4. Product Management

How IDA Connect Works with Products

IDA Connect uses Shopify IDs to create orders in Shopify. Shopify IDs allow IDA Connect to work with variants.
Shopify IDs are long strings of numbers assigned by Shopify automatically, they are different to SKU codes assigned by store owners. You can see the Shopify ID of a variant in the URL of the listing in the admin screen.
IDA Connect cannot detect if you change the SKU code on a Shopify product. If you do not also change the SKU code in your sales channel (for example The Iconic Seller Center) then errors will occur. The paragraphs below explain how to avoid these errors.

Product Management, Best Practices

The most important thing about managing products in IDA Connect is practicing good SKU Hygiene.
You should also disable old and unused products in your sales channels (see 2.5 Old/Unused Products).
For a new season or new product range, it is best practice to not change SKUs of existing products in Shopify, but rather create new listings:

-        Duplicate the old product, then archive it

-        Use the copy to create a new product listing with a new, unique SKU in Shopify.

If changing SKUs is unavoidable, you can change SKUs, noting the important points below.
IMPORTANT: If you change SKUs in Shopify you must:
1. Also change the same SKUs in your sales channels (eg. The Iconic Seller Center);
2. Use the Product Reset function to rematch the Shopify IDs and SKUs between Shopify and the sales channel after your changes.

Unmatched SKUs

Unmatched SKUs are product variants that are currently active on Seller Center but could not be matched to your Shopify store by IDA Connect.
The number of unmatched SKUs is shown in the Products Section of your IDA Connect dashboard (at the bottom). To see a list of the SKUs that are unmatched, click on the number.
It is okay to have unmatched SKUs, but be aware that IDA Connect does not process inventory updates or orders for unmatched products/variants.
If the products should be matched, but are not, the most probable reason is that the SKUs have been changed in either Shopify or Seller Center.
To match SKUs that have been unmatched, You may need to update SKUs, and then perform a Product Reset.
If the products are old or discontinued, deactivate them on Seller Center.

Product Reset

Initiate a Product Reset from the Products section of the IDA Connect dashboard.
A product reset refreshes all the internal linkages in IDA Connect, by first deleting old links, then performing a complete new match of all products across your channels.
Your order, fulfilment and inventory syncs will be paused during the reset, which takes up to 60 minutes.
You will be notified by email when the sync is completed.
What to do after a product reset:

check the Unmatched SKU list which you can find just to the left of the Product Reset button. This list contains all the SKUs that are currently active on Seller Center but could not be matched to your Shopify store by IDA Connect.

If the products should be matched, check that the SKUs are the same in Shopify and Seller Center.

If the products are old or discontinued, deactivate them on Seller Center.

It is okay to have unmatched SKUs, but be aware that IDA Connect does not process inventory updates or orders for unmatched variants.

Deleting Products

If you delete or disable a product in Shopify you must also deactivate or delete it in your sales channel (e.g. The Iconic Seller Center).
If you do not do this, IDA Connect will continuously update the inventory with the last inventory it found in Shopify, which may result in oversells.
WARNING: Deleting products in Shopify, without also deleting/deactivating in your sales channel may result in oversells!

Changing SKUs

Changing the SKU code of a listed product/variant in Shopify can cause problems such as oversells if you do not also update the SKU in your sales channels.

TAKE CARE! Deleting products in Shopify, without also deleting/deactivating in your sales channel may result in oversells!