Product Lookups are the foundation link between a given value and a product ID, linking the two together.
The product Lookup function is synonymous with marketplace-SKU mapping, also accounting for alias SKUs, barcode scan-keys, and packing and serial numbers, and it is used to determine which store is associated with which listing.
If something other than the product ID itself is being used to recognize the product (i.e. different SKU name than product ID in Finale, barcode value, etc), then a product lookup is needed to map the value to the correct product ID in Finale.
Mapping Marketplace SKUs
In simple terms, as long as the product ID in Finale matches the SKU name on your marketplace (by default each product ID is a lookup for itself), Finale will be able to identify your products and reserve/decrement stock levels accordingly. If the product ID in Finale is different than your marketplace, then you will need to create a product lookup to map your marketplace SKU to the correct product ID in Finale.
Other Use-Cases
As you can see in the chart above, all these product lookups (alias SKUs, barcode values, etc) are mapped to one product ID. If any of these values are scanned or used by any platform, Finale understands it is referencing this product ID.
In addition, Finale is pushing stock back to the marketplace according to the store association and integration settings. In this specific example, Finale is pushing stock levels to the Shopify listing 1001-S and pushing stock to listing 1001 for Etsy, eBay, and WooCommerce.
Another common use-case is barcode values. If your products already have labels with scan-keys (not using Finale’s system-generated labels), then you would add your scan-keys as lookups, so the scanner can identify the product association.
There are three options to import your product lookups into Finale:
- Marketplace Import (Integration)
- Spreadsheet Import
- Create Single Product Lookup
How-to Import Product Lookups From Marketplace
This method is automated in your import product and stock levels integration task settings. When a product is imported from your marketplace to Finale you can elect to have it import the product lookup, also capturing the store association tag for the stock push.
Please keep in mind this is only helpful if your marketplace SKU shares the same naming convention as your product ID in Finale. If not, this task will create duplicate entries.
How-to Import Product Lookups Using Spreadsheet
This import option is the most common, especially when using multiple marketplaces or having multiple SKU names for the same product. You can import new product lookups or edit your existing lookups with a simple spreadsheet.
How-to Create Single Product Lookup
Unlike the first two options, this option is used to create a product lookup on the fly. This is not a bulk-entry method.
For questions, feedback, or article ideas, email service@finaleinventory.com.
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