What syncs between Katana and Mainfreight
The table below summarizes the data exchanged between Katana and Mainfreight.
Data | Direction | Status |
Orders | Two-way | Available |
Products | Mainfreight → Katana | Available |
Inbound stock transfers | Mainfreight → Katana | Available |
Inventory sync | Mainfreight → Katana | Available |
Locations and mapping
Once Mainfreight approves the connection, the configuration screen opens on the Location tab. Each Mainfreight warehouse maps 1:1 to its own dedicated Katana location.
Add to Katana creates a new Katana location for a warehouse.
A warehouse that has never been mapped shows Not mapped until you click Add to Katana.
To pause a mapped warehouse, click Unlink. Its status then shows Unlinked.
To resume syncing, click Relink.
Only mapped warehouses sync.
Products sync
Product mapping creates a required link between each Mainfreight product and a Katana item. You choose how SKUs are matched: either direct 1:1, or through SKU aliases.
Products are imported by SKU.
A Mainfreight SKU that matches an existing Katana product is linked to that product.
An unknown SKU creates a new Katana product when it is needed.
Kits and bundles become Katana products. Add a bill of materials (BOM) of components to them in Katana. A kit order line stays a single sales order row.
SKU aliases
A SKU alias links a Mainfreight SKU to a different Katana SKU. Use aliases when the same item uses different SKUs in Mainfreight and in Katana. Upload your SKU alias mapping before importing products, so that the items match correctly instead of creating new products.
Orders sync
Orders from Mainfreight to Katana
Orders import once they reach the configured import-from status. The default is the Open state. After import, they update automatically through every later status change.
Each Mainfreight order becomes one Katana sales order, with each line as one row. The order source is Mainfreight.
Each shipped package becomes a Katana fulfillment with carrier and tracking details. Multi-package shipments create one fulfillment per package, so one order can show several fulfillments. Together they never exceed the ordered quantities.
A canceled Mainfreight order is deleted in Katana only if the order is still open.
Orders from Katana to Mainfreight
When a Katana sales order reaches the Ready for fulfillment status, Katana pushes it to Mainfreight as an outbound order. From then on, its progress is tracked back in Katana through the import flow above.
Canceling the Katana sales order does not cancel the Mainfreight order.
Changes made in Katana after the push do not update the Mainfreight order.
Inventory sync
Mainfreight stock numbers appear in Katana as read-only External inventory at each warehouse's mapped location. On hand is the number shown.
Reconciliation compares Katana's in-stock quantity against Mainfreight's on-hand quantity only. It runs on a schedule or on demand, and creates stock adjustments in Katana for any differences. Katana never pushes inventory changes to Mainfreight.
Inbound shipments
Each Mainfreight inbound shipment becomes one Katana stock transfer.
The transfer number is the PO number when one is present. Otherwise, it is the inbound ID.
Destination is the Katana location mapped to the inbound's warehouse.
Origin is the location assigned for each destination warehouse. It must be mapped.
Stock transfers follow the inbound status, and received quantities update the transfer. Katana stock transfers have two states: in transit and received. Partial receiving therefore shows as updated expected and received quantities until the shipment is fully received. A canceled inbound deletes its stock transfer.
What does not sync
Products or stock changes sent from Katana to Mainfreight.
Updates to a sales order in Katana after it has been pushed to Mainfreight.
Canceling a pushed order. Canceling in Katana does not cancel it in Mainfreight.
Returns and RMAs.
Serial number tracking. Lot and batch data is shown read-only where Mainfreight provides it.
Disconnecting
Disconnect Mainfreight from Katana's Integrations page. After you disconnect:
Syncing stops, including order imports, order pushes, inventory and inbound updates.
Records already brought into Katana remain, such as sales orders, fulfillments, products, stock transfers and locations.