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Probability Rules

Purpose: Use the Probability Rules screen to review or work with rules you can apply to the inventory information displayed in locate items search results or used for Routing Engine assignment, such as reducing the available quantity in a product location that has a high sell-through rate. From this screen, you can:

  • review existing probability rules
  • create a new rule
  • select an existing rule to review the details on how it affects locate items results, or to change the rule
  • delete a rule, provided it does not have existing details on how to affect locate items results
  • advance to a window where you can review or work with calculations that you can include in probability rules

Used for the Routing Engine module.

How to assign rules? Use the Probability Location screen to assign probability rules and review the rules already assigned to locations.

Rules are not restricted to a single organization. You can assign rules to location types or locations in any organization.

Probable quantity rules: You use the Probable Quantity Rules screen rather than this screen to work with probable quantity rules, which update the probable quantity that a system, such as your ecommerce site, can use to estimate an item’s availability. For more information on probable quantity rules and calculation of the probable quantity, see:

How to display this screen: Select Probability Rules from the Home Screen or from the Products Menu.

For more information: For a brief overview of probability rules, see Using Probability Rules; and for more details, see Probability Rule Overview.

Note:

Available if Use Routing Engine is selected at the Tenant screen. Only users with Probability Rules authority can display this screen. See Roles for more information.

Options at this screen

Option Procedure
create a probability rule

Enter a rule name in the Name field and click New to advance to the Probability Rule Wizard screen, where you can set up a rule. The name can be up to 40 positions, and can include spaces and special characters.

For more information: See Probability Rule Wizard for instructions on setting up probability rules, including sample rules.

search for a probability rule

Enter a full or partial rule name in the Name field at the top of the screen and click Search to restrict the search results to rules whose names contain your entry.

Case? The rule name is case-sensitive for searching; for example, an entry of a does not match a rule that includes the word Add.

select a probability rule for maintenance

Click the edit icon (Illustrates the edit icon.) next to a rule to advance to the Probability Rule Wizard screen.

review a probability rule

Click a probability rule once to open the Browse Probability Rules window.

delete a probability rule

Select the delete icon (Illustrates the delete icon.) next to a rule to delete the rule from Order Orchestration.

You can delete a rule only if there are no rule details and the rule has not been assigned to an organization, location type, or location. See the Probability Location screen for information on reviewing rule assignment.

review or work with calculations that can be included in probability rules

Click Calc to advance to the Calculations window.

Fields at this screen

Field Description
Name

A description of the probability rule.

The name can be up to 40 positions, and can include spaces and special characters.

The rule name is case-sensitive for searching; for example, an entry of a does not match a rule that includes the word Add.

Results fields
Name

The description of an existing probability rule.

Edit

Click the edit icon (Illustrates the edit icon.) next to a rule to advance to the Probability Rule Wizard screen, where you can review or edit the rule.

Note: If the Probability Rule Wizard screen is already open in another tab, you advance to that screen, where the previously-selected rule is displayed.

Delete

Click the delete icon (Illustrates the delete icon.) next to a rule to delete the rule from Order Orchestration.

This option is available only if the rule has not been assigned to an organization, location type, or location. See the Probability Location screen for information on rule assignment.

Calculations

Purpose: Use the Calculations window to review, create, or delete calculations that you can include in probability rules. Calculations allow you to add flexibility in how you present availability information in locate items search results or select a location for Routing Engine assignment. In order to include a calculation as part of a rule, you must first set it up at this window.

Example: You might set up a calculation of Available quantity Reduce by [%] 10 so that you can create a rule that displays a lower available quantity. For example, if the complete rule is Always Available Quantity Equal [=] Available Quantity Reduce By [%] 10, and the available quantity for a product location based on your last update is 500, the search results display an available quantity of 450.

Used for the Routing Engine module.

There are two basic ways to use a calculation as part of a rule: as part of a test, or as the result. Any existing calculations are available for selection in the Probability Rule Wizard at either the Conditions or Then screen.

  • Test calculation: Allows you to specify when to apply a rule. For example, you might want to apply a certain rule only if the available quantity plus the next PO quantity for a product location is less than the requested quantity for the locate items request. You create the calculation: Available Quantity Plus [+] Next PO Quantity. You can then include this calculation in a rule such as:

    If Available Quantity Plus [+] Next PO Quantity Less Than [<] Requested Quantity

    Then Exclude Location

  • Result calculation: Allows you to perform a calculation against the available quantity, next PO date, or next PO quantity displayed in the locate items search results. For example, you might want to add 5 days to the next PO date if the PO is for a certain group of products that is known to ship late. You create the calculation: Next PO Date Plus Days 5. You can then include this calculation in a rule such as:

    If Department Equal To [=] XYZ

    Then Next PO Date Equal [=] Next PO Date Plus Days 5

    You could also create a rule using the Always test and the calculation, such as:

    Always Next PO Date Equal [=] Next PO Date Plus Days 5

Note:

If the calculation is based on the Next PO date plus a number of days, but the product location does not have a Next PO date, the Routing Engine avoids returning an error by basing the next PO date calculation on a date of January 1, 1970. In this situation, the locate items response might include a date such as 1970-01-21.

For more information: See:

How to display this window: Click Calc at the Probability Rules screen.

Note:

Available if Use Routing Engine is selected at the Tenant screen. Only users with Probability Rules authority can display this screen. See Roles for more information.

In this topic:

Options at this screen

Option Procedure
create a new calculation
  1. From the first drop-down box, select the Element you would like to use as the first part of the calculation. For example, to set up the calculation Available Quantity Reduce By [%] 15, select Available Quantity.

  2. From the second drop-down box, select the operator you would like to use as part of the calculation. For the sample calculation mentioned above, select Reduce by [%].

    Note:

    See the Valid operators for elements table below for guidelines on which operators are available for different types of elements.
  3. Use the last field to select from the list of values in the drop-down list, or to select Enter value... and enter a specific value. For the sample calculation mentioned above, enter 20.
  4. Click Save. Order Orchestration verifies that your selections and any entry are valid before creating the calculation.
  5. Click Cancel when you are done to return to the previous screen.

    Note:

    You cannot create the same calculation more than once.
delete an existing calculation

Select the delete icon (Illustrates the delete icon.) next to a calculation to delete it. You cannot delete a calculation that is included in a probability rule.

return to the previous screen

Click Cancel.

Fields at this window

Field Description
Entry fields
Element

The element you would like to use as part of a Test or Result calculation in a probability rule. Available elements are:

Operator

The calculation to perform against the element from the first field. Depending on whether the first element is a quantity or a date, different operators are available to apply. See Valid operators for elements for more information.

You cannot select the operator until you select the element in the first field.
  You can select either a value or a metric to use in the third position of a calculation.
Element or Value

You must select the value in the first field before you can enter or select the value in the third field:

  • If the first field is one of the following numeric values: (Available Quantity, Daily Sell Through Quantity, Minimum Sell Quantity, Next PO Quantity, Requested quantity, Sales Velocity, Sell Quantity/Multiple, or Shrink Rate %), then your selection or entry in the third field must also be numeric.

    Example: If the first element is Next PO quantity and the operator is Plus [+], your entry in the third field might be Available quantity.

    • Valid entries: If you enter a specific value rather than selecting from the drop-down list, your entry must be a whole number and cannot be negative.

      Example: If the element in the first element is Available quantity and the operator is Reduce by [%], your entry in the third field might be 10 (10%).

  • If the first field is Cost or Selling Price: Your selection in the third field must be either Cost, Selling Price, or a numeric value, which can include a decimal.

  • If the first field is a date (Last Updated date, Next PO date, or Today), valid selections are:

    • Valid entries: If you enter a specific value rather than selecting from the drop-down list, your entry must be a whole number and cannot be negative.

      Example: If the element is Next PO date and the operator in the operator is Plus Days, your entry in the third field might be 10.

      Formatting: Format is based on the settings from the Users screen.

Calculation fields
Calculation

The contents of a calculation you have created.

Note: The calculation displayed on the screen cannot exceed 40 positions; additional characters are truncated. For example, the calculation of Available Quantity Plus [+] Next PO Quantity is displayed on the screen as Available Quantity Plus [+] Next PO Quan.

Delete

Select the delete icon (Illustrates the delete icon.) next to a calculation to delete the calculation.

Valid operators for elements

Quantities and amounts: Available Quantity, Cost, Daily Sell Through Quantity, Minimum Sell Quantity, Next PO Quantity, Requested quantity, Sell Quantity/Multiple, Sales Velocity, Selling Price, or Shrink Rate %

Dates: Last Updated date, Next PO date, or Today

The following table provides information on the resulting calculations when you apply these operators.

Operator Sample Calculation Sample Result/Comments

Reduce by [%]

Available quantity Reduce by [%] 10

Reduces the available quantity for the product location by 10%. If the first quantity is a negative number, such as -10, the result is a lower negative number, such as -11.

Increase by [%]

Daily sell through quantity Increase by [%] 10

Increases the daily sell-through quantity for the product location by 10%. If the first quantity is a negative number, such as -10, the result is a higher negative number, such as -9.

Plus [+]

Next PO quantity Plus [+] 10

Adds 10 to the next PO quantity for the product location. If the first quantity is a negative number, such as -10, the result is a higher number, such as 0.

Minus [-]

Available Quantity Minus [-] Daily Sell Through

Subtracts the daily sell-through quantity for the product location from the available quantity. If the available quantity is a negative number, such as -10, the result is a lower number, such as -15.

Divide [/]

Available Quantity Divide [/] Minimum Sell Qty

Divides the available quantity for the product location by the minimum sell quantity. If the first number is a negative number, such as -10, the result is a higher number, such as -5. If the second number is 0, the rule is invalid, and Order Orchestration skips it.

Multiply [*]

Requested Quantity Multiply [*] Sell Qty

Multiplies the requested quantity in the locate items request by the Sell quantity/multiple for the product location. If one of the numbers is negative, such as -10, the result is a lower number, such as -40.

Plus Days

Next PO Date (MM/DD/YYYY) Plus Days 5

Increases the next PO date for the product location by the number of days. If the next PO date is 07/01/2013 and the number of days specified is 5, the result is 07/06/2013.

Minus Days

Next PO Date Minus Days 3

Decreases the next PO date for the product location by the number of days. If the next PO date is 08/15/2013 and the number of days specified is 3, the result is 08/12/2013.

Probability Rule Wizard

Purpose: Use the Probability Rule Wizard to create or edit probability rules.

Used for the Routing Engine module.

What are probability rules used for? Rules alter the inventory information returned in locate items search results and used to assign delivery or ship-for-pickup orders. For example, you can set up a rule to reduce the available quantity displayed for a product location that has a high sell-through rate. If you base order assignment on available quantity, this rule might cause the Routing Engine to assign an order to a different location.

Inventory quantity export: You can use probability rules to calculate the expected available quantity that you export to an integrated system, both by sending incremental updates through a web service, and through a pipe-delimited extract file. See Probability Rules Update and Incremental Quantity Web Service for more information.

Steps to create a probability rule:

  1. Rule Type: indicate whether the rule has any qualifications (an “if” statement) or should always apply when assigned to a location; also, you can specify or change the name of a rule
  2. Conditions: specify the conditions that must be met for a rule with an “if” statement
  3. Then: specify the calculation to apply when the rule meets the qualifications (if there is an “if” statement) or to always apply (for an “always” rule)
  4. Review: review the rule before you accept your entries or changes

Note:

When advancing through the wizard to create or edit a probability rule, there may be a small lag time until the screen displays the updated data.

How to assign rules? Use the Probability Location screen to assign probability rules and review the rules already assigned to locations.

Margin? Since margin is a calculated field, you can use the Calculations window, available at the Probability Rules screen, to create a margin calculation, which you can then use in a probability rule.

For more information: See Probability Rule Overview for a complete discussion on setting up, assigning, and testing rules.

Probable quantity rules: You use the Probable Quantity Rules screen rather than this screen to create probable quantity rules, which update the probable quantity that a system, such as your ecommerce site, can use as an estimate of an item’s availability. For more information on probable quantity rules and calculation of the probable quantity, see:

How to display the wizard: You can launch the Probability Rule Wizard from the Probability Rules screen by:

  • clicking New, or
  • clicking the edit icon (Illustrates the edit icon.) next to an existing rule
  • clicking Edit at the Browse Probability Rules window

Note:

Available if Use Routing Engine is selected at the Tenant screen. Only users with Probability Rules authority can display this screen. See Roles for more information.

In this topic:

Probability Rule Overview

What do rules do? Rules let you modify product search results (for example, locate items) and Routing Engine assignment by:

  • changing the available quantity, PO quantity, or PO date to use for a product search response or to evaluate whether to assign an order to the location; or,
  • excluding the location from the product search response or from consideration for order assignment

When can a rule apply?

  • Rule conditions: A rule assigned to a location, location type, or organization can apply unconditionally, or based on conditions you set up based on dates, quantities, information about the order, or information about the product.
  • Probability location options: When you assign a rule to a location, type, or organization, you can specify a range of valid dates, indicate whether it applies to online or offline inventory information, or flag it as inactive.

Basic steps: The basic steps to setting up a probability rule are:

  1. Create the rule and details: Use the Probability Rule Wizard to create the rule and its details. Details include:
    • the Rule Type that determines whether the rule applies (If or Always)
    • for an “if” rule, the Conditions that a product location must meet for the rule to apply
    • the result of the rule; that is, which field to modify for the search results or order assignment, or whether to exclude product locations from the search results or order assignment based on whether they meet the criteria for the rule

    Note:

    Calculation: You have the option to create a calculation to use as part of the rule test, or to apply as part of the rule results (for example, Available Quantity + Next PO Quantity). Use the Calculations window, available at the Probability Rules screen, to work with calculations. See About Calculations for a brief overview.
  2. Assign the rule to one or more organizations, location types, or locations: Use the Probability Location screen to specify which locations should be affected by the rule. As part of assigning a rule at any of these levels, you can also specify:
    • a “from” date, “to” date, both, or neither, when the rule is effective
    • whether the rule applies only to locations with off-line availability information, on-line availability information, or both
    • whether the rule is active or inactive
  3. Test the rule: Perform test locate items searches or order creation using a testing tool or from an integrated system, and confirm that the results are what you expect.

Important:

In order for probability rules to apply, you need to have the Use Probability Rules preference set to Yes at the Preferences screen.

About Calculations

You can specify more complex conditions to apply, or results to display, by using calculations. For example, if you would always like to reduce the available quantity for a location by its shrink rate, you can set up a rule such as: Always Available Quantity Equal [=] Available Quantity Reduce By [%] Shrink

This rule includes the calculation Available Quantity Reduce By [%] Shrink.

Where can you use a calculation? You might use a calculation as the:

  • Element (first field) or Element or Value (third field) for a rule at the Condition step
  • Element or Value (third field) for a rule at the Then step

Use the Calculations window to create or work with calculations.

Using the Probability Wizard

The steps to create a rule are to set the:

  1. Rule Type
  2. Conditions
  3. Then
  4. Review

For more information: See Probability Rule Overview for background.

Rule Type

Purpose: Use this step in the Probability Rule Wizard to:

  • specify the name of a new rule or change the name of an existing rule
  • set up the rule, including specifying whether the rule has an “if” statement with conditions that a product location must meet in order for the rule to apply, or whether the rule applies unconditionally when it is assigned to a location (an “always” rule)

How to display: At the Probability Rules screen:

  • click New, or
  • click the edit icon (Illustrates the edit icon.) next to an existing rule

Completing this step:

  1. Enter the Rule Name. If you entered a name at the Probability Rules screen or are editing an existing rule, the name defaults here, but you can override it. The name cannot exceed 40 positions, and can include spaces and special characters.

    Note:

    You cannot enter a rule name that is an exact match to an existing rule; however, you can enter a rule name that matches an existing rule except for case or a trailing space.
  2. Select the Type of Rule to indicate whether the rule has an “if” statement with conditions, or is an “always” rule that applies unconditionally.
  3. If the rule has just the action and no additional tests to perform, then you set the Type of Rule set to Always. These rules are simple statements: for example, Always Available quantity Equals [=] Available quantity - Daily Sell Through Qty).
  4. If you want to apply one or more tests against the product location to determine whether to apply the rule, then the Type of Rulemust be If.

Next step: When you create an If rule, you use the Conditions step to specify one or more conditions. Click Next to advance to the:

  • Conditions step if the Type of Rule is If
  • Then step if the Type of Rule is Always
  • Click Cancel to return to the Probability Rules without saving your entries.
Field Description
Rule Name

Enter the name of the rule. The Probability Rules screen and the Probability Location screen display this name to identify the rule. The name can be up to 40 positions, and can include spaces and special characters. If you entered a name at the Probability Rules screen or are editing an existing rule, the name defaults here, but you can override it.

Type of Rule

Select:

  • If = when you assign the rule, it applies only if the product location meets the conditions you set up through the Conditions step.
  • Always = when you assign the rule to a location, it performs the action unconditionally. If you select this setting, you advance next to the Then step.

Conditions

Purpose: Use this step in the Probability Rule Wizard to set up the conditions that a product location must meet in order for the rule to apply.

How to display: You advance to this step from the Rule Type step if you selected If as the Type of Rule. You do not advance to this step if the Type of Rule is Always.

Specifying a condition

A rule that has a Rule Type of If requires at least one condition.

Examples:

  1. Element: Possible elements are:

    • Availability information for a product location: Available Quantity or Available to Promise, Next PO date, and Next PO Quantity. You can use these values as part of a test for a rule or in a calculation as well as updating them in the search results.

      Examples:

      • If Available quantity is less than requested quantity
      • Always set Next PO date equal to Today plus 5 days

    • Attributes for a product location: Product attributes are Cost, Daily Sell Through Quantity, Minimum Sell Quantity, On Clearance, Sales Velocity, Sell Quantity/Multiple, Selling Price, Shrink Rate %, and Status. You can use these values as part of the test for a rule or in a calculation.

      Examples:

      • If Sell quantity is less than available quantity
      • If Daily sell-through quantity is more than requested quantity

      • If Status is Inactive

    • Product or system product information: Category, Class, Department, Master Style, or System Product code. You can use these values as part of the test for a rule.

      Examples:
      • If Category is equal to 9867
      • If Master style is not equal to AB100

    • Date: You can compare the Last Updated date for a product location with the current date (Today), or with specific dates.

      Example: If Today is after the next Next PO date.

    • Information about the order or request:Express Carrier, Order Type, Originating System, or Requested Quantity. You can use these values as part of the test for a rule.

      Example: If the order uses an Express Carrier.

      About rules based on the express carrier setting: If a delivery or ship-for-pickup order is submitted without a carrier specified, the Routing Engine checks the Express setting of the Default Carrier specified at the Preferences screen. When a request is not associated with an order (locate items, product availability search), the Routing Engine also uses the Default Carrier if the transaction type is DELIVERY or SHIPFORPICKUP. Otherwise, for a PICKUP transaction type, the Routing Engine always considers the Express setting to be No.

    • Calculations: If you have used the Calculations window to create any calculations, any existing calculations are listed below the system-supplied elements, and you can select one to use as part of a test. For example, use the Available Quantity Reduce By [%] Shrink calculation as part of a rule that starts: If Available Quantity Reduce By [%] Shrink Less Than [<] Requested Quantity

  2. Operator: The operator identifies the relationship between the Element and the Element or Value. Possible operators are:

    • Quantity or Amount: If the Element represents a quantity (Available Quantity, Next PO Quantity, Sell Qty/Multiple, Shrink Rate, or Sales Velocity) or an amount (Selling Price, Cost), possible operators are:

      • Equal to [=]
      • Not equal to [!=]
      • Less than [<]
      • Less than or equal to [<=]
      • Greater than [>]
      • Greater than or equal to [>=]

    • Value or code: If the Element represents a code or a value (Category, Class, Master Style, Status, System Product Code, Order Type or Originating System), possible operators are:

      • Equal to [=]

      • Not equal to [=]

      Note: If the selected value is Express Carrier or On Clearance, then the only available operator is Equal to [=].

    • Date: If the Element represents a date (Last Updated Date, Next PO Date, Today, or a date calculation), possible operators are:

      • Before
      • After
    • Calculation: The appropriate operators depend on the type of element used in the calculation. For example, if the calculation involves the quantity, then appropriate operators are the same as those listed above for other quantities.

  3. Element or Value: The element or value that the rule is comparing with the element or calculation in the second field. For example, if the line is: If Available Less Than [<] Requested Quantity, then the rule is comparing the Requested Quantity with the Available Quantity selected from the Element field.

    You can select an element or calculation, or enter a value, that is the same type of information as the selected Element. For example, if the Element is Next PO Quantity or Available Quantity Reduce By [%] 10, then your selection or entry must be a quantity. If the Element is a:

    • Quantity: You can select:
    • Date: You can select:
      • Next PO date
      • Last Updated date
      • Today
      • a calculation using a date (for example, Next PO date plus [+] 2)
      • or you can select Enter value... and enter a date in the format specified through the Users screen. The Enter value... option is at the bottom of the drop-down list.

    • Amount: You can select Selling Price, Cost, or a calculation using amount.

    • Defined Value or code:
      • Express Carrier or On Clearance: select Yes or No
      • Order Type: select Pickup, Delivery or Ship For Pickup

      • Status: select Active, Inactive, or Discontinued

      • Originating System: select any system in the organization, with the exception of a vendor system or Store Connect system
      • Any other defined value (Category, Class, Department, Master Style, or System Product Code): you can select Enter value... and enter a value. For example, you can set up a condition such as If System Product Code Equal To [=] AB200. The Enter value... option is at the bottom of the drop-down list.

      Note:

      When you enter a value, your entry is not validated; however, when the Routing Engine evaluates a probability rule, matching is case-sensitive.

Completing entry of the condition: Click Add to add the condition, or click Reset to clear your entries in the Element, Operator, and Element or Value fields.

Multiple conditions?

If rules can specify one or more conditions, and each condition begins with an Or or an And:

  • Or: If the product location meets either or any of the conditions, then apply the rule. For example, if you would like to add 5 days to the next PO date for either product AB100 or product AB200, you might create a rule such as:

    If System Product Code Equal To [=] AB100

    Or System Product Code Equal To [=] AB200

    Then Next PO Date Equal [=] Next PO Date Plus Days 5

  • And: If the product location must meet both or all of the tests, then apply the rule, For example, if you would like to decrease the available quantity by 20% for product locations where both the available quantity is less than 10 and the next purchase order date is earlier than the current date, you might create a rule such as:

    If Available Quantity Less Than [<] 10

    And Next PO Date Before Today

    Then Available Quantity Equal [=] Available Quantity Reduce By [%] 20

Changing a condition

Highlight an existing condition at the top of the screen so that you can use the Element, Operator, and Element or Value fields to change the condition. See Specifying a condition, above, for information on your options when setting up a condition.

Click Change to accept your changes to the condition.

Deleting a condition

If the rule has multiple conditions, highlight an existing condition at the top of the screen and click Delete to remove the condition. This option is available only for Or or And conditions.

Rearranging conditions

If the rule has at least 3 conditions (the If condition and at least 2 Or or And conditions), highlight an existing Or or And conditions condition at the top of the screen and drag it up or down to the new position.

Accepting or rejecting your entries

Click Next to advance to the Then step.

Click Cancel to reject all changes to the rule, including those made at the Rule Name step, and return to the Probability Rules screen. If you were creating a new rule, the rule is not saved.

Optionally, click Previous to return to the Rule Type step.

Fields at this step

Field Description
Element

The quantity, date, or field to compare with the second Element or Value when determining whether to apply the rule. The elements available for selection here include fields related to a product or product location as well as calculations that you have created through the Calculations window.

  • Availability information for a product location: Available Quantity (but Available to Promise is used if it is different from the available quantity), Next PO date, and Next PO Quantity. You can use these values as part of a test for a rule or in a calculation as well as updating them in the search results.

    Examples:

    • If Available quantity is less than requested quantity
    • Always set Next PO date equal to Today plus 5 days

  • Product or system product information: Category, Class, Department, Master Style, or System Product code. You can use these values as part of the test for a rule.

    Examples:

    • If Category is equal to 9867
    • If Master style is not equal to AB100

  • Date: You can compare the Last Updated date for a product location with the current date (Today), or with specific dates.

    Example: If Today is after the next Next PO date

  • Information about the order or request: Express Carrier, Order Type, Originating System, or Requested Quantity. You can use these values as part of the test for a rule.

    Example: If the order uses an Express Carrier

    About rules based on the express carrier setting: If a delivery or ship-for-pickup order is submitted without a carrier specified, the Routing Engine checks the Express setting of the Default Carrier specified at the Preferences screen. When a request is not associated with an order (locate items, product availability search), the Routing Engine also uses the Default Carrier if the transaction type is DELIVERY or SHIPFORPICKUP. Otherwise, for a PICKUP transaction type, the Routing Engine always considers the Express setting to be No.

Calculations: If you have used the Calculations window to create any calculations, any existing calculations are listed below the system-supplied elements, and you can select one to use as part of a test. For example, use the Available Quantity Reduce By [%] Shrink calculation as part of a rule that starts: If Available Quantity Reduce By [%] Shrink Less Than [<] Requested Quantity. Calculations are listed below the other possible elements.

Operator

Possible operators are:

  • Quantity or amount: If the Element represents a quantity (Available Quantity, Next PO Quantity, Sell Qty/Multiple, Shrink Rate, or Sales Velocity) or an amount (Cost, Selling Price), possible operators are:

    • Equal to [=]
    • Not equal to [!=]
    • Less than [<]
    • Less than or equal to [<=]
    • Greater than [>]
    • Greater than or equal to [>=]

  • Value or code: If the Element represents a code or a value (Category, Class, Master Style, Status, System Product Code, Order Type or Originating System), possible operators are:

    • Equal to [=]
    • Not equal to [=]

    If the selected value is Express Carrier or On Clearance, then the only available operator is Equal to [=].

  • Date: If the Element represents a date (Last Updated Date, Next PO Date, Today, or a date calculation), possible operators are:
    • Before
    • After
Element or Value

Depending on the selection in the Element field, your options at the Element or Value field are:

  • Quantity element: select a quantity element or calculation, or enter a value

  • Amount element (Cost or Selling Price): select an amount element or calculation, or enter a value; can include a decimal

  • Date element: select a date element or calculation, or enter a date in the format specified through the Users screen.
  • Defined value element:
    • Express Carrier or On Clearance: select Yes or No
    • Order Type: select Pickup, Delivery, or Ship For Pickup
    • Originating System: select any system in the organization, with the exception of a vendor system or Store Connect system

    • Status: select Active, Inactive, or Discontinued

    • Any other defined value (Category, Class, Department, Master Style, or System Product Code): enter a value

Note:

When you enter a value, your entry is not validated; however, when the Routing Engine evaluates a probability rule, matching is case-sensitive.

Then

Purpose: Use this step to specify the result of the rule. Possible results are:

  • change the available quantity, PO quantity, or PO date to use for a locate items response or evaluate whether to assign an order to the location
  • exclude the location from the locate items response or from consideration for order assignment through the Routing Engine

How to display: You advance to this step from the:

  • Conditions step if you selected If as the Type of Rule at the Rule Type step
  • Rule Type step if you selected Always as the Type of Rule at the Rule Type step

Exclude location: Select Exclude location to have a product location excluded from search results or order assignment by the Routing Engine. For an If rule, the product location must match the conditions set up at the Conditions step.

Note:

A probability rule set to Exclude location does not prevent Order Orchestration from assigning an order to a location if the SubmitOrder request specifies the location as the fulfilling location. The rule only prevents the location from being included in the locate item search results and automatic assignment using the Order Orchestration rules.

Alter a field for the product location: If you do not select Exclude Location, specify the field to update and how to update it:

For more information: See the Conditions step for details on the fields at this screen.

Accepting or rejecting your entries:

Click Next to advance to the Review step.

Click Cancel to reject all changes to the rule and return to the Probability Rules screen. If you were creating a new rule, the rule is not saved.

Optionally, click Previous to return to the Conditions step (for an If rule) or the Rule Type step for an Always rule).

Review

Purpose: Use this step to review a rule you have created or changed, and to accept or reject the rule.

How to display: You advance to this step from the Then step.

This step displays the rule you have created or changed using the Probability Rule Wizard.

Rule not eligible Inventory Quantity Export Calculation: A message indicates if the rule cannot apply to the inventory quantity export, since the records are created without being associated with an order. This message is displayed for rules that are based on express carrier, order type, originating system, last updated date, today, or requested quantity as a condition. See the Probability Rules Update and Incremental Quantity Web Service for more information.

Click Save to accept your changes and save the rule, or click Cancel to reject all changes to the rule and return to the Probability Rules screen. If you were creating a new rule, the rule is not saved.

Optionally, click Previous to return to the Then step.

Sample Rules

The following table presents sample rules and includes the desired result, the steps to creating the rule, and the appearance of the rule once it is created.

First steps in creating rule details: The steps presented below tell you how to create rule details through the Probability Rule Wizard.

To assign the rule: After you create a rule, you need to use the Probability Location screen to apply the rule at the location, location type, or organization level, including specifying additional rule options such as sequence number, type (on-line only, off-line only, or both), date range, and whether the rule is active or inactive. See Testing a Rule for more information.

Desired result: Always exclude location 20 from locate items searches.

Use when? You might use this rule for a new store location that has begun stocking inventory but is not yet open for business.

In the probability rule wizard Finished Rule
  • At the Rule Type step, set the Type of Rule to Always and click Next
  • At the Then step, select Exclude Location and click Next
  • At the Review step, click Save

AlwaysExclude Location

Desired result: Always decrease the available quantity by the shrink rate.

Use when? You might use this rule for locations with a high shrink rate, in order to avoid disappointing customers with inaccurate availability information.

Calculation setup In the probability rule wizard Finished Rule

First, create a calculation: Before you can create this rule, you first need to create a calculation to include in the rule result, specifying how to reduce the available quantity in the search results. You use the Calculations window to work with calculations. You can advance to this screen by clicking Calc at the Probability Rules screen.

At the Calculations window:

  1. In first field, select Available quantity
  2. In the second field, select Reduce by [%]
  3. In the third field, select Shrink rate
  4. Click Save

This creates the calculation: Available Quantity Reduce By [%] Shrink rate. Select Cancel to return to the Probability Rules screen.

  1. At the Rule Type step, set the Type of Rule to Always and click Next
  2. At the Then step:
  3. select Available quantity in the first field
  4. select Equal [=] in the second field
  5. select Available Quantity Reduce By [%] Shrink in the third field
  6. Click Next
  7. At the Then step, click Save

Always Available Quantity Equal [=] Available Quantity Reduce By [%] Shrink

Desired result: If the available quantity is less than the sell-through quantity, then present the available quantity as 0.

Use when? You might use this type of rule for locations with a high sell-through rate, especially if Order Orchestration does not receive real-time online inventory reporting.

In the probability rule wizard Finished Rule
  1. At the Rule Type step, set the Type of Rule to If and click Next
  2. At the Conditions step:
  3. In the first field, select Available quantity
  4. In the second field, select Less Than [<]
  5. In the third field, select Daily Sell Through Qty
  6. Click Add

    The If statement is added to the conditions area at the top of the screen.

  7. Click Next
  8. At the Then step:
  9. In the first field, select Available quantity
  10. In the second field, select Equal [=]
  11. In the third field, select Enter value..., and enter 0 in the window
  12. Click Next
  13. At the Review step, click Save

If Available Quantity Less Than [<] Daily Sell Through Qty

Then Available Quantity Equal [=] 0

Desired result: If the available quantity is less than 10 and the next expected PO date is earlier than today, reduce the available quantity by 20%.

Use when? You might use this type of rule to build a margin of error for situations when purchase orders ship late.

Calculation setup In the probability rule wizard Finished Rule

First, create a calculation: Before you can create this rule, you first need to create a calculation to include in the rule result, specifying how to reduce the available quantity in the search results. You use the Calculations window to work with calculations. You can advance to this screen by clicking Calc at the Probability Rules screen.

At the Calculations window:

  1. In the first field, select Available quantity
  2. In the second field, select Reduce by [%]
  3. In the third field, select Enter value... and enter 20 in the window
  4. Click Save

This creates the calculation: Available Quantity Reduce By [%] 20. Select Cancel to return to the Probability Rules screen.

  1. At the Rule Type step, set the Type of Rule to If and click Next
  2. At theConditions step:
    • In the first field, select Available quantity
    • In the second field, select Less Than or Equal To [<=]
    • In the third field, select Enter value..., and enter 10 in the window

  3. Click Add

    The If statement is added to the conditions area at the top of the screen.

  4. Add an additional condition at the Conditions step with And selected:
    • In the first field, select Next PO Date
    • In the second field, select Before
    • In the third field, select Today

  5. Click Add

    The And statement is added to the conditions area at the top of the screen.

  6. Click Next
  7. At the Then step:
    • In the first field, select Available quantity
    • In the second field, select Equal [=]
    • In the third field, select the calculation created above (Available Quantity Reduce By [%] 20)
  8. Click Next
  9. At the Review step, click Save

If Available Quantity Less Than or Equal To [<=] 10

And Next PO Date Before Today

Then Available Quantity Equal [=] Available Quantity Reduce By [%] 10

Desired result: If product is AB200 or product is AB300, add 5 days to the next PO date.

Use when? You might use this type of rule to build a margin of error for products that you expect to typically ship late.

Calculation setup In the probability rule wizard Finished Rule

First, create a calculation: Before you can create this rule, you first need to create a calculation to include in the rule result, specifying how to reduce the available quantity in the search results. You use the Calculations window to work with calculations. You can advance to this screen by clicking Calc at the Probability Rules screen.

At the Calculations window:

  1. In first field, select Next PO date
  2. In the second field, select Plus days
  3. In the third field, select Enter value... and enter 5 in the window
  4. Click Save

This creates the calculation: Next PO Date Plus Days 5. Select Cancel to return to the Probability Rules screen.

  1. At the Rule Type step, set the Type of Rule to If and click Next
  2. At the Conditions step:
    • In the first field, select System Product Code
    • In the second field, select Equal [=]
    • In the third field, select Enter value..., and enter AB100

  3. Click Add

    The If statement is added to the conditions area at the top of the screen.

  4. Select the Or button
  5. In the first field, select System Product Code
  6. In the second field, select Equal [=]
  7. In the third field, select Enter value..., and enter enter AB200

  8. Click Add

    The Or statement is added to the conditions area at the top of the screen.

  9. Click Next
  10. At the Then step:
    • In the first field, select Next PO date
    • In the second field, select Equal [=]
    • In the third field, select the calculation created above
  11. Click Next
  12. At the Review step, click Save

If System Product Code Equal To [=] AB100

Or System Product Code Equal To [=] AB200

Then Next PO Date Equal [=] Next PO Date Plus Days 5

Desired result: If the order uses an express carrier, exclude location.

Use when? You might use this type to exclude locations that do not support express shipments.

In the probability rule wizard Finished Rule
  1. At the Rule Type step, set the Type of Rule to If and click Next
  2. At the Conditions step:
    • In the first field, select Express Carrier
    • In the second field, select Equal [=]
    • In the third field, select Yes

  3. Click Add

    The If statement is added to the conditions area at the top of the screen.

  4. Click Next
  5. At the Then step, select Exclude Location
  6. Click Next
  7. At the Review step, click Save

If Express Carrier Equal To [=] Yes

Then Exclude Location

Desired result: If the available quantity divided by the sell quantity is less than the requested quantity, exclude the location.

Use when? You might use this rule for products you sell in a specified unit quantity, such as tires.

Calculation setup In the probability rules wizard Finished Rule

First, create a calculation: Before you can create this rule, you first need to create a calculation to include in the rule result, specifying how to reduce the available quantity in the search results. You use the Calculations window to work with calculations. You can advance to this screen by clicking Calc at the Probability Rules screen.

At the Calculations window:

  1. In first field, select Available quantity
  2. In the second field, select Divide [/]
  3. In the third field, select Sell qty/multiple
  4. Click Save

This creates the calculation: Available Quantity Divide [/] Sell Qty/Multiple (Note: The last few characters of the rule are truncated on the screen). Select Cancel to return to the Probability Rules screen.

  1. At the Rule Type step, set the Type of Rule to If and click Next
  2. At the Conditions step:
    • In the first field, select the calculation you created above (Available Quantity Divide [/] Sell Qty/Multiple)
    • In the second field, select Less Than [<]
    • In the third field, select Requested Quantity

  3. Click Add

    The If statement is added to the conditions area at the top of the screen.

  4. Click Next
  5. At the Then step:
    • Select Exclude Location
    • Click Next
  6. At the Review step, click Save

If Available Quantity Divide [/] Sell Qty/M Less Than [<] Requested Quantity

Then Exclude Location

How to update multiple fields? If you would like to update more than one field in the search results based on the same condition, you need to create a separate rule for each field.

For example, you might want to both reduce the available quantity displayed in search results, and increase the next PO date by 5 days for a certain master style that sells quickly and typically ships late. To do so, you could create the following rules:

1. Rule to reduce the available quantity:If Master Style Equal To [=] KABSKU3 Then Available Quantity Equal [=] Available Quantity Reduce By [%] 10

2. Rule to increase the next PO date: If Master Style Equal To [=] KABSKU3 Then Next PO Date Equal [=] Next PO Date Plus Days 5

Testing a Rule

Why test? Probability rules and their application can be quite complex. Before you start using a rule in a production environment, it is worthwhile to make sure that your rule settings have the intended result. Testing is even more important if you will use multiple rules that update different fields, or that are specified in different levels in the location hierarchy.

Before you start: Select a product that exists in representative locations and systems. Depending on the rule and your requirements, you might want to use a product with product locations that:

  • are in both an online system and an offline system
  • include rule attributes or metrics which are set to a positive number, a negative number, blank, or 0. For example, what if the rule says to divide the available quantity by the selling multiple, but no selling multiple is specified for a product location? What happens if the available quantity is a negative number or 0? (In a situation where a rule would require Order Orchestration to divide a number by 0, Order Orchestration skips the rule and evaluates the next rule in the hierarchy.

Troubleshooting:

  • If no rules apply: Do you have the Use Probability Rules preference set to Yes at the Preferences screen?
  • If the rule does not apply to a product location as expected:
    • Rule active? Use the Probability Location screen to confirm that the rule is active and not prohibited from the location based on date range. Start at the lowest level (location) and work upward to location type and finally organization.
    • Correct type? If the probability rule assignment at the Probability Location screen indicates a Type of off-line only or on-line only, use the Systems screen to confirm that the system matches the selected type. Even if the system is flagged as online at the Systems screen, Order Orchestration considers it off-line if it cannot obtain an interactive inventory update from the system. This might occur if communications are down between Order Orchestration and the external system.
    • Did you fail to save the rule details? If you forgot to click Save when using the Probability Rule Wizard, your entries were not saved.
    • Did Order Orchestration skip the rule because it would have required dividing by 0? Check the information for the product location.
    • Field already updated by another rule? For example, if two rules apply to the same field (such as available quantity), and one has a lower sequence number, Order Orchestration might apply that rule first and never evaluate the rule with the higher sequence number.
    • If the rule does not apply at all: If the Probability Rules setting at the Event Logging screen is set to Detailed, Oracle staff will be able to use the logs to review any probability rule errors or activity.
    • Confirm that the effect of the rule is not obscured by rounding. For example, if the rule indicates to reduce the available quantity by the shrink rate, and if a shrink rate of 5% is applied to an available quantity of 10, the resulting available quantity of 9.5 is rounded up and displayed as 10.
    • Does the rule involve the requested quantity? Certain systems, such as Order Administration, do not include a requested quantity for a locate items search unless you search from order entry.
    • Does the rule relate to the available quantity? If the Available Quantity differs from the Available to Promise quantity for a product location, the probability rule uses the Available to Promise quantity. For example:
      • The available quantity is 100, and the available to promise quantity is 80. If the rule requires that the available quantity be greater than 90, the rule does not apply.
      • The available quantity is 50, the available to promise quantity is -10, and the next PO quantity is 100. If the rule specifies to set the available quantity to available quantity plus next PO quantity, the resulting available quantity is 90 (-10 + 100).

Browse Probability Rules

Purpose: Use the Browse Probability Rules window to review probability rules you have set up through the Probability Rule Wizard.

Used for the Routing Engine module.

For more information: For a brief overview of probability rules, see Using Probability Rules; and for more details, see Probability Rule Overview.

Rule not eligible Inventory Quantity Export Calculation: A message indicates if the rule cannot apply to the inventory quantity export, since the records are created without being associated with an order. This message is displayed for rules that are based on express carrier, order type, originating system, last updated date, today, or requested quantity as a condition. See the Inventory Quantity Export for more information.

How to display this window: Click a probability rule once at the Probability Rules screen.

Note:

Available if Use Routing Engine is selected at the Tenant screen. Only users with Probability Rules authority can display this screen. See Roles for more information.

Options at this window

Option Procedure
edit the displayed probability rule

Click Edit to advance to the Probability Rule Wizard screen.

review the next probability rule

Click the next icon (Illustrates the next icon.) to display the next probability rule.

review the previous probability rule

Click the previous icon (Illustrates the previous icon.) to display the previous probability rule.

Fields at this window

Field Description
Name

The description of the probability rule.

The name can be up to 40 positions, and can include spaces and special characters.
Rule details

The details of the rule you created through the Probability Rule Wizard.