Merging (location mapping) links a selling-channel location to a fulfillment (warehouse) location so the warehouse’s inventory is published to that selling location.
Use merging when you want any selling location to display the same inventory from a given warehouse, without summing inventory across multiple warehouses.
Merging maps a selling location → fulfillment location, ensuring the same inventory from the warehouse is published consistently to each selling channel.
Each selling location can merge into one fulfillment location only.
When to Merge VS When to Send Totals
Mirror one warehouse’s inventory to one or more selling locations
Goal: Mirror one warehouse’s inventory to one or more selling locations
Best method: Merging
Where to configure:
Location → merge selling location to fulfillment locationWhy:
Publishes an exact copy of one warehouse’s inventory to each selling locationScreenshot:
2. Publish a combined inventory from multiple warehouses to a single selling location
Goal: Publish a combined inventory from multiple warehouses to a single selling location
Best method: Totals
Where to configure:
Integration settings (e.g., Shopify, BigCommerce)Key setting to use:
Report inventory totals from Pipe17 to dedicated integration location (select the destination channel location)Why:
Sums inventory across selected warehouses and publishes to one channel locationScreenshot:
3. Remove a site from all inventory calculations
Goal: Remove a site from all inventory calculations
Best method: Exclude from totals (global)
Where to configure:
Location → EditKey setting to use:
Exclude from TotalsWhy:
Use for duplicates, POS-only, or locations that must never affect inventoryScreenshot:
4. Remove a site from inventory for a specific channel
Goal: Remove a site from inventory for a specific channel
Best method: Exclude from totals by integration
Where to configure:
Location → EditKey setting to use:
Exclude from Totals by IntegrationWhy:
Channel-specific inventory control without affecting other channelsScreenshot:
Do not merge a single selling location into multiple fulfillment locations. Each warehouse would publish its own inventory and the channel value would “bounce” depending on which sync arrived last. Use Totals instead.
How Merging Works
Inventory flows from the fulfillment location (warehouse) to each merged selling location as an exact copy.
Multiple selling locations can merge into a single warehouse.
Shipping requests route to the external location associated with the 3PL Integration configured on the fulfillment location.
When a selling location is merged:
The selling location is merged into the fulfillment location.
The selling location becomes a Merged location.
Its external reference is added to the fulfillment location’s external system mappings.
Configuring Merging (Selling Location → Warehouse)
- Open the warehouse location you want to merge.
- Select the option to add an external location.
- Choose the selling channel location as the location.
- Save.
Result:
The selling location is merged into the warehouse, and the warehouse inventory is published to that selling channel.
The merged selling location displays a To Location(s) reference pointing to the warehouse.
Configuring Totals (Multiple Warehouses → One Channel)
Totals do not require merging.
Open the sales channel integration (for example Shopify).
Choose the destination location for totals reporting.
-
On each warehouse location, configure inclusion rules:
Exclude from totals to remove the location entirely.
Exclude from totals by integration to exclude it only for a specific channel.
Save.
Result:
The channel location receives the sum of inventory from all included warehouses.
Examples
A. One warehouse, three channels (copy inventory)
Warehouse: Seattle 3PL has 100 units of Product A.
Selling locations:
Shopify Online
Amazon FBM
BigCommerce Retail
Action:
Merge each selling location into Seattle 3PL.
Outcome:
Each selling location shows 100 units.
B. Three warehouses, one channel (sum inventory)
Inventory levels:
Reno: 100
Dallas: 200
Newark: 50
Selling location: Shopify Online.
Action:
Configure totals in the Shopify integration and adjust Exclude from totals settings as needed.
Outcome:
Shopify Online shows 350 units unless exclusions apply.
External Locations: Sourced VS User-added
Source |
Editability |
Meaning |
|---|---|---|
Integration-generated location |
Read-only external ID |
The location’s primary external system reference used for API communication |
Merged location reference |
Added automatically |
Represents selling locations that have been merged into the current fulfillment location |
Manually created location |
Editable references |
External IDs can be configured manually for custom integrations |
The first external location row typically represents where the record originated. Additional rows represent locations merged into the current one.
Additional Location Settings
You may encounter additional location controls when configuring locations:
Setting |
Purpose |
|---|---|
Do Not Track Inventory |
Disables inventory tracking for the location |
Virtual Commit |
Enables the virtual commit inventory model |
Preserve Bundles |
Prevents bundle decomposition at bundle-only 3PLs |
Pause Location |
Temporarily stops routing or allocation for the location |
To temporarily remove a location from allocation without affecting configuration, use Pause Location rather than changing the location status.
Best Practices
Merge selling locations into fulfillment locations, not fulfillment locations into each other.
Do not merge one selling location into multiple warehouses.
Use Totals when combining inventory from multiple warehouses.
Prefer Exclude from totals by integration when only one channel should ignore a location.
Use Exclude from totals for duplicates or POS-only locations that must never affect inventory.
Use Pause Location to temporarily stop allocation rather than modifying status settings.
Troubleshooting
Symptom |
Likely Cause |
Fix |
|---|---|---|
Channel inventory fluctuates between numbers |
Selling location merged into multiple warehouses |
Unmerge so only one fulfillment location remains, or switch to Totals |
Combined inventory required but merge used |
Wrong method |
Configure Totals in the integration and adjust exclusion settings |
No updates to channel after merge |
Missing or incorrect 3PL Integration on the warehouse |
Configure the correct 3PL Integration on the fulfillment location |
Duplicate inventory in totals |
Duplicate warehouses included |
Set one duplicate location to Exclude from totals |
Bundles decomposed at a bundle-only 3PL |
Preserve Bundles disabled |
Enable Preserve Bundles on the warehouse |
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