As a Walmart supplier, it’s important you’re aware of common errors in Item Management and how to fix or avoid them. Item Management, as you know, is the tool suppliers all use to create, set up, and maintain omnichannel items (items for in-store and Walmart.com).
(For purposes of this article, we will use the term Item Management instead of Items and Inventory (used in Supplier One and formerly known as Item 360).
The 3 Main Aspects of Item Management
- The groundwork of item creation. Before you begin to create your items, you build a solid base of practical knowledge by learning the foundation, building blocks, and background of the Item Management process. For example, what is a GTIN?
- Item creation basics. It’s crucial to set up items correctly — from the start. To do this, be sure to know the difference and hierarchical relationship between Each (sometimes referred to as the Saleable unit), Case (sometimes referred to as the Orderable Pack), and Pallet, and it is crucial to know what you can and cannot change once the item is created.
- Item development. Advance and refine your ability not only to create items but to maintain your items, and learn the best ways to enhance items to improve content score ratings. Within Item Management, you can update basic information, omni attributes, cost, images, rich media (like video), and supply chain attributes.
Advice From an Item Management Expert
Over the years, 8th & Walton’s Joel Graham has helped hundreds of Walmart suppliers with their items. His experience comes from earlier legacy iterations (Item 360 and Online Item File) and his mastery of Item Management as it is today. According to Joel, suppliers need to understand the importance of setting up all items. Some suppliers, he says, believe they should only have to set items up for in-store customers. But the omnichannel experience means more than purchasing; therefore, he explains that all items are omnichannel items.
“Recently I was working with a supplier who sells frozen meat,” Joel illustrates. “They don’t sell their product online, so they didn’t think they needed to set up their item for Walmart.com. But even if an item can’t be directly purchased and shipped from Walmart.com, it still needs to be listed on Walmart.com for discoverability and OPD (online pickup and delivery).”
Joel further explains,
“If your item is available only in Walmart’s stores, and I’m shopping on my Smartphone and see your item, I’m going to put it in my OPD order. Therefore, this purchase is now considered an omnichannel item. It doesn’t matter if the item is picked from store inventory by someone in a Walmart store. It was found and purchased online. Even if the supplier doesn’t sell their items online, the omni process ensures they are discoverable online for BOPIS (*Buy Online, Pickup in Store), store pickup, or delivery.”
What sorts of errors occur?
- Data entry and setup errors and inconsistencies
- Lack of knowledge leading to the incorrect choices of the complex item setup Example: Lack of understanding the difference between crossdock and staple stock (DC alignment)
- System and integration issues
- Compliance and policy violations
- Pricing and promotion issues
What are the most common errors?
Incorrect or incomplete product data
- Poorly written product titles
- Not following Walmart’s guidelines, such as missing key attributes (e.g., brand, size, color) or including promotional text
- Missing or incorrect GTIN/UPC: Providing an invalid or already-used UPC or GTIN
- Poor product descriptions: Vague, overly short, or promotional descriptions that do not provide enough detail about the product
Image issues
- Low-quality images: Poor resolution, blurry, or non-compliant images.
- Incorrect background: A background other than the pure white background Walmart requires for the main image
- Incorrect cropping of the images
- Not enough images to create a good online experience
- Misleading or missing images: Not showing the actual product or missing required views (e.g., front, back, packaging, and close-ups)
Pricing and inventory errors
- Incorrect pricing (cost or retail) entered at the time of creation or maintenance
- Inventory issues: Phantom inventory is one example. Product is sold as a different item (e.g., one red and one blue item have the same price, but the red item gets scanned twice).
Product type and attribute mismatch
- Incorrect product-type classification: Misclassifying items into the wrong product type, leading to visibility and discoverability listing issues
- Missing required attributes: Leaving out attributes like color, size, or material, which can impact search filtering (SEO)
Non-compliant or missing shipping and compliance information
- Wrong or missing shipping details: Incorrect weight, dimensions, or shipping information can lead to shipping issues.
- Lack of compliance information: For example, an item contains material that is considered hazardous if disposed of incorrectly, such as a car or lithium battery. (See WERCSmart.)
Two Actions You Can Take
Preventing errors can be easily avoided if you always complete these steps:
- Use Item Management within Supplier One and regularly audit your item attributes.
- Ensure accurate data entry by conducting a final review of your item attributes before submission. In other words, double, even triple check your work!
Want to Ensure Your Items Are Set Up for Success? Fill out the form below, and our team will reach out to discuss your needs and help you navigate Walmart’s Item Management system effectively.
