Item Master
SKUs, categories, attributes, and pricing form the item master. Composite items (kits) bundle child SKUs at fixed ratios; serialized items track individual units by serial number; batch tracking groups units by lot for expiry-sensitive goods. Item Groups handle variants — one parent (T-Shirt) with size/color combinations as child SKUs. Set the item type at creation; switching from “Goods” to “Service” later is blocked. Reorder Level and Preferred Vendor on each item drive automatic Purchase Order suggestions.
Warehouses
Multiple warehouses with stock tracking per location, transfers between warehouses, and inventory adjustments for shrinkage or damage. Each warehouse has its own address, so shipping rates and tax compute correctly per origin. The Primary Warehouse flag determines the default for sales orders unless overridden. Stock transfers use a two-step model — initiate at source, receive at destination — so in-transit stock is visible. Cycle counts are configurable as Daily, Weekly, or Monthly; missed counts trigger an alert to the warehouse manager.
Orders
Sales orders, purchase orders, packages, and shipments handle the order-to-cash and procure-to-pay flows. The standard sales flow: Sales Order → Package → Shipment → Invoice → Payment. Drop-shipping is supported via the Vendor Drop Ship checkbox on the SO, which auto-creates a PO to the vendor. Backorder handling lets you fulfill partial shipments while leaving the SO open. Books integration pushes invoices and payments to the accounting ledger; reconcile weekly.
Shipping Integration
30+ carriers — FedEx, UPS, USPS, DHL, Aramex, Delhivery, and regional carriers like Bluedart and Shiprocket — print labels, track packages, and update customers automatically. Carrier accounts are added under Settings → Integrations → Shipping; rate-shopping across carriers requires the multi-carrier API enabled at each carrier (varies by contract). Tracking webhooks fire on label scan, in-transit, out-for-delivery, and delivered events; route them to a Zoho Flow that updates the SO and emails the customer.
Multi-Channel
Sync inventory with Shopify, Amazon, eBay, Etsy, and WooCommerce. Inventory numbers stay consistent across channels via two-way sync — a sale on Amazon decrements the Zoho stock count, which then updates Shopify within minutes. Configure sync frequency under each channel’s settings (default 15 minutes). Channel-specific pricing (e.g. Amazon list price differs from Shopify) is managed via per-channel price lists. Listing creation is one-way (Zoho → channel) for most integrations; Amazon allows automated listing on FBA SKUs.
Common Failure Modes
Negative stock: Inventory allows it by default, which masks reconciliation problems. Turn on Settings → Preferences → “Prevent stock from going negative” except when you genuinely sell on backorder. Mismatched SKUs across channels create phantom out-of-stocks; enforce a SKU naming convention and audit monthly. Carrier rate failures during checkout (Shopify/Commerce front-end) usually trace to expired carrier API tokens — re-authenticate quarterly.
What to do this week
Run a stock reconciliation against a 10-SKU sample, enable “prevent negative stock” if your business model doesn’t require backorders, and configure the FedEx/UPS tracking webhook into a Zoho Flow that emails customers on out-for-delivery.
