2: Integrate External Platforms
- Step 3: Process Orders in External Platforms
- Step 4: Monitor Inventory Levels
- Key Considerations for Auto Depletion
- Example: One SKU, One Picking Location
- Common Questions
Auto depletion in Luminous simplifies inventory management by automatically adjusting stock levels when orders are marked as shipped in external platforms like ShipStation. This guide explains how auto depletion works and provides step-by-step instructions to ensure proper setup and functionality.
What is Auto Depletion?
Auto depletion automatically deducts inventory in Luminous when:
- An order is marked as shipped in an external platform.
- Inventory changes are synced back to Luminous, reflecting the depletion in stock levels.
Example Scenario
- An order is processed in ShipStation.
- Once marked as shipped in ShipStation, Luminous detects this status change and deducts the corresponding inventory automatically.
How Auto Depletion Works
- Warehouse Setup:
- Auto depletion relies on the setup of your warehouse locations in Luminous.
- Each location can be designated as a picking location, which is the source for inventory deductions.
- Inventory Depletion Logic:
- When a SKU from an order is marked as shipped:
- Luminous searches for the SKU in its picking location.
- Inventory is deducted from that location.
- When a SKU from an order is marked as shipped:
- Replenishment Responsibility:
- Once inventory is depleted from the picking location, the warehouse team must replenish stock from a storage location back to the picking location.
Step 1: Set Up Picking Locations
- Go to your warehouse locations in Luminous (Manage > Locations).
- Designate specific locations as picking locations for your inventory.
- Ensure that each SKU is assigned to only one picking location.
Step 2: Integrate External Platforms
- Integrate external platforms like ShipStation with Luminous.
- Configure the integration to sync order statuses automatically.
Step 3: Process Orders in External Platforms
- When an order is marked as shipped in the external platform:
- Luminous detects the status change.
- Inventory is deducted from the designated picking location.
Step 4: Monitor Inventory Levels
- Check inventory levels in Luminous to confirm that auto depletion is functioning correctly.
- Regularly replenish picking locations from storage locations to maintain stock availability.
Key Considerations for Auto Depletion
- Avoid Duplicate SKUs in Picking Locations:
- Ensure that the same SKU does not exist in multiple picking locations to prevent errors in inventory deductions.
- Regular Replenishment:
- Assign warehouse staff to replenish picking locations from storage locations as inventory is depleted.
- System Configuration:
- Verify that external platforms and Luminous are correctly integrated and syncing order statuses.
Example: One SKU, One Picking Location
Say your white t-shirt lives in pick bin A1, with extra cases stored in overflow location R5. Only A1 is marked as a picking location.
- An order for 3 white t-shirts comes into Luminous and shows as pending.
- Your team prints the label and marks the order shipped in ShipStation.
- Luminous sees the order is shipped and deducts 3 units from A1, the SKU's picking location.
- When A1 runs low, the warehouse moves a case from R5 to A1 with an inventory transfer.
If the t-shirt were set up in two picking locations, Luminous wouldn't know which one to deduct from, and your bin counts could drift out of sync with what's on the shelves.
Common Questions
Do I have to mark orders shipped in Luminous? Not with auto depletion. When the order is marked shipped in a connected platform like ShipStation, Luminous deducts the inventory automatically.
Why should a SKU only be in one picking location? Luminous deducts shipped units from the SKU's picking location. Keeping each SKU in one picking location makes sure the deduction lands in the right place.
How do I replenish a picking location? Move stock from a storage location into the picking location. See How to Perform an Inventory Transfer in Luminous.
Related videos: How to Push Sales Orders to a 3PL, WMS or OMS and ShipStation Integration.
By following these steps and considerations, you can effectively manage inventory using auto depletion in Luminous, streamlining your fulfillment process.
Video transcript
What auto depletion means
This is going to be a quick tutorial about auto depletion in Luminous. So what is auto depletion exactly? The way we use the term, auto depletion is when marking an order as shipped, or printing a label, happens outside of Luminous. When those changes are made, they're reflected in Luminous, so inventory is deducted.
Example: fulfilling in ShipStation
The most common example is someone using an OMS like ShipStation, with fulfillment happening in ShipStation. When an order comes into Luminous, we see it as a pending order. Then, when that order gets marked as shipped, inventory is deducted in Luminous. So inventory automatically depletes when orders are marked as shipped in another platform.
How it works: picking locations
A little more explanation of how it works inside Luminous: a lot of it is based on how your locations are set up inside a warehouse. You can see that each location can be designated as a picking location.
With auto depletion, when a SKU comes in on an order and gets marked as shipped, Luminous looks for that SKU in its picking location and deducts from there.
Keep each SKU in one picking location
An important thing to know: make sure the same SKU isn't in multiple picking locations. For auto depletion to work correctly, the SKU should be in one picking location. Luminous deducts from that picking location, and the warehouse is responsible for replenishing it from a storage location.
And that's how auto depletion works inside of Luminous. Thanks.