What syncs between Katana and The Fulfillment Lab
The table below lists each type of data and its sync direction.
Data | Direction | Status |
Orders | The Fulfillment Lab → Katana | Available |
Products | The Fulfillment Lab → Katana | Available |
Inbound stock transfers | The Fulfillment Lab → Katana | Available |
Inventory sync | The Fulfillment Lab → Katana | Available |
Locations and mapping
After The Fulfillment Lab approves the connection, the configuration screen opens on the Location tab. Map each The Fulfillment Lab warehouse 1:1 to its own dedicated Katana location. Click Add to Katana to create that location automatically.
Not mapped: a warehouse that has never been mapped shows this status until you click Add to Katana.
Unlink: pauses a mapped warehouse. Its status then shows Unlinked.
Relink: resumes syncing for an unlinked warehouse.
Only mapped warehouses sync. Nothing syncs until you click Activate sync in the header.
Products sync
Product mapping creates a required link between each The Fulfillment Lab product and a Katana item. First, choose how SKUs are matched:
Direct 1:1: the SKUs are identical in both systems.
Via SKU aliases: the SKUs differ between systems.
Products import by SKU. If a SKU already exists in Katana, the product is matched to that item. If a SKU is unknown, Katana creates the product just-in-time.
Kits and bundles import as Katana products. Add a bill of materials (BOM) of their components in Katana. On orders, a kit line stays a single sales order row.
SKU aliases
A SKU alias links a The Fulfillment Lab SKU to a different Katana SKU. Use aliases when the same item has different SKUs in the two systems. Upload your SKU alias mapping before you import products.
Orders sync
Orders flow one way only, from The Fulfillment Lab to Katana.
When orders import: an order imports once it reaches the configured import-from status. The default is the "Open" state.
Status updates: after import, the order keeps updating automatically through every later status change.
Order structure: each The Fulfillment Lab order becomes one Katana sales order, and each order line becomes one row. The order source shows the integration name.
Fulfillments and tracking
Each shipped package becomes a Katana fulfillment with its carrier and tracking number. A multi-package shipment creates one fulfillment per package, so one order can show several fulfillments. Together, these fulfillments never exceed the ordered quantities.
Cancellations
When an order is canceled in The Fulfillment Lab, Katana deletes the sales order only if it is still open.
Inventory sync
Stock levels from The Fulfillment Lab appear in Katana as read-only External inventory, at each warehouse's mapped location. The number shown is the on-hand quantity.
Reconciliation compares Katana's in-stock quantity with The Fulfillment Lab's on-hand quantity only. It runs on a schedule or on demand, and creates stock adjustments for any differences.
Inbound shipments
Each The Fulfillment Lab inbound shipment becomes one Katana stock transfer. The transfer number is the PO number when there is one; otherwise it is the inbound ID.
Destination: the Katana location mapped to the inbound's warehouse.
Origin: the location assigned for each destination warehouse. This location must be mapped.
Stock transfers follow the inbound's status, and received quantities update the transfer. If an inbound is canceled, Katana deletes its stock transfer.
Katana stock transfers have only two states: in transit and received. While an inbound is partially received, the transfer shows updated expected and received quantities until everything is received.
What does not sync
Katana does not send orders to The Fulfillment Lab. Orders flow one way, from The Fulfillment Lab to Katana.
Product and stock changes made in Katana are not pushed to The Fulfillment Lab.
Returns and RMAs do not sync.
Serial numbers are not tracked.
Lot and batch data is read-only, and appears only where The Fulfillment Lab provides it.
Disconnecting
Disconnect The Fulfillment Lab from Katana's Integrations page. Syncing stops right away: no new orders, inventory updates, or inbound shipments are imported.
Data that has already synced stays in Katana. This includes sales orders, fulfillments, products, and stock transfers.