Data Management: Rules

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Overview

The Rules page allows you to create and manage replenishment rules that control ordering behavior for specific item and location combinations. Rules ensure business logic and promotional strategies are automatically enforced during the ordering process.

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Accessing Rules

Navigate to Restock > Data Management > Rules (/restock/data-management/rules) to access the rules management interface. You can view rules in two modes:

• Grid View: See all rules in a searchable, sortable table
• Card View: Detailed view of a single rule with tabs for items, locations, and settings

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Rule Types

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Blocking Rules

Blocking rules prevent orders from being placed for specific item/location combinations during a defined period. Common Uses:

• Block seasonal items outside their season
• Prevent ordering discontinued items
• Enforce location-specific product restrictions
• Implement temporary holds for quality issues
• Control new product rollouts to specific locations

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Promotion Rules

Promotion rules enforce minimum order quantities for items on promotion, ensuring adequate stock during promotional periods. Common Uses:

• Set quantity floors for promotional items
• Ensure minimum display quantities for featured products
• Support marketing campaigns with guaranteed availability
• Coordinate with sales events and advertising

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Rules Grid View

The default grid view displays all rules with sortable columns and search capabilities.

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Grid Columns

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Accessing Rules

From Grid View:

• Click any rule row to open the edit modal
• Click Add Rule button to create a new rule

From Card View:

• Select a rule from the sidebar to view full details
• Use the URL parameter to link directly to a rule: /restock/data-management/rules/{ruleID}

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Creating a Rule

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Editing a Rule

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Card View Details

Card view provides a comprehensive interface for managing a single rule with three tabs:

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Details Tab

View and edit core rule information:

• Rule name and description
• Rule type (blocking or promotion)
• Start and end dates
• Status
• Quantity floor (promotion rules)
• Created and updated timestamps

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Items Tab

Manage which items the rule applies to:

• Search and filter: Find items by name, number, or category
• Bulk select: Choose multiple items at once
• View linked items: See all currently linked items
• Add/remove: Update item associations as needed

Item Details Shown:

• Item name and number
• Description
• Category or classification
• Current link status

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Locations Tab

Manage which locations the rule applies to:

• Search and filter: Find locations by name, code, or region
• Bulk select: Choose multiple locations at once
• View linked locations: See all currently linked locations
• Add/remove: Update location associations as needed

Location Details Shown:

• Location name and code
• Address or region
• Store type or classification
• Current link status

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Rule Status Management

Rules can have different statuses that control their behavior:

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Active Status

• ACTIVE: Rule is enforced during orders
• INACTIVE: Rule exists but is not enforced
• Other statuses: May be used for workflows (e.g., PENDING, EXPIRED)

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Activating a Rule

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Deactivating a Rule

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Deleting a Rule

Consider deactivating rules instead of deleting them to preserve historical data and enable easy reactivation.

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How Rules Affect Ordering

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In the Orders Grid

When viewing the Orders page (/restock/data-management/orders): Blocking Rules:

• Items with blocking rules show the Blocking Rule IDs column populated
• Order quantity fields are prevented from being edited for blocked combinations
• Blocked items are typically filtered out or visually indicated

Promotion Rules:

• Items with promotion rules show the Promotion Rule IDs column populated
• The system validates that order quantities meet the promotion quantity floor
• If you attempt to order less than the minimum, a warning or error appears

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Rule Priority

• Blocking rules override promotion rules: If both apply, the item is blocked
• Multiple rules per item: An item can be affected by multiple rules simultaneously
• Location-specific: Rules apply only to the specific item/location combinations defined

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Best Practices

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Rule Naming

• Use clear, descriptive names that indicate purpose: “Summer-2026-Seasonal-Block”, “March-Promo-Min-50”
• Include dates or seasons in the name for time-bound rules
• Use consistent naming conventions across your organization

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Date Management

• Set realistic start dates: Rules activate immediately if start date is past
• Use end dates for temporary rules: Promotions, seasonal blocks, temporary holds
• No end date for permanent rules: Items discontinued indefinitely, location restrictions
• Review expired rules periodically: Clean up old rules to keep the list manageable

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Item and Location Linking

• Start broad, refine narrow: Begin with categories or regions, then add exceptions
• Document exceptions: Use description field to note why specific items/locations are included
• Regular audits: Review linked items and locations quarterly to ensure accuracy
• Test before activating: Create rules in INACTIVE status, verify associations, then activate

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Status Workflow

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Promotion Rule Strategy

• Align with marketing: Coordinate promotion rules with advertising campaigns
• Set realistic minimums: Quantity floors should balance stock needs with logistics
• Stagger start dates: Avoid activating all promotions simultaneously
• Plan for inventory: Ensure sufficient inventory before promotion starts

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Blocking Rule Strategy

• Seasonal precision: Block items well before season ends to avoid excess inventory
• Communicate blocks: Notify buyers when blocking rules are activated
• Temporary vs permanent: Use end dates for temporary situations, no end date for permanent blocks
• Quality hold process: Establish procedures for blocking items with quality issues

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Common Use Cases

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Seasonal Item Management

Winter Holiday Blocks

• Block holiday items starting February 1st
• Prevents ordering out-of-season products
• Automatic expiration for next season

Example Rule:

• Name: “Holiday-2025-Post-Season-Block”
• Type: Blocking
• Start: February 1, 2025
• End: November 1, 2025
• Items: All holiday-tagged items

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Promotional Campaigns

Spring Sale Minimums

• Enforce minimum order quantities during promotional period
• Ensure adequate stock for advertised items
• Automatic expiration when promotion ends

Example Rule:

• Name: “Spring-Sale-2026-Min-Qty”
• Type: Promotion
• Start: April 1, 2026
• End: April 30, 2026
• Quantity Floor: 50 units
• Items: Featured promotional SKUs

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New Product Rollout

Controlled Launch

• Block new products from general distribution
• Allow orders only to pilot locations
• Gradual expansion as product matures

Example Rule:

• Name: “New-Product-ABC-Pilot-Only”
• Type: Blocking (with exceptions)
• Start: January 1, 2026
• End: March 31, 2026
• Items: Product ABC
• Locations: All except pilot stores (inverse logic via separate allowlist)

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Location-Specific Restrictions

Regional Compliance

• Block items that cannot be sold in certain states or regions
• Permanent blocks for regulatory compliance
• No end date - ongoing restriction

Example Rule:

• Name: “CA-Restricted-Items”
• Type: Blocking
• Start: January 1, 2020
• End: None
• Items: Restricted SKUs
• Locations: All California stores

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Troubleshooting

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Rule Not Enforcing

Check:

• Status is ACTIVE
• Start date is in the past or present
• Items and locations are correctly linked
• No conflicting rules override it

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Cannot Order Expected Quantity

Check:

• Look for blocking rule IDs in the Orders grid
• Verify the rule dates (may have auto-activated)
• Check if promotion rule quantity floor is too high
• Review rule description for context

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Too Many Items Blocked

Check:

• Review item associations - may be overly broad
• Check for duplicate or overlapping rules
• Verify date ranges are correct
• Consider temporarily deactivating while you investigate

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Related Pages