What syncs between Katana and BEST Inc.
The table below shows each data type and the direction it flows between Katana and BEST Inc.
Data | Direction | Status |
Orders | Two-way | Available |
Products | BEST Inc. → Katana | Available |
Inbound stock transfers | BEST Inc. → Katana | Available |
Inventory sync | BEST Inc. → Katana | Available |
Locations and mapping
When the connection is approved, the configuration screen opens on the Location tab. Each BEST Inc. warehouse maps one-to-one to its own dedicated Katana location. Click Add to Katana to create that location automatically.
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 a paused warehouse, click Relink.
Only mapped warehouses sync.
Products sync
Product mapping creates a required link between each BEST Inc. product and a Katana item. Products and variants are matched by SKU. You can choose one of two matching methods:
Direct 1:1: the BEST Inc. SKU matches the Katana SKU exactly.
SKU aliases: a BEST Inc. SKU is linked to a different Katana SKU.
During import, SKUs that already exist in Katana are matched to those products. Unknown SKUs create new Katana products as they are needed.
Kits and bundles are imported as Katana products. Add a BOM of their components in Katana. A kit order line stays a single row on the sales order.
SKU aliases
An SKU alias links a BEST Inc. SKU to a Katana SKU that is written differently. Use aliases when the same item uses different SKUs in BEST Inc. and Katana. Upload your SKU alias mapping before you import products, so mismatched SKUs link to your existing Katana products instead of creating new ones.
Orders sync
Orders from BEST Inc. to Katana
Orders are imported once they reach the configured import-from status, which is the Open state by default. After import, they update automatically through every later status change.
Each BEST Inc. order becomes one Katana sales order, with one row per order line.
The order source is shown as BEST Inc.
Each shipped package becomes a Katana fulfillment with its carrier and tracking number.
A multi-package shipment creates one fulfillment per package. Together, these fulfillments never exceed the ordered quantities.
If an order is canceled in BEST Inc., it is deleted in Katana only if the order is still open.
Orders from Katana to BEST Inc.
A Katana sales order is pushed to BEST Inc. as an outbound order when it reaches the Ready for fulfillment status. Katana then tracks the order's progress through the import flow described above.
Canceling the Katana sales order does not cancel the BEST Inc. order.
Changes made in Katana after the push do not update the BEST Inc. order.
Inventory sync
BEST Inc. stock levels appear in Katana as read-only External inventory at each warehouse's mapped location. The number shown is the BEST Inc. on-hand quantity.
Reconciliation compares Katana's in-stock quantity against the BEST Inc. on-hand quantity. You can run it on a schedule or on demand. When the two numbers differ, reconciliation creates stock adjustments in Katana so your stock figures match the warehouse.
Inbound shipments
Each BEST Inc. 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: the Katana location mapped to the inbound's BEST Inc. warehouse.
Origin: the location you assign for each destination warehouse. This origin must be mapped.
The stock transfer follows the inbound status, and received quantities update the transfer.
If an inbound shipment is canceled, its stock transfer is deleted.
Katana stock transfers have two states: in transit and received. During partial receiving, the transfer shows updated expected and received quantities until everything is received.
What does not sync
Product and stock changes are not pushed from Katana to BEST Inc.
Changes made in Katana to an order after it has been pushed are not sent to BEST Inc.
Canceling a Katana sales order does not cancel the BEST Inc. order.
Returns and RMAs.
Serial-number tracking. Lot and batch data is shown read-only where BEST Inc. provides it.
Disconnecting
To disconnect, open the BEST Inc. tile on Katana's Integrations page and disconnect the integration. Orders, fulfillments, inventory, and inbound shipments stop syncing immediately, and Katana no longer pushes sales orders to BEST Inc. Records already brought into Katana stay in Katana, including sales orders, fulfillments, products, and stock transfers.