Create and use inventory buffers

Inventory allocations allow you to create buffers and save a few items from sales in case you have a specific need. Buffers are allocations with a reserve purpose not connected to any external sales channel.

Create an allocation buffer

Steps

1. From your Bigblue admin, go to Inventory > Inventory allocations.
2. Click Create allocation.
3. Enter an allocation name. This name is displayed on the inventory overview to help you identifying live allocations.
4. Select the warehouse that should be used as reference for available inventory. If you only have one warehouse, it will be auto-selected.
5. Select the Reserve inventory purpose in the Purpose section.
6. Select the auto-adjustment rule Limit to available. This prevents backorders in case you have several live buffers at the same time.
7. In the Sales channels section, do not select any channel. Products will be reserved to manual orders and subtracted from the quantities pushed to your connected sales channels.
8. In the Products section, configure the affected products:
   1. Add your products to the allocation.
   2. Set the allocated quantity for each product.
   3. Optional: You can import products in bulk with a CSV file. The headers of your file must be BigblueProductSKU and Quantity.
9. Click Save.

Fulfill orders from a buffer

Buffers can be used for manually created orders.

1. From your Bigblue admin, go to Orders > Create order
2. Fill your customer infos and order IDs
3. In the Origin section
   1. Select your fulfillment warehouse
   2. Select your buffer allocation
4. Add items and choose your shipping methods as for any other order.
5. Click Create order.