This guide aims to help you transition from Inventory Source to Flxpoint with minimal disruption. While the core concepts remain similar, managing product data, syncing inventory, and fulfilling orders. Flxpoint offers a consolidated workflow under a single dashboard, plus additional control over supplier integrations and notifications.
High-Level Feature Mapping
Below is a comparison of core Inventory Source features and their equivalents in Flxpoint
Merging Products with Common Identifiers Flxpoint
Flxpoint allows you to merge products from multiple suppliers that share the same common identifier into a single product listing. This ensures your catalog remains accurate and free from duplicate entries.
Key Details:
- Common Identifiers Matching: Flxpoint matches products across suppliers using the shared common Identifiers.
- Product Consolidation: Listings with identical UPCs are merged into one unified product in your catalog.
- Improved Organization: This reduces duplication and ensures your catalog remains consistent and organized.
Detailed Feature Reference
1. Dashboard (IS “Home”)
Purpose:
The Dashboard in Flxpoint serves as a central hub offering a snapshot of orders, recent activity, and inventory updates.
In Inventory Source (IS): The “Home” page provided a basic overview with minimal functionality.
In Flxpoint: The Dashboard provides real-time alerts for potential sync failures, out-of-stock statuses, and other critical notifications to help you stay updated.
2. Product Management (IS “Catalog Manager”)
Location:
Flxpoint’s Products module is where you can view and manage SKUs.
In Inventory Source (IS): The Catalog Manager allowed you to view/edit SKUs, titles, and images.
In Flxpoint:
- View and edit SKUs (titles, descriptions, images, etc.).
- Control visibility (publish/hide items) on each connected channel.
- Access Channel Listings to manage item availability on sales channels.
Note:
If you previously bulk-uploaded SKUs in IS, be aware that creating entirely new products via CSV isn’t supported in Flxpoint. You can, however, manually create or edit SKUs. Maintaining your IS account to feed products into Flxpoint is a potential workaround.
3. Bulk Product Upload
In IS: CSV imports were supported in the Catalog Manager for creating new SKUs.
In Flxpoint:
- New SKUs cannot be created via CSV uploads.
- Manually create or edit SKUs in the Products module.
- Use an active IS account to feed new products into Flxpoint if necessary.
4. Inventory Management
Location: In Flxpoint, this is managed under Connections > Fulfillment Sources.
In IS: “Inventory Automation” synced product data, price, and quantity automatically.
In Flxpoint:
- Product data, pricing, and inventory are synced automatically through Inventory Integrations.
- Use Inventory Exclusions to exclude specific SKUs or brands from being published.
- Includes automated updates to connected sales channels, ensuring accurate stock levels.
5. Order Management
Location: The Orders module in Flxpoint.
In IS: Basic order routing was handled through “Order Automation.”
In Flxpoint:
- View and manage incoming orders.
- Place orders on hold, cancel, or release for fulfillment.
- Route orders to the lowest-cost or highest-priority fulfillment source.
Limitations: Flxpoint does not yet support advanced conditional routing, such as by shipping speed or cost.
6. Notifications
Location: Flxpoint provides notifications under Settings > Notifications.
In IS: Alerts were basic and provided limited functionality.
In Flxpoint:
- Configure email alerts for inventory sync failures, order errors, and stock changes.
- Ensure email settings are up-to-date to avoid missing important notifications.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)