What is a Location?
In ecommerce architecture, a Location is an abstract representation of any physical or virtual node where inventory is stored, assigned, or fulfilled.
Locations can represent:
- Physical distribution centers or warehouses
- Brick-and-mortar retail stores
- Dropshipping partner facilities (3PL)
- Pop-up stores or seasonal hubs
Multi-Location Order Routing
When a customer checks out, order management systems (OMS) evaluate active locations to select the optimal fulfillment node based on:
- Stock Availability: Location must have all or partial line items available.
- Geographic Proximity: Minimizes shipping transit time and cost.
- Fulfillment Priority: Merchants rank warehouses by priority rules.
Common Confusion
Developer Takeaway
Fulfillment Restrictions: When querying or updating inventory via API, always supply the specific location_id alongside the variant_id. Never assume stock is global or unassigned.