Alternative SKUs

What are Alternative SKUs?

Alternative SKUs (also called Alternative or Active SKUs) allow you to define products that can substitute each other when one of them is not available in stock. When a main SKU runs out, the system can suggest or automatically use its alternative SKU to complete orders.

This feature is essential for businesses that handle similar or equivalent products, seasonal variants, or customer-approved substitutes.

Common Use Case

If you sell “Blue Shirt Size M” but run out of stock, you can configure “Blue Shirt Size L” as an alternative. When you receive an order for size M, the system will suggest size L as a substitute.

Why Use Alternative SKUs?

Prevents Pending Orders

Complete orders even when the main SKU is out of stock using predefined alternatives.

Manages Variations

Define relationships between sizes, colors, versions, or equivalent models of a product.

Simplifies Substitutions

Automate the process of finding replacements instead of canceling orders.

Inventory Flexibility

Configure unidirectional or bidirectional relationships according to your business needs.

How Alternative SKUs Work

When you create an Alternative SKU relationship, you define:

1. Main SKU: The original product requested by the customer
2. Alternative SKU: The product that can be used as a substitute
3. Relationship Type: How products relate (equivalent, upgrade, downgrade, etc.)
4. Direction: Whether the relationship is unidirectional (A → B) or bidirectional (A ↔ B)

Types of Alternatives

Alternative SKU (Individual Product):

• The alternative is another product SKU in the catalog
• Example: SKU “SHIRT-BLUE-M” → Alternative “SHIRT-BLUE-L”

Alternative SynSet (Product Family):

• The alternative is a complete SynSet (product family)
• Useful when the substitute is a bundle or kit
• Example: SKU “GIFT-CARD-50” → Alternative SynSet “GIFT-BOX-PREMIUM”

Bidirectional Relationships

You can configure relationships that work in both directions:

• If A is alternative to B, then B is also alternative to A
• Useful for truly equivalent products without direction preference

View and Search Alternative SKUs

SKU Substitutions is a unified interface that manages different types of product relationships. The Alternatives tab within SKU Substitutions is where you configure alternative SKU relationships.

1. Access SKU Substitutions

   Navigate to Inventory → Catalog, then click the SKU Substitutions button in the Catalog toolbar. This opens the SKU Substitutions page in a new tab.

2. Open the Alternatives Tab

   Click on the Alternatives tab in SKU Substitutions to view all products and their alternative relationships.

3. Review the Product List

   The table shows all your products with the following information:

   • Id: Product ID
   • SKU: The product’s SKU code
   • UPC: UPC barcode
   • Description: Product description
   • Units in Stock: Current available inventory
   • Alternative: The alternative SKU or SynSet (if configured)
   • Synset?: Indicates if the alternative is a SynSet (Yes/No)

4. Use Search Filters

   You can filter the list using the search fields in the table header:

   • SKU: Search by SKU code
   • UPC: Search by UPC code
   • Description: Search by product description
   • Units in Stock: Filter by inventory levels
   • Alternative: Search by alternative SKU

5. Refresh the List

   Click the Refresh button to reload the table and see the latest data.

Create an Alternative SKU relationship

1. Access SKU Substitutions

   Navigate to Inventory → Catalog, then click the SKU Substitutions button. Click on the Alternatives tab.

2. Option A: Use the Create Button

   Click the Create button in the SKU Substitutions page header. In the modal that appears:

   • Select Alternatives: Map replacement SKUs for products
   • Click Continue
   • The system will show a message indicating you need to select a SKU from the list

3. Find the Main SKU

   In the Alternatives tab, locate the product (SKU) to which you want to add an alternative. You can use the search filters to find it quickly.

4. Click the Add Button

   In the Alternative column, find the SKU without an alternative configured. Click the green button with the + icon (Add button) for that SKU.

   Button Icons

   • Green button with +: Create/Select an alternative
   • Blue button with wrench: Edit existing alternative
   • Red button with X: Remove alternative relationship
   • Yellow button with paintbrush: Trace relationship tree

   A modal window will open showing available SKUs and SynSets.

5. Select the Alternative SKU or SynSet

   In the modal window:

   • Use the SKUs tab to select an individual product SKU as alternative
   • Use the Synsets tab to select a SynSet (product family) as alternative
   • Search and browse through your catalog to find the desired alternative

6. Choose the Alternative

   Click the Select button next to the SKU or SynSet you want to use as alternative.

7. Review the Mapping Confirmation

   A confirmation modal will open showing:

   • Title: Displays “Confirm relation for: [SKU Main] as [SKU Alternative]”
   • Visual Mapping: A graphical diagram showing the relationship between the main SKU and the alternative SKU/SynSet
   • Bidirectional Option: If available, a checkbox to enable bidirectional relationship (making the relationship work in both directions)

   The visual diagram helps you verify that you’re creating the correct relationship between the products.

8. Configure Relationship Options

   In the confirmation modal:

   • Review the visual mapping to ensure it’s correct
   • If needed, click Redraw to refresh the diagram layout
   • Enable Bidirectional checkbox if you want the relationship to work in both directions (A ↔ B)
   • The system automatically detects if the alternative is a SynSet

9. Confirm the Relationship

   Click Confirm to create the alternative relationship.

   The modal will close and you’ll see the new alternative displayed in the table.

Edit an Existing Relationship

1. Access SKU Substitutions

   Navigate to Inventory → Catalog, then click SKU Substitutions button. Click on the Alternatives tab.

2. Locate the SKU with Alternative

   Find the product that already has an alternative configured (it will appear in the “Alternative” column).

3. Click the Edit Button

   In the Alternative column, click the blue button with the wrench icon (Edit button) for that SKU.

4. Modify Details

   In the modal window that opens, you can:

   • Change the alternative SKU or SynSet
   • Modify the relationship type
   • Update the SynSet configuration
   • Enable or disable bidirectional relationship

5. Save Changes

   Confirm modifications and the system will update the relationship.

Delete an Alternative SKU Relationship

1. Access SKU Substitutions

   Navigate to Inventory → Catalog, then click SKU Substitutions button. Click on the Alternatives tab.

2. Locate the Relationship to Delete

   Find the SKU whose alternative relationship you want to delete (it will show an alternative in the “Alternative” column).

3. Click the Remove Button

   In the Alternative column, click the red button with the X icon (Remove button) for that SKU.

4. Confirm Deletion

   The system will ask for confirmation. Click OK or Delete to confirm the removal.

5. Verify Deletion

   The SKU’s “Alternative” column will now be empty and the green Add button (+) will appear again.

Deleting Relationships

Deleting an Alternative SKU relationship does not affect the products themselves, it only removes the connection between them. Future orders will no longer consider the product as an alternative.

Track Relationships (Trace)

The Trace functionality allows you to visualize the complete relationship tree of a SKU, especially useful when you have multiple levels of alternatives.

1. Access SKU Substitutions

   Navigate to Inventory → Catalog, then click SKU Substitutions button. Click on the Alternatives tab.

2. Select a SKU with Alternatives

   Find a product that has alternative relationships configured (it will show an alternative in the “Alternative” column).

3. Click the Trace Button

   In the Alternative column, click the yellow button with the paintbrush icon for that SKU.

4. View the SKU Mapping

   A modal window will open showing:

   • Title: “View relation”
   • Visual Diagram: A graphical representation of the SKU mapping showing the relationships between the main SKU and its alternatives
   • Redraw Button: Click to refresh the diagram layout if needed
   • Back Button: Close the modal and return to the list

   The diagram visually displays how the SKU connects to its alternative SKUs or SynSets, helping you understand the relationship structure at a glance.

Bulk Import Alternative SKUs

You can upload multiple Alternative SKU relationships using a CSV file. The import functionality is available through the SKU Substitutions interface.

1. Access SKU Substitutions

   Navigate to Inventory → Catalog, then click SKU Substitutions button. Click on the Alternatives tab.

2. Prepare Your CSV File

   The file must include the following columns:

   • SKU Main: Main SKU code
   • SKU Alternative: Alternative SKU code
   • Type: Relationship type (Equivalent, Upgrade, Downgrade, Substitute, etc.)
   • Synset: If the alternative is a SynSet (Yes/No)
   • Bidirectional: If the relationship is bidirectional (Yes/No)

3. Use Export to Get Template Format

   Click the CSV or EXCEL export button in the Alternatives table to see the correct format and use it as a template.

4. Contact Support for Import

   Currently, bulk import of Alternative SKUs may require assistance. Contact support or check if an import option is available in your account settings.

Correct CSV Format

Make sure all SKUs in the CSV file exist in your catalog before importing. SKUs not found will generate errors and those relationships will not be created. Use the export functionality to see the exact format expected.

Import Availability

Bulk import functionality may vary by account. If you need to import many Alternative SKU relationships, consider using the individual creation process or contact support for assistance with bulk operations.

Common Relationship Types

Size Relationships

Configure alternatives for different sizes of the same product:

• Shirt M → Shirt L: If there’s no M, offer L
• Pants 32 → Pants 34: Next available size

Color Relationships

Define alternative colors when one runs out:

• Red Chair → Blue Chair: Alternative color
• Green Mug → White Mug: Color substitute

Version Relationships

Manage product versions:

• iPhone 13 128GB → iPhone 13 256GB: Storage upgrade
• Laptop i5 → Laptop i3: Downgrade if customer accepts

Packaging Relationships

Alternate between individual and multipack packaging:

• Individual Bottle → 6-Pack: Offer multipack
• Large Box → Small Box: Alternative size

💡 Best Practices

Define Clear Types

Use descriptive and consistent relationship type names (Upgrade, Downgrade, Same-Size, etc.) to easily identify the type of substitution.

Review Alternative Stock

Before configuring an alternative, verify it has available stock. An alternative without stock doesn’t help complete orders.

Use Bidirectional Carefully

Only enable bidirectional relationships when products are truly equivalent. Don’t use bidirectional for upgrades or downgrades.

Document Complex Relationships

For products with multiple alternatives, use the Trace functionality to document and review the complete relationship tree.

Update Regularly

Review and update Alternative SKU relationships when discontinuing products or adding new variants to the catalog.

Communicate with Customers

Inform your customers when you use an alternative to complete their order. Transparency improves customer satisfaction.

Troubleshooting

I Can’t Create an Alternative Relationship

Problem: When trying to create a relationship, an error appears or it doesn’t save.

Solution:

1. Verify that both SKUs (main and alternative) exist in your catalog
2. Confirm that the main SKU doesn’t already have an alternative configured (can only have one per main SKU)
3. Make sure you’re not creating a circular relationship (A → B when B → A already exists)
4. Review that required fields are complete

Alternative SKU Doesn’t Appear in List

Problem: After creating the relationship, the “Alternative” column is empty.

Solution:

• Click the Refresh button in the Alternatives table
• Verify that you’re viewing the correct tab (Alternatives tab in SKU Substitutions)
• Confirm you’re searching in the correct account
• Review search filters - they may be hiding the record
• Make sure the relationship was saved successfully (check for error messages)

I Can’t Find the Create Button

Problem: The Create button doesn’t appear or is disabled.

Solution:

1. Verify you have the correct user level permissions (user_level = 1 for OMS accounts)
2. Make sure you’re accessing SKU Substitutions from Inventory → Catalog
3. Check that you’re logged into the correct account
4. If you’re a multi-account user (user_level = 2), you may need to select an account first

Trace Function Shows Circular Relationships

Problem: When doing Trace, you see A → B → C → A (infinite circle).

Solution:

• Identify the point in the chain that creates the circle
• Delete one of the relationships to break the cycle
• Redesign relationships to flow in a single direction without returning to origin
• Circular relationships can cause problems in substitution logic

I Don’t See SynSet Option When Creating Alternative

Problem: I want to link a SynSet but the option doesn’t appear.

Solution:

1. When you click the Add button (+), make sure to check the Synsets tab in the modal window (not just the SKUs tab)
2. Confirm you have SynSets created in your account (check the Sets (Synsets) tab in SKU Substitutions)
3. Verify that the SynSet has the correct name and is active
4. Use the SynSet selector in the Synsets tab instead of trying to enter it manually
5. If the problem persists, create the SynSet first from SKU Substitutions → Sets (Synsets) tab

Important Considerations

Alternative SKU Limitations

• A main SKU can only have one direct alternative relationship at a time
• If you need multiple alternatives, you must create a chain (A → B, B → C, C → D)
• Bidirectional relationships count as two separate relationships in the database

• One Alternative per SKU: Each main SKU can only have one direct alternative configured
• Chain Relationships: For multiple options, create substitution chains (A → B → C)
• Active Status: Only relationships with Status = 1 are considered active in the system
• Automatic Update: Changes in alternative relationships are reflected immediately in the system

Common Use Cases

1. Size Management in Clothing

Configure relationships between sizes to offer options when a size runs out:

• Small → Medium → Large → XLarge
• If there’s no Small, automatically offer Medium

2. Seasonal Products

Alternate between seasonal versions:

• “Winter Jacket 2024” → “Winter Jacket 2025”
• “Red Christmas Decoration” → “Green Christmas Decoration”

3. Model Updates

Manage upgrades for discontinued products:

• “Laptop Model 2023” → “Laptop Model 2024”
• “Phone v1” → “Phone v2”

4. Approved Substitutes

Configure equivalent products approved by manufacturers:

• “Original Battery” → “Certified Compatible Battery”
• “OEM Replacement” → “Aftermarket Replacement”

5. Alternative Packaging

Offer packaging options when the preferred one is not available:

• “Individual Pack” → “3-Pack”
• “500ml Bottle” → “1L Bottle”

Related Pages

Next Steps:

• Product Families (SynSets™) - Group multiple SKUs as alternatives in a single bundle
• Product Management - Manage your product SKU catalog
• SKU Management - Learn about general SKU management

See Also:

• Creating Products - Create the SKUs you’ll use as main and alternatives
• Orders Management - See how alternatives are used when processing orders
• Catalog Overview - Explore the complete product catalog