Allocation: Generic Articles
Allocation: Generic Articles
Use
You can create items for generic articles in allocation tables. The system can determine the relevant variants and create separate items in the allocation table for each variant. You can either distribute the quantity of the generic article among the variants online or have the system automatically suggest a distribution.
For further information, see
Article: Generic Articles and Variants.
Prerequisites
Features
Manual Distribution
You enter the quantities for the variants online using an entry transaction. The system automatically distributes the quantities among the sites. This function is available on the generic article item level and on the level of the sites for the generic article item. You can set up each allocation table type in Customizing so that the entry transaction is automatically suggested by the system. The system creates a new item in the allocation table for every variant for which you enter a quantity. This item automatically references the generic article item.
As is the case with a single article, you can also insert a variant item by entering the variant article number. This item does not, however, have any reference to the generic article and is handled as a single article in the maintenance functions.
You can enter quantities in one of two ways:
The availability of the variant-creating characteristics is displayed in the form of a matrix.
The generic article "ladies’ blouse" is made up of the characteristics color and size. You enter a quantity of each variant in the matrix:
|
Size |
|||
Color |
12 |
14 |
16 |
red |
100 |
300 |
200 |
white |
300 |
150 |
The variant list is a display format that can be used instead of the matrix.
The variants from the previous example would look like this if they were displayed in list form:
Color |
Size |
Quantity |
red |
12 |
100 |
red |
14 |
300 |
red |
16 |
200 |
white |
12 |
|
white |
14 |
300 |
white |
16 |
150 |
Automatic Distribution via Quota Scales
The system finds the value and quota scales that exist for the variant-creating characteristics, and uses them to calculate the quantities for each variant in each site.
For further information, see
Merchandise Category: Values and Quota Scales.The calculation is made in two steps:
You can then go to then variant entry transaction (variant matrix or list) and manually change the quantities suggested.
You create an allocation table item for generic article 1, with a total quantity of 1000 pieces. You use allocation rule 1 to split the stock among the sites in the following ratios:
Site 1: |
Site 2: |
1 |
3 |
The system first distributes the quantity among the sites.
Site 1: |
Site 2: |
250 PC |
750 PC |
Generic article 1 has the characteristic "size" that leads to the creation of variants. The following quota scale exists for this characteristic:
S |
M |
L |
2 |
5 |
3 |
In a second step, the system calculates the variant quantities for each site and thus the total quantity of each variant.
|
Site 1: |
Site 2: |
Total per variant | |
S |
50 PC |
150 PC |
200 PC |
M |
125 PC |
375 PC |
500 PC |
L |
75 PC |
225 PC |
300 PC |
Automatic Distribution via an Allocation Strategy
You have to enter a site group and an allocation strategy. Depending on the allocation strategy selected, the system suggests how you should distribute the quantities among the variants and the sites.