Unlocking Inventory Insights in Dynamics 365 SCM

Unlocking Inventory Insights in Dynamics 365 SCM

Table of Contents:

1. Introduction
2. Table of Contents
3. Article Highlights
4. Exploring Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management Inventory Data with Inventory Visibility Service
   • What is Inventory Visibility Service?
   • Benefits of Inventory Visibility Service
5. Concepts and Terminology
   • Advanced Warehouse Management Systems Items
   • Soft Reservation and Allocation
   • Integration of Web Store with Multiple Dynamics 365 Instances
6. Customizations and Syncing Data
   • Optimizing Connection of a Website with Multiple Dynamics 365 Instances
   • Syncing Data from Dynamics 365 to Inventory Visibility Service
   • Offset of Soft Reservations
7. Snapshot and Batch Queries
   • Snapshot of Inventory Visibility Service Data
   • Batch Queries and Expiration Date
8. Conclusion
9. FAQs

Exploring Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management Inventory Data with Inventory Visibility Service

Inventory management plays a crucial role in the smooth operation and success of any business. With the advancement of technology, businesses are now looking for efficient solutions to manage their inventory and gain real-time visibility into their stock levels. One such solution is the Inventory Visibility Service offered by Dynamics 365. This service allows businesses to explore their inventory data and make informed decisions about their supply chain management.

What is Inventory Visibility Service?

Inventory Visibility Service is a feature provided by Dynamics 365 that enables businesses to view their inventory data in near real-time. It works by moving the data outside of the Dynamics 365 supply chain management module and storing it in an in-memory cache. This cache allows for quick and easy access to inventory data through API calls. The Inventory Visibility Service acts as a single source of truth for the inventory data, making it accessible to external systems and providing real-time updates.

Benefits of Inventory Visibility Service

There are several benefits to using the Inventory Visibility Service in conjunction with Dynamics 365 supply chain management:

1. Real-time Visibility: The Inventory Visibility Service provides businesses with up-to-date and accurate information about their inventory levels. This real-time visibility allows for better decision-making and improved supply chain management.

2. Customizations: Businesses can customize the Inventory Visibility Service to meet their specific needs. This includes customizing data fields, Dimensions, and queries to ensure the service aligns with their inventory management processes.

3. Integration: The Inventory Visibility Service can be integrated with other systems, such as web stores or third-party applications, to provide a seamless flow of information. This integration allows for a more comprehensive view of the inventory across different platforms.

4. Scalability: The Inventory Visibility Service is designed to handle large volumes of data and can Scale according to the needs of the business. It can accommodate multiple data sources and handle complex queries efficiently.

5. Improved Efficiency: By having access to real-time inventory data, businesses can streamline their operations and reduce manual tasks. This leads to improved efficiency and productivity in managing inventory.

Overall, the Inventory Visibility Service offers businesses a powerful tool to gain visibility and control over their inventory. It provides real-time data, customization options, seamless integration, scalability, and improved efficiency.

In the next sections, we will explore different aspects of the Inventory Visibility Service, including customizations, syncing data, concepts, and terminology, and highlight its benefits in various business scenarios.

Concepts and Terminology

To fully understand and utilize the Inventory Visibility Service, it is essential to grasp the concepts and terminology associated with it. This section will provide an overview of the main concepts and how they Align with Dynamics 365 supply chain management.

Advanced Warehouse Management Systems Items

Advanced Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) items are an important aspect of inventory management. They allow businesses to track and manage their inventory within the supply chain. With the integration of the Inventory Visibility Service, WMS items can be accessed and queried for on-HAND quantities and other attributes.

Soft Reservation and Allocation

Soft reservation and allocation is a feature supported by both Dynamics 365 supply chain management and the Inventory Visibility Service. It allows businesses to reserve inventory for specific orders or customers without physically allocating the stock. Soft reservations are Based on the available quantity in real-time and can be offset when the inventory is physically allocated.

Integration of Web Store with Multiple Dynamics 365 Instances

For businesses that operate multiple Dynamics 365 instances, integrating a web store with these instances can be a complex task. The Inventory Visibility Service simplifies this process by providing a centralized platform to access and manage inventory data from these multiple instances. It allows for real-time synchronization of stock levels, enabling a seamless customer experience across different channels.

Customizations and Syncing Data

The Inventory Visibility Service offers flexibility for businesses to customize and sync their inventory data according to their specific requirements. This section will explore various customization options and the process of syncing data from Dynamics 365 to the Inventory Visibility Service.

Optimizing Connection of a Website with Multiple Dynamics 365 Instances

When connecting a website with multiple Dynamics 365 instances, it is crucial to optimize the connection to ensure efficient data transfer. Businesses can achieve this by splitting the request into smaller chunks and sending separate requests for each Dynamics 365 instance. This optimization enhances the performance and reduces the load on the system.

Syncing Data from Dynamics 365 to Inventory Visibility Service

Syncing data from Dynamics 365 to the Inventory Visibility Service is a crucial step in gaining real-time visibility into inventory levels. This process involves enabling the integration between the two systems, performing an initial sync of data, and then allowing for periodic updates to keep the data in sync. The batch syncing mechanism ensures that changes in Dynamics 365 are reflected in the Inventory Visibility Service with minimal delay.

Offset of Soft Reservations

Soft reservations play a vital role in managing inventory allocation. The Inventory Visibility Service provides an offset mechanism to deduct quantities from soft reservations when a sales order is created in Dynamics 365. This offset process ensures accurate inventory tracking and reflects the correct available quantities for fulfilling orders.

Snapshot and Batch Queries

Understanding the snapshot and batch queries is crucial for effectively utilizing the Inventory Visibility Service. This section will Delve into how the snapshot of Inventory Visibility Service data works and how batch queries can be used to retrieve inventory information.

Snapshot of Inventory Visibility Service Data

The Inventory Visibility Service maintains a snapshot of the inventory data stored in Dataverse. This snapshot is not directly accessible and is meant for internal use only. It acts as a backup of the inventory data and ensures data integrity and reliability.

Batch Queries and Expiration Date

Batch queries allow businesses to retrieve inventory data in a more efficient and organized manner. While batch queries are currently supported, the expiration date feature is still in the backlog and not officially on the roadmap. However, customer feedback and use cases are taken into consideration for future enhancements. The ability to query the related batch disposition code of the inventory is still being evaluated and may be considered in future updates.

Conclusion

The Inventory Visibility Service offered by Dynamics 365 is a powerful tool for businesses seeking real-time visibility into their inventory. It provides a centralized platform to access, manage, and customize inventory data from multiple Dynamics 365 instances. The service offers benefits such as improved efficiency, customization options, seamless integration, and scalability. By leveraging the Inventory Visibility Service, businesses can optimize their supply chain management, streamline operations, and make data-driven decisions for better inventory management.

In conclusion, the Inventory Visibility Service is an essential component for businesses looking to effectively manage their inventory and gain real-time visibility into their supply chain. By utilizing the features and customizations provided by the service, businesses can streamline their operations, make informed decisions, and enhance their overall efficiency and productivity. With seamless integration and scalability, the Inventory Visibility Service proves to be an invaluable tool for businesses of all sizes and industries.

FAQs

Q: Can the Inventory Visibility Service return quantities per inventory status?

A: Yes, the Inventory Visibility Service can return quantities per inventory status through the use of physical measures. These measures can be mapped to inventory statuses in Dynamics 365, allowing for accurate tracking and reporting of inventory quantities based on different statuses.

Q: How can I offset the quantities from soft reservation orders in Dynamics 365?

A: There are two ways to offset quantities from soft reservation orders in Dynamics 365. The first option is to populate the soft reservation ID in the order lines and sync it with Dynamics 365. The system will automatically recognize the soft reservation ID and offset the quantities accordingly. The Second option is to enable the auto-offset feature in Dynamics 365, which allows the system to offset quantities even without a soft reservation ID by matching item numbers and dimensions.

Q: Will the Inventory Visibility Service support batch queries for the related batch disposition code of the inventory?

A: The support for batch queries and the related batch disposition code of the inventory is currently being evaluated. While batch queries are already supported, the batch expiration date and batch disposition code features are on the roadmap for future enhancements. Customer feedback and use cases are taken into consideration during the evaluation process.