Why SKUs Matter

SKUs are the backbone of your inventory management system. They allow you to:

• Track inventory levels across multiple locations
• Process orders quickly and accurately
• Identify products by variants (size, color, style)
• Generate detailed sales and inventory reports
• Manage stock efficiently in your warehouse
• Prevent confusion between similar products

Side-by-Side Comparison

Creating Effective SKU Systems

Basic Principles

• Keep it simple: 8-12 characters is ideal - long enough to be descriptive, short enough to be practical
• Use consistent formatting: Decide on a pattern and stick with it across all products
• Make it human-readable: Your team should be able to understand what a SKU represents at a glance
• Avoid confusion: Skip letters that look like numbers (O vs 0, I vs 1)
• No special characters: Stick to letters, numbers, and hyphens/underscores
• Start with letters: Many systems work better when SKUs begin with a letter rather than a number

Common SKU Structures

Real-World Examples

SKU Best Practices

Do's

• ✓ Document your SKU system for your team
• ✓ Include the most important attributes first
• ✓ Use abbreviations consistently (BLK for black, not BLK and BLACK)
• ✓ Plan for growth - leave room in your system for new variants
• ✓ Test your SKUs in practice before rolling them out completely

Don'ts

• ✗ Don't use manufacturer SKUs - create your own
• ✗ Don't include pricing or supplier info in SKUs (this changes over time)
• ✗ Don't make SKUs too long or too complex
• ✗ Don't reuse old SKUs for new products
• ✗ Don't use spaces (hyphens or underscores are better)

Using SKUs in CMS Max

In CMS Max, SKUs are your primary tool for managing inventory. Here's how to make the most of them:

• Product Variants: Each size, color, or style combination should have its own unique SKU
• Inventory Tracking: SKUs connect your products across locations, orders, and reports
• Order Processing: Pick lists and packing slips use SKUs to identify items
• Reporting: Filter and analyze sales by SKU patterns to understand performance
• Integrations: SKUs sync with your accounting and fulfillment systems