Why SKU alignment matters
Lesson 11 of 21 5 min read
A mismatch between how two systems name the same product is the single most common cause of integration errors and go-live delays. Learn what alignment means and how Supply Lens matches products.
You can connect every system perfectly and still have every order fail on day one, because the shop
calls a product widget-blue-l and the ERP calls it WIDGET-BLUE-L. This lesson explains why product
codes matter so much, and the two ways Supply Lens matches them.
What happens to each order line
When Supply Lens receives an order, invoice or stock update, it processes each line by matching its product identifier, the SKU, against your ERP or inventory system's item master.
If the SKU matches, data flows through. If it doesn't, Supply Lens stops the Document and raises an error rather than creating a partial or wrong record.
SKU alignment means making sure the product codes each connected system uses are consistent, or that Supply Lens has a cross-reference to translate between them when they aren't.
Two ways to match
| Method | How it works | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Exact match | The SKU on the incoming Document must be identical to the item master's. This is the default for most Integrations. | Your own storefronts, such as Shopify and WooCommerce, where you control the codes |
| Cross-reference | A record in Supply Lens maps the external code to your internal SKU, and Supply Lens translates on every Document | EDI partners and marketplaces whose codes you don't control |
With exact match, a single character matters: a capital letter, a hyphen instead of an underscore, a leading zero.
Hilltop's two worlds
Hilltop set up Shopify using the same SKUs as Unleashed, so exact match works for web orders. Greenleaf is different: it uses its own catalogue numbers, which Hilltop can't change. Greenleaf's orders will need cross-references. Priya will check both in the next two lessons.
Easier to prevent than fix
SKU problems found before go-live are a spreadsheet exercise. Found after go-live, they are failed orders, waiting customers and reprocessing. Supply Lens doesn't have an automated alignment check, so the check is a manual step before you activate your Integrations.
Recap
- Each order line is matched to your item master by SKU; a mismatch stops the Document.
- Alignment means consistent codes across systems, or a cross-reference where they differ.
- Exact match is the default and suits your own storefronts; one character difference is a mismatch.
- Cross-references suit EDI and marketplace partners whose codes you don't control.
- There is no automatic alignment check, so do it by hand before go-live.
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