This article explains how products are created in Flxpoint, how inventory is linked to existing products, and how Flxpoint determines whether to create a new product or attach inventory to one that already exists.

Understanding these scenarios is critical to avoiding duplicate products and ensuring inventory flows correctly to listings and channels.

Overview

Products in Flxpoint are built from Source Inventory. Each product can contain one or more variants, and each variant is linked to one or more inventory records.

When products are created or updated, Flxpoint evaluates specific identifiers (such as Master SKU or UPC) to determine whether inventory should:

• Create a new product
• Be linked to an existing product
• Be merged with other inventory variants

This process is handled through the Product Builder.

🛠️ How-to Guides

How Product Creation and Linking Works

When you create products or import inventory, Flxpoint evaluates inventory records in the following order:

1. Attempts to match inventory to existing product variants using the Master SKU
2. If no Master SKU match is found, attempts matching using secondary identifiers (such as UPC)
3. If no match is found on any identifier, creates a new product and variant.

Scenario 1: Creating Products from Inventory

A. Select Inventory

Identify the inventory variants to build into product variants (individually or in bulk):

• Open an inventory variant and click Create Products from the detail page.
• Or select checkboxes beside variants in list view.
• For bulk selection, filter first and use the header checkbox, then Select all 50+ Variants when applicable.
• Click Create Products.

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B. Create Products (Flyout)

When creating from Source Inventory, items go through the Product Builder and receive a Mapping Template. You may also choose to auto-create listings.

After clicking Create Products, the flyout shows:

• Product Builder — rule set for matching/combining variants.
• Mapping Template — controls how product fields map to channels.

You can edit (🖍) or select (➕) alternate Builder/Template strategies. Defaults typically work unless you have specific requirements.

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C. Auto Create Listings (Optional)

• Enable to create listings immediately after products finish.
• Each channel uses the most recent Mapping Template (first time uses default).
• You can always build listings later from the Product Catalog.

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D. Review Inventory Variant Statuses

Monitor building progress by filtering inventory variants by creation status.

• Not Linked: not yet selected for creation
• Building: currently processing
• Builder Issue: blocked by rules; needs review
• Linked: successfully created or linked

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E. Stop Building / Remove from Queue

1. Under Source Inventory, select the parent or variant.
2. Click Actions → Stop Building.
3. Click Remove From Queue and confirm Yes.

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F. Resolve Builder Issues

If variants are blocked, use the Builder Issue filter and review details on the inventory variant page.

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On the variant detail, the Builder Issues section explains conflicts and mismatches. Decide:

• “Nope, Delete” — removes the flag; issue may reappear if rebuilt under same conditions.
• “Looks Good, Build Again” — acknowledges and proceeds (may modify links or require a new SKU).

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Scenario 2: Linking Inventory to Products Using Inventory Master SKU

What Is the Inventory Master SKU?

The Inventory Master SKU is Flxpoint's primary identifier for linking inventory to products. It acts as a unique key that ties inventory records to product variants.

The Master SKU can be:

• The supplier SKU
• A transformed or prefixed SKU
• A value mapped from another identifier

How Linking Works

When inventory is processed:

1. Flxpoint searches for an existing product variant with the same Master SKU
2. If found, the inventory is linked to that variant
3. If not found, Flxpoint creates a new product (if product creation is enabled)

Best Practices

• Ensure Master SKUs are consistent across all inventory sources
• Avoid reusing Master SKUs for different products
• Define Master SKU mapping during inventory import whenever possible

Scenario 3: Linking Inventory Using Matching Identifiers (UPC, GTIN, etc.)

When This Applies

This scenario is common when:

• Inventory is imported via Import Listings
• Master SKU is not yet established
• Multiple sources provide overlapping items

How It Works

• Flxpoint attempts to match inventory using secondary identifiers such as UPC or GTIN
• If a matching product exists, inventory is linked to that product
• If multiple inventory records share the same identifier, they may be merged into a single product variant

Handling Overlap

If more than one inventory record matches the same identifier:

• Flxpoint consolidates inventory under one product variant
• Pricing and quantity rules determine which values are used
• Once linked, you can assign or standardize the Master SKU to improve future matching.

Linking After Import Listings

When using Import Listings:

• Products may be created using channel identifiers (such as UPC or ASIN)
• Master SKU may be generated based on channel configuration
• Future inventory imports will link automatically once Master SKU exists

This allows channel listings to seed your Product Catalog without manual product creation.

Matching Outcomes Summary

🧪 Tutorials

Build Products from Inventory

Goal: Create product variants from selected inventory variants while avoiding duplicates.

Scenario: You have inventory from multiple sources and want to build rich products (optionally with listings).

Steps:

1. Navigate to Catalog → Inventory.
2. (Optional) Apply the No Products quick filter to see SKUs that aren’t built yet.
3. Select one or more inventory variants (use the header checkbox to select all filtered results).
4. Click Create Products.
5. In the flyout, confirm or choose a Product Builder and a Mapping Template. (Defaults are usually fine.)
6. (Optional) Enable Auto Create Listings and select the channel(s).
7. Click Create to start building.

🔍 Explanation

What Are Product Variants?

Product variants are created from and linked with one or more inventory variants during product creation.

Goals

• Prevent duplicate product variants across sales channels.
• Compose multiple data sources to produce the richest, most accurate product record.
• Enable pricing/quantity strategies across all fulfillment options.
• Support dynamic order routing when multiple fulfillment options exist.

How the Product Builder Works

• Finds common inventory variants by comparing configured identifiers.
• Combines matches into a single product variant using source priority ranking.
• Maintains links between product variants and their source inventory variants.
• Applies Mapping Templates for channel-ready data.

📚 Reference

Product Builder: Key Settings

Inventory Variant Statuses