How to Use Allocation Priority on Orders

Allocation Priority controls which order keeps inventory when orders need the same stock. Use High, Default, or Low to change how ShipHero allocates inventory. On accounts that use Multi-Warehouse Allocation (MWA) rules, priority applies within the warehouse assigned to the order. For multiple orders, use Bulk Edit.

Before You Begin

• Locked orders: You cannot change Allocation Priority on a locked order until you clear the lock or remove the item from a tote.
• Reprocessing: After you change Allocation Priority, reprocess the order for the change to take effect.

Table of Contents

• Allocation Priority Settings in ShipHero
• Change Allocation Priority on an Order in ShipHero
• Use Allocation Priority with ShipHero MWA Rules and an Order Tag

Allocation Priority Settings in ShipHero

Allocation Priority sets which order keeps inventory when multiple orders need the same stock. ShipHero allocates inventory to orders with the highest priority first. Orders with the same priority are handled from oldest to newest.

• High: The order keeps inventory ahead of Default and Low priority orders.
• Default: ShipHero allocates inventory to the oldest Default orders first.
• Low: The order can lose inventory to High or Default priority orders.

After you change Allocation Priority, you must reprocess the order for the change to take effect. Changing priority can move inventory from one order to another and change each order's backorder status.

Allocation Priority Example in ShipHero

MO15 is newer than MO1 and is backordered. MO1 has inventory allocated. If both orders have Default priority, changing MO15 to High moves the available inventory to MO15. MO15 changes from Ready to Ship: No to Ready to Ship: Yes, and MO1 becomes backordered.

Change Allocation Priority on an Order in ShipHero

Change an order's Allocation Priority from its Order Details page. This workflow updates one order at a time.

1. Go to Orders > Manage Orders.
2. Select the Order Number you want to update.
3. In the Details section of the Order Details page, find Allocation Priority.
4. Select Low or High from the Allocation Priority menu.
5. Select Update at the bottom of the Details section.

Use Allocation Priority with ShipHero MWA Rules and an Order Tag

On an account that uses MWA rules, the rule routes an order to a warehouse and Allocation Priority determines which order keeps inventory in that warehouse. A High priority order does not take inventory from a different warehouse.

To route a backordered High priority order to a warehouse with inventory, create an MWA rule that matches an order tag, then add that tag to the order.

1. On the Multi-Warehouse Allocation page, create an MWA rule with an Order Tag condition. Set the rule to route tagged orders to the warehouse with inventory. Turn on the rule and move it above any rule that would also match those orders. See How to Create an MWA Rule.
2. Open the backordered order. Set Allocation Priority to High and add the tag used by the MWA rule. Save the order. See How to Add Order Tags in ShipHero.
3. Wait for the order to reprocess. If the order does not move, select Reprocess in the Actions section of the Order Details page.

ShipHero routes the order to the warehouse in the matching rule. There, Low priority orders lose inventory first, followed by Default priority orders. You cannot choose which Default priority order loses inventory. A High priority order does not take inventory from another High priority order.

ShipHero Allocation Priority and MWA Rule Example

MO15 is backordered in the Primary warehouse. The Secondary warehouse has inventory allocated to MO1, which has Default priority. An MWA rule routes orders tagged Secondary to the Secondary warehouse. Set MO15 to High priority and add the Secondary tag. After the order is saved and reprocessed, MO15 moves to the Secondary warehouse and takes inventory from MO1.