> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://betterdatainc.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Channel Policies

> How to configure channel-specific policies for ATP, replenishment, and alerts

# Channel Policies

Configure policies that apply to specific sales channels. Channel policies control inventory allocation, ATP calculations, replenishment rules, and alert thresholds.

<Note>
  **Scope**: Tenant-scoped; requires org admin permissions\
  **Availability**: Not available in SuperAdmin
</Note>

## Understanding Channel Policies

### What Channel Policies Control

Channel policies define:

* **ATP (Available to Promise)**: How inventory is allocated and promised
* **Replenishment**: When and how much to reorder
* **Alerts**: When to trigger alerts
* **Fulfillment**: Fulfillment location preferences
* **SLA**: Service level agreements
* **Backorder**: Backorder handling rules
* **Partial Shipment**: Partial shipment rules

**Customization Tier**: TENANT\_DEFINED (fully tenant-defined, no pack defaults)

### Policy Scope

Policies can be scoped to:

* **Channel**: Policy applies to specific channel
* **Product**: Policy applies to specific products
* **Location**: Policy applies to specific locations
* **Combination**: Policy applies to channel + product + location combination

## Creating a Channel Policy

### Step 1: Basic Configuration

1. Navigate to **Admin** → **Channel Policies**
2. Click **Create Policy**
3. Configure basic information:
   * **Name**: Policy name
   * **Description**: Policy description
   * **Channel**: Select channel
   * **Scope**: Product, location, or combination

### Step 2: Channel Priority

Configure channel priority:

* **Priority Tier**: HIGH, MEDIUM, LOW
* **Numeric Priority**: 0-1000 (higher = more important)
* **Allocation Weight**: 0-100% (weight for allocation when inventory is scarce)
* **Can Preempt**: Can this channel "steal" from lower priority channels?
* **Minimum ATP**: Minimum ATP to accept orders
* **Max Inventory Percent**: Maximum % of inventory this channel can reserve

### Step 3: ATP Configuration

Configure ATP (Available to Promise) rules:

* **Minimum Stock**: Minimum stock level
* **Safety Stock**: Safety stock level
* **Reserve Stock**: Reserve stock for commitments
* **Inbound Inclusion**: Include inbound inventory in ATP

### Step 4: Replenishment Configuration

Configure replenishment rules:

* **Reorder Point**: When to reorder
* **Order Quantity**: How much to order
* **Lead Time**: Expected lead time
* **Replenishment Strategy**: FIFO, FEFO, LIFO, PRIORITY

### Step 5: Alert Configuration

Configure alert thresholds:

* **Low Stock Alert**: Threshold for low stock alerts
* **Stockout Alert**: Threshold for stockout alerts
* **Overstock Alert**: Threshold for overstock alerts
* **Forecast Deviation Alert**: Threshold for forecast deviation alerts

### Step 6: Fulfillment Configuration

Configure fulfillment preferences:

* **Preferred Locations**: Locations preferred for fulfillment
* **Prohibited Locations**: Locations not allowed for fulfillment
* **Location Priority**: Priority order for locations

### Step 7: SLA Configuration

Configure SLA (Service Level Agreement) rules:

* **Target Fill Rate**: Target fill rate percentage
* **Target Cycle Time**: Target order cycle time
* **Max Cycle Time**: Maximum acceptable cycle time

### Step 8: Backorder Configuration

Configure backorder handling:

* **Allow Backorders**: Whether to allow backorders
* **Backorder Priority**: Priority for backorder fulfillment
* **Backorder Timeout**: Timeout for backorder fulfillment

### Step 9: Partial Shipment Configuration

Configure partial shipment rules:

* **Allow Partial Shipments**: Whether to allow partial shipments
* **Minimum Shipment Percent**: Minimum % to ship
* **Partial Shipment Priority**: Priority for partial shipments

## Policy Types Explained

### ATP Policies

ATP policies define how inventory is allocated and promised:

**Key Settings:**

* **Minimum Stock**: Minimum stock to maintain
* **Safety Stock**: Safety stock level
* **Reserve Stock**: Reserve stock for commitments
* **Inbound Inclusion**: Include inbound inventory in ATP calculation

**Impact:**

* Affects inventory availability for channel
* Affects customer promises
* Affects replenishment recommendations

### Replenishment Policies

Replenishment policies define when and how much to reorder:

**Key Settings:**

* **Reorder Point**: When to trigger reorder
* **Order Quantity**: How much to order
* **Lead Time**: Expected supplier lead time
* **Replenishment Strategy**: FIFO, FEFO, LIFO, PRIORITY

**Impact:**

* Affects when replenishment recommendations are generated
* Affects order quantities
* Affects replenishment timing

### Alert Policies

Alert policies define when to trigger alerts:

**Key Settings:**

* **Low Stock Alert**: Threshold for low stock
* **Stockout Alert**: Threshold for stockout
* **Overstock Alert**: Threshold for overstock
* **Forecast Deviation Alert**: Threshold for forecast deviation

**Impact:**

* Affects when alerts are triggered
* Affects alert frequency
* Affects proactive management

## Understanding Channel Policy Effects

### At a Conceptual Level

Channel policies affect:

1. **Inventory Allocation**: How inventory is allocated to channels
2. **ATP Calculations**: How ATP is calculated per channel
3. **Replenishment Decisions**: When and how much to reorder
4. **Alert Triggers**: When alerts are triggered
5. **Fulfillment Routing**: Where orders are fulfilled from

### Policy Precedence

When multiple policies apply:

1. **Most Specific**: Channel + Product + Location
2. **Channel + Product**: Channel + Product
3. **Channel + Location**: Channel + Location
4. **Channel Only**: Channel-level policy
5. **Default**: System defaults

## What Success Looks Like

### Policy Configuration Success

* ✅ Policies align with business requirements
* ✅ Channel priorities properly set
* ✅ ATP calculations accurate
* ✅ Replenishment rules effective
* ✅ Alerts triggering appropriately

### Policy Management Success

* ✅ Policies documented
* ✅ Policy changes tested
* ✅ Policy conflicts resolved
* ✅ Policy effectiveness measured
* ✅ Policies updated as needed

## Common Pitfalls

### 1. Not Understanding Policy Precedence

**Problem**: Creating conflicting policies without understanding precedence.

**Solution**: Understand policy precedence:

* Most specific policy wins
* Review all applicable policies
* Resolve conflicts explicitly

**How to avoid**: Review policy precedence before creating policies.

### 2. Setting Inconsistent Priorities

**Problem**: Channel priorities not aligned with business priorities.

**Solution**: Align priorities with business:

* Review business priorities
* Set channel priorities accordingly
* Document priority rationale

**How to avoid**: Make priority review part of policy setup.

### 3. Not Testing Policy Changes

**Problem**: Making policy changes without testing impact.

**Solution**: Test policy changes:

* Test in non-production first
* Verify ATP calculations
* Verify replenishment recommendations
* Verify alert triggers

**How to avoid**: Make testing part of policy change workflow.

### 4. Not Monitoring Policy Effectiveness

**Problem**: Setting policies but not monitoring effectiveness.

**Solution**: Monitor policy effectiveness:

* Track ATP accuracy
* Monitor replenishment performance
* Review alert frequency
* Measure service levels

**How to avoid**: Make monitoring part of policy management.

## Troubleshooting

### Policy Not Taking Effect

**Symptoms**: Policy configured but not affecting behavior.

**Possible causes:**

1. Policy not saved
2. Policy scope incorrect
3. More specific policy overriding
4. System cache issue

**Steps to resolve:**

1. Verify policy was saved
2. Check policy scope
3. Review policy precedence
4. Clear cache and refresh

### ATP Calculations Incorrect

**Symptoms**: ATP calculations don't match policy settings.

**Possible causes:**

1. Policy not applied
2. Conflicting policies
3. Policy configuration error
4. Calculation issue

**Steps to resolve:**

1. Verify policy is applied
2. Check for conflicting policies
3. Review policy configuration
4. Test ATP calculations
5. Contact support if needed

### Alerts Not Triggering

**Symptoms**: Alerts configured but not triggering.

**Possible causes:**

1. Alert thresholds not met
2. Alert policies not enabled
3. Alert delivery issue
4. Policy not applied

**Steps to resolve:**

1. Check alert thresholds
2. Verify alert policies enabled
3. Check alert delivery settings
4. Verify policy is applied

***

## Related Pages

* [Admin Overview](/admin/overview)
* [ATP Policies](/admin/atp-policies)
* [Channels](/concepts/channels)
* [Replenishment Configuration](/admin/replenishment-config)

***

## Permissions & Roles

<Warning>
  Configuring channel policies requires tenant admin permissions. Policy changes affect inventory allocation, replenishment, and customer promises. All channel policies are tenant-scoped and not available in SuperAdmin.
</Warning>