66. Inventory Management API Integration Design
An e-commerce platform with inventory discrepancies will lose trust. We will define the "correct (master)" inventory and design a system to ensure consistency through API integration.
Inventory integration cannot be established simply by "connecting." If the business rules remain ambiguous—such as which inventory is correct (core/WMS/EC/Excel), the timing of inventory updates (real-time/batch), the approach to allocation (at order confirmation/shipping), and how to handle stockouts (stop accepting orders/display delivery dates)—API integration may actually increase incidents. In this service, we will audit the current inventory operations, define the correct inventory, and design the requirements for API integration (data items, timing, error handling). The goal is to achieve consistency in inventory and operational stability among EC platforms like Shopify, WMS, core systems, and external inventory management. ■ Provided Content (3 Points) - Inventory operation audit (definition of correctness, allocation, exceptions, locations) - API integration requirements definition (data items, frequency, bidirectional/unidirectional) - Error/exception operation design (stockouts, delays, manual intervention, monitoring) Deliverables: Requirements definition document for inventory management API integration + data specifications + operational rules (implementation specifications if necessary) *Please provide information on the current inventory management system (core/WMS/Excel, etc.) and the number of inventory locations and SKU scale. We will design it to minimize incidents as quickly as possible.
basic information
■Provided Content Determining the "correct" inventory (most important) - Correct: Is it core, WMS, or inventory management SaaS? - EC should focus on display and order reception, while the correct inventory is managed separately. Organizing types of inventory - Physical inventory, reserved inventory, available inventory, incoming inventory - Obsolete inventory, under inspection, in transit (inter-location transfer) Designing update timing - Real-time (API) / near real-time (a few minutes) / batch (daily) - Selection criteria: order volume, frequency of inventory changes, operational structure Allocation and out-of-stock response - Timing of allocation: at cart entry / at order confirmation / at shipping instruction - In case of out-of-stock: stop orders, back orders, delivery date proposals, partial deliveries Data specifications (API requirements) - SKU key, warehouse ID, inventory quantity, available quantity, update timestamp - Incoming inventory estimate (ETA), lot/expiration date (if necessary) - Extensions for referencing price and delivery date Error/exception handling (accident prevention) - Behavior when API fails (maintain previous value / hide inventory / stop sales) - Difference detection (sudden changes, abnormal values) and alerts - Manual intervention procedures (who will fix it, whether to keep logs)
Price information
1.5 million to 9 million yen (varies based on the number of bases, SKUs, scope of integration, and bidirectionality) - Design center (inventory + requirements definition + specifications): 1.5 to 3 million yen - Standard (data specifications + exceptions/monitoring + test design): 3 to 5.5 million yen - Expansion (multiple warehouses/3PL, bidirectional, scheduled arrivals/reservations): 5.5 to 9 million yen * "Estimate required" notation recommended (to be confirmed after the target system is determined)
Delivery Time
Applications/Examples of results
■Concerns Inventory discrepancies leading to stockouts, incorrect shipments, and cancellations. Inability to trust the inventory display in e-commerce, resulting in frequent inquiries. Multiple warehouses/3PLs causing inventory to be dispersed. Ambiguous rules for allocation (reservation). Desire for API integration but unable to organize requirements. ■Approach Preliminary sharing: Current state of inventory management (system/location/frequency of changes). Inventory check: Organize definitions, allocations, exceptions, and stockout responses. Requirements definition: Confirm API direction, frequency, data items, and responsibility boundaries. Exception design: Confirm behavior during stockouts, partial deliveries, expected arrivals, and stoppages. Verification design: Establish testing perspectives and monitoring design (alerts). Implementation (if necessary): Integration implementation → Operational establishment. ■Uses Improving the reliability of inventory displays (reducing stockouts and cancellations). Preventing shipping/order accidents (organizing allocations and exceptions). Integrating operations across multiple locations/3PLs. Phased introduction of API integration (designing without overdoing it). ■Examples of Achievements (company name not required) Parts × many SKUs × high inventory fluctuations → Alignment through positive definitions and differential integration. Consumables × multiple warehouses → Reduced stockout incidents through warehouse ID management. Industrial materials × mixed order production → Prevented confusion through stockout/delivery date display rules.
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