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Validate, then go live

Before you rely on SKU for real operations, prove the whole flow works — then cut over to production deliberately. This phase is where careful sequencing pays off.

Keep auto-dispatch off while you test​

Turn auto-dispatch off during testing and the early days after launch. Nothing should ship automatically until you have watched an order travel the full path yourself. This one setting prevents the most damaging early mistakes.

Verify the order flow end to end​

Run real orders through and confirm each part behaves:

  • Bundles expand into their component products.
  • Brands are assigned correctly.
  • Taxes and discounts carry over as expected.
  • Customer records are created and matched.

Then test fulfillment end to end: order → route → ship → tracking → customer notification. Set up the saved views each team will work from while you are here.

Choose your fulfillment routing: Option A or Option B​

Decide how orders reach your warehouses and 3PLs before you test routing:

  • Option A — route from day one. SKU routes and dispatches fulfillment the moment you go live.
  • Option B — phase it in. Go live on orders and inventory first, and turn on SKU-driven routing once the team is comfortable.

Your choice shapes the routing rules you set up and how you run the test above.

Reconcile opening inventory on a named date​

Your opening inventory must match your 3PL and FBA reports on a single, named date — the same date as your inventory start date. Pull the reports, compare them to what you are about to enter, and resolve differences before you commit. Numbers that disagree on day one are the hardest problem to unwind later.

Cut over to production​

Going live means moving from your staging setup to production. Know what travels with you and what doesn't:

  • Carries over: settings, catalog, kits and bundles, suppliers, and saved views.
  • Doesn't carry over: orders and inventory. You enter opening stock fresh in production, reconciled to your reports, so your live numbers start from a clean baseline.

After cutover, enter opening stock, add your open purchase orders, verify against your 3PL and FBA reports again, and monitor closely for the first 48 hours. Finally, put your old spreadsheets and legacy systems in read-only mode so there is one source of truth.

Next steps​

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