1. Implementing Manufacturing and Supply Chain Materials Management
  2. Implementation Decision Points and Setup Best Practices for 3PL and Warehouse Management Systems Integration

Implementation Decision Points and Setup Best Practices for 3PL and Warehouse Management Systems Integration

Consider the following when implementing integration to third-party logistics (3PL) provider or external warehouse management system (WMS).

Oracle provides services to integrate Oracle Fusion Cloud Inventory Management, Oracle Receiving, and Oracle Shipping to a third-party logistics (3PL) provider or external warehouse management system (WMS). These product areas work together cohesively to support transfer orders, inventory transactions, reconciliation of inventory balances, and so forth.

Decision Points

Before implementing your external systems integration, consider the following points.

  • If you plan to receive material using a 3PL provider or WMS, then use the predefined scheduled processes to generate a receipt advice.

  • If you plan to ship material using a 3PL provider or WMS, then use the predefined scheduled processes to generate shipment requests.

Setup Best Practices

The following setup best practices are recommended before integrating with external systems.

  • Use a 3PL provider or WMS at the inventory organization level. By representing the 3PL provider or WMS as an inventory organization, virtual tracking and visibility of inventory at the 3PL or WMS location is available to users in real time.

  • For simplicity, set up a receiving subinventory and one subinventory for each material status used in the implementation of Oracle Inventory Management. For example, you might set up subinventories for receiving, quality assurance, rejected, and available inventory.

  • Use security rules to control access to transactions performed in the 3PL or WMS organization.

Additional Considerations

Keep in mind the following additional considerations when planning your 3PL or WMS implementation.

  • Don't track locator and packing unit information because this data isn't tracked in Inventory Management.

  • Process inventory transactions only when the item status has changed or the item is received into or issued out of Inventory Management. For example, when a third party performs material transactions within locations or packing units at their facility, these transactions aren't tracked in Inventory Management.

  • Track inventory transactions for lot and serialized items in Inventory Management. This tracking is a requirement when lot and serialized items are issued out of inventory to support install base and product genealogy.