External DCs / Suppliers

External Distribution Centers (also known as Exo-Warehouses) allow you to autonomously register, manage, and configure third-party suppliers or external warehouse locations directly within your ShipEdge OMS. Rather than contacting support to configure dropshippers, you can now structure your multi-hub fulfillment network on your own and visually track cross-network inventory.

Quick Start

Always make sure to properly map your external location to an existing Supplier ID when creating an External DC. This ensures inventory and replenishments stay synchronized!

Why Use External DCs?

Autonomous Creation

Instantly create external distribution hubs from the UI without requiring database or technical support intervention.

Centralized Actions

Access routing parameters, inventory uploads, and active quantity toggles from a unified Action menu per location.

Network Transparency

Click on any SKU’s total availability to see a detailed modal displaying exactly how much inventory sits in each connected external Supplier.

Automated Replenishment

Configure priority tags and crossdock triggers for external warehouses to automatically create purchase orders when stock depletes.

How to Create an External Distribution Center

Before starting, ensure the External DC module is fully enabled in your account.

1. Navigate to Distribution Centers

   Go to the main menu and select Inventory > Distribution Centers.

2. Open the Creation Modal

   At the top of the grid, click the Add DC Supplier button.

3. Complete the Required Details

   In the modal form, you must fill out:

   • Distribution Center Name: Give the external hub a clear, identifiable name.
   • Active: Toggle this to activate the center immediately.
   • SourceCode (Distribution Center Code): Enter a unique identifier for the location.
   • Description: Enter a description for the DC Supplier.
   • Supplier: Select the corresponding supplier from the dropdown list.
   • Tags: Include tags to organize the DC.

4. Save the New Location

   Click Save. The system will validate the fields and instantly create a custom distribution center record. The new external location will immediately appear in your Distribution Centers list.

External DC Action Menu

All tools for managing the supplier hub have been centralized into an interactive action menu.

1. Open the Action Menu

   Locate your External DC in the grid. Click the three-dot vertical icon (⋮) at the end of the row to open the menu.

2. Upload CSV (Update Inventory)

   Use this option to bulk upload inventory levels for this specific DC. You can download the ExoWarehouse_template.csv, fill in the sku, qty, and cost, and upload it to update stock levels immediately.

3. Toggle Status

   Use the Status checkbox within the menu to enable or disable the External DC record. If disabled, the center will not be considered for routing or inventory aggregation.

4. Assign a Supplier

   Select the corresponding supplier from the Assign a Supplier dropdown. Linking an External DC to a core Supplier record is essential for correct inventory tracking and procurement workflows.

5. Configure Tags and Priorities

   Use the Tag and Priority Number field to add routing tags (e.g., priority=1). These tags dictate how crossdocking and automatic replenishment logic prioritizes this supplier during order fulfillment.

6. Enable Active Quantities

   Check the Active Qty box if you want this supplier’s inventory to be actively included in your Total Network Available sum across the system.

Auditing Network Inventory (Drill-down)

Once your External DCs are configured and stocked, you can perform deep-dive audits of your inventory across the entire fulfillment network using a three-level drill-down system.

Level 1: Total Network Available

The primary view in the Inventory > Catalog provides a high-level sum of all inventory for a specific SKU.

• Total Network Available: This column aggregates quantities from your primary warehouse and all connected External DCs or Network Hubs.
• Visual Audit: Click on the numeric quantity in this column for any SKU to begin the drill-down process.

Level 2: Network Hubs Breakdown

Clicking the total quantity opens the Inventory in your Fulfillment Network modal. This view provides a transparent breakdown of where your stock is physically located.

• DC Hubs / Suppliers: Lists each individual location (e.g., “Supplier A”, “East Hub”).
• Inventory Metrics: View detailed columns for each location, including InvWh, Estimate Qty Available, Reserved, and Hurt.
• Validation: Note that for External (Supplier) DCs, internal WMS metrics like Hold or Blocked may be hidden to maintain privacy or focus on available stock.

Level 3: Transaction History Audit

For the ultimate level of transparency, you can audit the specific ledger of any location within the network.

1. Select a Location

   Inside the breakdown modal, click on the DC Name (it appears as a blue link).

2. Review Transaction History

   A second modal, Transaction History, will open for that specific SKU and location.

3. Analyze Events

   This modal displays a chronological list of every event that affected the inventory level, including:

   • Receipts: New stock added.
   • Orders: Stock deducted or reserved.
   • Adjustments: Manual or system-triggered corrections.

Unified Visibility

This drill-down capability ensures that you can always explain exactly why a quantity is what it is, providing full accountability across your multi-hub network.

💡 Best Practices

Avoid Duplicate Codes

Always ensure your SourceCode is unique across all your distribution centers to prevent saving errors and duplicated routing paths.

Troubleshooting

”Upload CSV” button is missing

Problem: I cannot find the Upload CSV button in the Distribution Centers toolbar.

Solution:

1. Check DC Type: Ensure you are looking for an External DC. This button is specifically for managing Exo-Warehouse inventory.
2. Verify Settings: Go to Preferences/Settings > Inventory and verify that the exo_wh (External Warehouse) module is active for your account.
3. User Permissions: Confirm that your user role has permissions to “Upload Inventory” or “Manage Distribution Centers”.

CSV upload results in errors

Problem: After selecting a file and clicking Upload, the system displays a “Completed with errors” message.

Solution:

1. Download Error Report: Click the Download Error Report link in the response modal.
2. Review Observations: Open the downloaded CSV and check the observation column for each failed row. Common issues include:
   • Invalid SKU: The SKU does not exist in your ShipEdge catalog.
   • Numeric Format: The qty and cost columns must be numeric without currency symbols.
   • DC Code Mismatch: The dc_code must exactly match the unique code of your External DC.
3. Fix and Re-upload: Correct the rows in your original file and re-upload.

Action Menu options are hidden

Problem: The three-dots menu (⋮) does not show options like “Assign a Supplier” or “Active Qty”.

Solution:

1. Configure as Supplier: These options are context-sensitive. Ensure the DC is correctly identified as an External Supplier in the system configuration.
2. Refresh View: Sometimes the UI requires a refresh after a new DC is added to correctly render the dynamic action menu.

Inventory Drill-down shows “0” or no history

Problem: Clicking the Total Network Available quantity shows a breakdown with 0 units or an empty transaction history.

Solution:

1. Verify Source Data: Check if the External DC successfully uploaded its inventory via CSV or API.
2. Audit Period: The Transaction History (Level 3) only records events that occur after the auditing system was activated for that specific hub.
3. SKU Matching: Ensure the SKU is correctly linked between your main catalog and the External DC.

Next Steps: Learn more about managing Suppliers