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Dynamics 365 Community / Forums / Microsoft Dynamics NAV (Archived) / Item Variants: Can var...
Microsoft Dynamics NAV (Archived)

Item Variants: Can variants be managed independently of each other?

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Posted on by Guy McKenzie 1,330

Hi,

Our business both manufactures and buys a range of products that are available in broad ranges of colours. Variants look perfect for streamlined item creation. We are also using a product configurator and the way variants populate answer sets is desirable functionality.

However, it is a certainty that we will need to restrict variants from sale independently of the parent part. We may also want to have pricing set at a variant level. e.g. we discontinue a single colour, this colour then picks up a reduced sales price relative to other variants. Once that colour is sold out, we need to remove it from sale but may not yet be able to delete the variant as a sales order is still being processed through the factory.

Are these functionality needs in conflict with the variants functionality? If so, is there any plan to modify this? I encountered these same limitations in a previous role on different software, this is not a bespoke need to my current business.

Thanks,

*This post is locked for comments

  • Suggested answer
    Community Member Profile Picture
    Community Member Microsoft Employee on at
    RE: Item Variants: Can variants be managed independently of each other?

    In Nav2013R2 item variant can be used across all functions except forecasting sheet. In general forecasting is done for a year level where base item is generally used. Item variant do not have separate standard cost, base item standard cost flow to variant. one can have sales price for variants.

  • Guy McKenzie Profile Picture
    Guy McKenzie 1,330 on at
    RE: Item Variants: Can variants be managed independently of each other?

    Been away from this for a couple of days but have been discussing internally the strategic impact of this functionality.

    Suspect we are likely to avoid variants for manufactured parts due to the limitations in BOMs being defined at a parent level.

    With purchased parts, variants are still in consideration but I have a further question.

    At present, I am able to move a variant between item cards. Is this solely because I do not yet have any sales or inventory postings against the item / variant in my test system? Or does this ability to move variants remain when live?

    If the ability to move variants remains, when I discontinue an arbitrary selection of variants, I could simply move them from item ABC123 to a new parent part ABC123DISC which was created from the original part with just the required control attributes changed e.g. replenishment rules.

    Am I being too simplistic, or could this work?

    Thanks

    Guy

  • keoma Profile Picture
    keoma 32,675 on at
    RE: Item Variants: Can variants be managed independently of each other?

    you could define item (product) families using fields item category code and product group code and change the configurator to work with that fields.

  • Guy McKenzie Profile Picture
    Guy McKenzie 1,330 on at
    RE: Item Variants: Can variants be managed independently of each other?

    Yes, I have accessed the pricing functionality. By offering this, Microsoft acknowledges that there is a need to manage variants separately but doesn't extend this to control flags.

    I suspect the variants functionality is a case of so near and yet so far.

    We are avoiding bespoke development outside of a couple of key areas. so will identify the best fit solution from standard options.

  • keoma Profile Picture
    keoma 32,675 on at
    RE: Item Variants: Can variants be managed independently of each other?

    it's possible to set up (sales) prices per item variant, if that helps. you need only to display the column "variant code" in the sales price page.

    to generate new items with a common base you can use templates.

  • Guy McKenzie Profile Picture
    Guy McKenzie 1,330 on at
    RE: Item Variants: Can variants be managed independently of each other?

    Thanks for your response Jens,

    I am just in discussion with our partner at present. They have not yet made a recommendation.

    From previous experience, my preference is to retain control and have unique part codes but, the configurator set up is significantly easier using variants. This particularly appeals as the more entrepreneurial side of the business does like to go live with new products / variations on limited notice. Adding a variant is an unskilled amendment, adding a new item and then defining new answers and elements in the configurator is a more skilled process.

    I will have to consider the advantages of an easier product set up against less control over items and transactions.

    Thanks,

    Guy

  • Verified answer
    Jens Glathe Profile Picture
    Jens Glathe 6,092 on at
    RE: Item Variants: Can variants be managed independently of each other?

    Hi there,

    the short answers are yes and no, I'm afraid. You can't block only a variant of an Item. This can be coded, but can be quite a hassle IMO. Intil now I have not seen a good use case for variants in NAV, to be frank. It is better to create separate items, simply to control it's availability. Production orders don't support variant codes in NAV, btw.

    For what you need, discontinuing an item (variant) when it's sold out, you would need to add a stronger availability check. Currently it's only a warning, but you can enter an order anyway. Blocking an item would inhibit the processing of covered orders, too, so that's not really good.

    What does your NAV partner propose as a solution?

    with best regards

    Jens

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