If a customer wants to receive an alternate item when a specific item is no longer available, or if your company wants to suggest certain items as a default substitute for an item, you can set up customer item alternates.
This functionality lets you set up rules to provide substitute items only for specific customers, allow the sale of the current item as well as the substitutes, or prohibit the sale of an item to a customer entirely.
When an item with a substitute is entered on a sales order, the system displays a message. The format of the message depends on the setup:
The original item is allowed and substitutes have been defined, the system shows the message "Item X has Alternate Items for Customer Y that you can use instead." Selecting OK shows the list of available substitutes. Choosing OK selects the substitute item; choosing Cancel keeps the originally entered item.
The original item is not allowed and substitutes have been defined, the system shows the warning "Customer Y is set up to use Item X in place of Item Z." Selecting OK replaces the original item on the sales line with the substitute.
The original item is not allowed and no substitutes have been defined, the system shows the error "Item X is not allowed for Customer Y." Refresh the page to continue.