Using alternative and replacement items
If an inventory shortage occurs for an item, you can offer the sold-to business partner an alternative item. Optionally, you can use the available inventory of the original item and then fill the remaining shortage with an alternative.
If an item is no longer sold, you can replace it with a different item.
Setting up alternative items and replacement items
For more information, refer to Defining alternative and replacement items.
Using alternative items
If you enter an order quantity on a sales order line or quotation line that cannot be covered by the inventory on hand, LN displays a warning and opens a list of options. One of the options you can choose is to start the Alternative Items (tcibd0505m000) session, from which you can select an alternative item.
If the Allow Shipment of Multiple Alternative Items check box is selected in the Sold-to Business Partner (tccom4110s000) session and some quantity of the originally requested item is available, LN splits the sales order line in two sales order lines:
- A sales order line with the available quantity of the original item.
- A second sales order line with the alternative item you selected.
Using replacement items
If you specify an item that is no longer sold on a sales order line or a sales quotation line, LN asks you whether you want to use the replacement item instead.
Automatically starting the Alternative Items (tcibd0505m000) session
To automatically start the Alternative Items (tcibd0505m000) session in case of an inventory shortage, use the following setting:
- In the Sales User Profiles (tdsls0139m000) session, select the Automatic Inventory Shortage Handling check box.
- In the Sales Order Types (tdsls0594m000) session, select the applicable sales order type and in the details session, under Automatic Inventory Shortage Handling, set the applicable fields to Alternative Items.
If you enter an item and order quantity on a sales order line for which LN identifies an inventory shortage, LN bypasses the list of options, and immediately starts the Alternative Items (tcibd0505m000) session.