Inventory on Cloud · Business applications
Inventory on Cloud: centralized item and inventory management across sales channels
Inventory on Cloud is ECOM's cloud-based solution for item configuration and inventory management. Manage item configurations and inventory across your sales channels from one central place, instead of separate spreadsheets and channel tools that drift out of step.
What is multichannel inventory management?
Multichannel inventory management is the practice of managing items and stock in one place for every channel a business sells through, such as its own online store, marketplaces, retail partners and B2B customers. Each channel needs accurate item data and a view of what can be sold. When every channel draws on the same central item and inventory records, the business avoids selling stock it does not have and spends less time updating each channel by hand.
Why it matters
Business benefits
Overselling and missed sales
When channels see different inventory, one sells stock that another has already sold, and items that are available go unsold elsewhere.
Item data that differs by channel
Descriptions, attributes and configurations maintained separately for each channel drift apart and create errors in orders and listings.
Manual updates to every channel
Updating each channel by hand or by spreadsheet takes time, and the delay between updates is when errors happen.
Inventory that does not match fulfillment
If inventory records are not tied to orders and fulfillment, what the channels show and what the warehouse can ship drift apart.
How it works
How Inventory on Cloud works, step by step
- 01
Review your channels and items
ECOM reviews the channels you sell through, your item data and how inventory is managed and updated today.
- 02
Configure items centrally
Item and product configurations are set up in Inventory on Cloud as the central record for your channels.
- 03
Manage inventory across channels
Inventory is managed in one place for the sales channels in scope, replacing separate updates in each channel.
Capabilities
What Inventory on Cloud does
-
Comprehensive item configuration
Items and products are configured in one central place, so every channel draws on the same item information.
-
Inventory management across sales channels
Inventory is managed centrally for the sales channels you sell through, instead of separately in each channel.
-
Cloud-based and centralized
Inventory on Cloud is a cloud-based solution, so teams work from the same central records wherever they are.
-
Implemented and supported by ECOM
ECOM provides the implementation services and ongoing support for Inventory on Cloud, alongside its integration expertise.
Why it matters
Why central inventory matters when you sell through several channels
Every channel a business adds multiplies the places where item data and stock levels can go wrong. A central record is how growing sellers keep control.
-
Availability customers can trust
Customers and partners act on what a channel shows. Availability that matches reality protects both sales and reputation.
-
Orders depend on item data
Orders, ship notices and invoices all reference items. Consistent item data reduces errors from order entry through fulfillment.
-
One source of truth
When item and inventory records live in one place, changes are made once and every team works from the same information.
-
Room to add channels
A central record makes adding a new channel a configuration task rather than another separate system to maintain.
Implementation
What to plan for in a multichannel inventory project
The software is one part of the project. These decisions shape how well central inventory works for your channels.
-
Clean the item master
Agree on item identifiers, attributes and configurations before loading them, so channels do not inherit old inconsistencies.
-
Decide channel rules
Decide how much inventory each channel should show and which items belong in which channel.
-
Agree on update timing
Each channel and partner has its own expectations for how current inventory must be. Agree on them early.
-
Connect orders and fulfillment
Plan how orders and shipments update inventory, so the central record reflects what was actually sold and shipped.
Use cases
Where teams use it
Brands selling through several channels
Keep items and inventory consistent across an online store, marketplaces and retail partners.
Distributors with online and B2B channels
Manage items and inventory centrally for B2B customers and online sales.
Replacing spreadsheet-based inventory
Move item and inventory management out of spreadsheets and into a central, cloud-based solution.
Technology, expertise and operations
Choose how Inventory on Cloud is run
PRISM is ECOM's own integration technology. The company that builds it also implements, operates and supports enterprise integration platforms, so you can choose how much of the work you keep.
-
Run it with your team
Use Inventory on Cloud on the PRISM platform with your own staff, supported by ECOM.
Platform delivery options -
Share the work
ECOM integration specialists extend your team for mapping, onboarding, monitoring and changes.
EDI Team as a Service -
Hand it over
ECOM operates the integration end to end as a fully managed service, within an agreed scope.
Fully managed EDI
Running IBM Sterling or another integration platform today? ECOM's enterprise integration specialists can help you keep, modernize or migrate it. IBM Sterling services · Migration and modernization
Available delivery options depend on the product and your requirements and are confirmed during scoping. Compare delivery models.
Frequently asked questions
What is Inventory on Cloud?
Inventory on Cloud is ECOM's cloud-based solution for item configuration and inventory management across sales channels, from one central place.
Which sales channels and marketplaces does Inventory on Cloud support?
Supported channels and marketplaces are confirmed for your business during discovery. ECOM reviews the channels you sell through before committing to a design rather than assuming every channel is supported.
Does Inventory on Cloud replace my ERP?
Inventory on Cloud focuses on items and inventory across sales channels. How it works alongside your ERP and order systems is designed during implementation.
How does Inventory on Cloud relate to PRISM UniChannel and PRISM-ERP?
How Inventory on Cloud works with PRISM UniChannel, PRISM-EDI and PRISM-ERP in your environment is confirmed during discovery, based on your channels and systems.
Who implements and supports Inventory on Cloud?
ECOM provides the implementation services and ongoing support for Inventory on Cloud, alongside its integration expertise.
ECOM products
Integration, visibility, automation and business applications
PRISM is ECOM's own integration and automation platform. PRISM-EDI is the core; the other products extend it to visibility, partner and document automation, APIs and commerce channels. ECOM's business applications, PRISM-ERP and Inventory on Cloud, run core operations alongside it.
- Integration platform PRISM-EDI Our core EDI/B2B integration platform. Explore
- Visibility and optimization PRISM-SCV Visibility into document status, transaction activity, and exceptions across trading partners. Explore
- Partner and document automation PRISM-WebEDI Web-based EDI collaboration and document processing. Explore
- Partner and document automation PRISM-SmartConvert Converting business documents into structured integration data. Explore
- Partner and document automation PRISM-WebLink Automation of trading partner portals and workflows.
- APIs and commerce channels PRISM-API Gateway API integration and connectivity.
- Visibility and optimization PRISM-DriveSync Routing and delivery optimization.
- APIs and commerce channels PRISM UniChannel Omnichannel order and fulfillment integration.
- Business applications Inventory on CloudYou are here Item configuration and inventory management across sales channels.
See Inventory on Cloud for your channels
Tell us which channels you sell through and how you manage items and inventory today. An ECOM specialist will arrange a demonstration.