Magento 2 Disable Multi Source Inventory: 5 Steps and Key Benefits

• What is Magento 2 Multi Source Inventory (MSI)?

• Why Disable Magento 2 MSI for Inventory Management?

• 5 Steps to Disable Multi Source Inventory in Magento 2

• Impact of Disabling Magento Multi-Source Inventory on Ecommerce Store

• 4 Benefits of Magento MSI for Ecommerce Stores

• Disable Multi Source Inventory vs. Keeping It Enabled: Key Comparison

• FAQs

• Summary

What is Magento 2 Multi Source Inventory (MSI)?

Magento 2 Multi Source Inventory helps online stores manage stock at different locations. It tracks inventory levels and assigns stock from the closest warehouse.

Magento 2.3.0 introduces Multi Source Inventory (MSI). By using these tools, merchants can reduce costs and improve customer satisfaction. It helps stores fulfill orders faster by sending products from the closest warehouse. MSI helps businesses manage inventory, making stock management and order fulfillment more efficient.

Why Disable Magento 2 MSI for Inventory Management?

1. Simpler Inventory Management

Users can manage inventory across multiple sources. If your store operates from a single location, MSI can add unnecessary complexity. Turning off MSI removes the need for multiple configurations. It includes source selection algorithms and stock assignments.

It makes inventory management more accessible and faster. For a single warehouse, a simpler system is more effective.

2. Improved Performance

When MSI is enabled, Magento has to pull inventory data from multiple sources. It can impact the store’s performance. This can slow down both back-end operations and front-end user experience. Turning off MSI means that the system only deals with one stock location.

It reduces the data load and improves the speed of both order processing and page load times. A faster store enhances customer experience and increases conversion rates.

3. Fewer Configuration Steps

MSI requires various Magento configurations. It includes source selection, inventory source management, and API integrations. If your store only has one warehouse, these steps are unnecessary. Turning off MSI removes this complexity. It allows you to configure your store with fewer steps and much quicker setup times.

This makes it easier to get your store running smoothly. It is done without the need for complex inventory rules and source management.

4. Avoid Stock Issues

When MSI is active, Magento synchronizes inventory across different locations. It can sometimes lead to Magento errors in stock levels. Issues like overselling or stock inconsistencies can occur if data syncing fails. By turning off MSI, your inventory is managed in one place.

It ensures that stock levels are accurate and synchronized without errors from locations. This leads to more reliable stock management and fewer mistakes.

5. Cost Savings

Using MSI requires additional tools or extensions. It includes magento_inventorycatalog and third-party integrations for advanced inventory features. These can increase your operational costs. For single-source inventory, turning off MSI eliminates these costly features and tools.

With MSI turned off, you only need the basic inventory system. It can save both time and money, especially for smaller stores.

6. Best for Single-Warehouse Stores

If your business operates with more than one warehouse, enabling MSI does not add any real value. MSI’s features are designed for companies with multiple warehouses or physical locations. For a single-location store, keeping it simple can smooth inventory management.

It can make the system more efficient. By turning off MSI, you can maintain an easy setup that fits your business model.

5 Steps to Disable Multi Source Inventory in Magento 2

Step 1: Backup Your Magento Store

Before making changes, back up your store. This includes your database and files. A backup protects your store if something goes wrong. Use your server’s tools or Magento’s built-in backup options.

Step 2: Disable MSI Modules

In Magento 2.3, you must turn off MSI modules through the command line in the Magento root directory.

• Run this command to disable all MSI modules:

php bin/magento module:disable –f Magento_Inventory Magento_InventoryAdminUi Magento_InventoryApi Magento_InventoryBundleProduct Magento_InventoryBundleProductAdminUi Magento_InventoryCatalog Magento_InventorySales Magento_InventoryCatalogAdminUi Magento_InventoryCatalogApi Magento_InventoryCatalogSearch Magento_InventoryConfigurableProduct Magento_InventoryConfigurableProductAdminUi Magento_InventoryConfigurableProductIndexer Magento_InventoryConfiguration Magento_InventoryConfigurationApi Magento_InventoryGroupedProduct Magento_InventoryGroupedProductAdminUi Magento_InventoryGroupedProductIndexer Magento_InventoryImportExport Magento_InventoryIndexer Magento_InventoryLowQuantityNotification Magento_InventoryLowQuantityNotificationAdminUi Magento_InventoryLowQuantityNotificationApi Magento_InventoryMultiDimensionalIndexerApi Magento_InventoryProductAlert Magento_InventoryReservations Magento_InventoryReservationsApi Magento_InventoryCache Magento_InventorySalesAdminUi Magento_InventorySalesApi Magento_InventorySalesFrontendUi Magento_InventoryShipping Magento_InventorySourceDeductionApi Magento_InventorySourceSelection Magento_InventorySourceSelectionApi Magento_InventoryShippingAdminUi Magento_InventoryDistanceBasedSourceSelectionAdminUi Magento_InventoryDistanceBasedSourceSelectionApi Magento_InventoryElasticsearch Magento_InventoryExportStockApi Magento_InventoryReservationCli Magento_InventoryExportStock Magento_InventorySetupFixtureGenerator Magento_InventoryDistanceBasedSourceSelection.

This disables MSI features like multiple inventory locations and stock management.

Step 3: Clean Cache and Reindex

• After turning off MSI, clean the Magento cache.

• Reindex the data. This helps apply the changes properly.

  1. Clean the cache- php bin/magento cache:clean.

  2. Reindex the data- php bin/magento indexer:reindex.

This ensures the system is updated after turning off MSI.

Step 4: Remove MSI Database Tables

• To entirely remove MSI, delete the related database tables.

• Run this command:

php bin/magento setup:db-schema:uninstall --module-name=Magento_Inventory.

This removes MSI-related tables from the database.

Note: If you decide to re-enable MSI later, you will need to recreate these tables.

Step 5: Recompile and Deploy Static Content

Recompile Magento and deploy static content. This ensures everything runs smoothly after turning off MSI.

• Recompile Magento- php bin/magento setup:di:compile.

• Deploy static content- php bin/magento setup:static-content:deploy.

These commands make sure the store functions properly without MSI.

Impact of Disabling Magento Multi-Source Inventory on Ecommerce Store

Impact Area	Effect of Disabling MSI	Consequences
Multiple Stock Management	Turning off MSI switches to default inventory management in the online store.	You lose the ability to manage stock from multiple locations. It reduces fulfillment efficiency.
Order Fulfillment Flexibility	MSI allows partial shipments and splitting orders across sources.	Turning off MSI reduces order fulfillment options. It will take a lot of work to handle complex workflows.
Inventory Allocation Control	You cannot allocate stock to different source locations and available inventory.	Inventory will only come from one source. It increases shipping costs and delivery times.
Performance & Scalability	MSI is designed to improve performance for multi-location setups.	Turning off MSI may slow down operations. It could be faster, especially for large product catalogs.
Stock Reservation	Stock reservations at the source and the main website level are no longer available.	Overselling and stock shortages are more likely during high-demand periods.
Inventory Reporting	MSI provides detailed reports for stock across locations.	With MSI, reporting becomes unlimited. It reduces the insight into stock at specific locations.
Stock for Different Store Views	Inventory supports stock tracking for multiple stores or websites.	Managing inventory for different store views or locations is possible.
Advanced Stock Management Features	Turning off MSI removes advanced features. It inlcudes location-specific pricing and stock visibility.	Tracking inventory or setting custom prices for different regions becomes harder.
Integration with 3PL and Shipping Providers	MSI in Magento 2.4 has built-in tools for 3PL integration.	Turning off MSI can disrupt integrations with shipping or third-party systems.
Future Upgrades & Features	MSI was introduced in the release of Magento 2.3.0 and is now a core feature.	By disabling MSI, you may lose access to new features in future Magento 2 versions.

4 Benefits of Magento MSI for Ecommerce Stores

1. Marketplace Management

A Magento 2 Marketplace allows many sellers to list and sell products. Managing inventory for the same product sold by multiple sellers can be challenging. For example:

Seller 1 (S1), Seller 2 (S2), and Seller 3 (S3) sell Product 1 (P1).

Each seller has a separate inventory source, such as W1, W2, and W3, with different stock levels:

• W1: 100 units

• W2: 110 units

• W3: 200 units

With MSI, you can manage the inventory for each source separately. This makes it easier to track and update stock levels across different sellers.

2. Dropshipping and Multiple Stock Sellers

Sellers often need to manage inventory across different locations. Using a single warehouse for everything can be expensive and slow. For example, if you have a warehouse in Florida but need to ship orders to New York. Shipping costs and delivery times can increase. With MSI, you can manage inventory across various locations.

This allows you to ship orders from the closest source, reducing costs and delivery times. The MSI extensions make it easy to manage inventory from multiple warehouses.

3. Point of Sale (POS) Integration

Magento 2 POS systems are popular with sellers who operate online and offline. Managing stock for both an online Magento store and a physical store can take time and effort. With MSI, you can track separate inventories for your online store and physical store. The POS system supports inventory splitting.

You can manage stock for multiple POS outlets separately from the store. This functionality was available even before MSI. It continues to help sellers manage stock effectively.

4. Multi-Channel Selling

Sellers often want to expand their reach by using multiple sales channels. For example, they might connect their online store with:

• Magento 2 Amazon

• Magento eBay

• Magento 2 Etsy

• Magento Walmart

• Magento 2 Facebook Shop

• Magento Instagram Shopping

With MSI, Magento supports single-source stock management. This makes it hard to track stock levels for each sales channel. With MSI, you can manage multiple stocks for each channel.

Disable Multi Source Inventory vs. Keeping It Enabled: Key Comparison

Aspect	Disable Multi Source Inventory	Keep Multi Source Inventory Enabled
Inventory Management	Inventory is managed from one source only.	Manage stock across different locations.
Inventory Visibility	Limited to one warehouse’s inventory.	View stock across all sources.
Product Availability	Stock is not tracked separately by location.	Improved inventory visibility across multiple locations.
Magento Admin Panel Features	Manages only one source of inventory.	Full Magento inventory management for multiple sources.
Order Fulfillment	Orders are fulfilled from one warehouse.	Orders are fulfilled from the nearest available source.
Flexibility	Limited flexibility.	Great for businesses needing inventory across various locations.
Shipping Costs	Shipping costs are based on one warehouse.	An efficient source for shipping orders reduces costs.
Use Case	Best for small stores with one-stock locations.	Ideal for businesses with multiple warehouses.
Stock Control	Cannot track stock across multiple locations.	Track and manage stock across all locations.
System Resources	Fewer resources are needed.	Requires more resources to manage multiple sources.
Store Operations	Best for stores with one warehouse.	Ideal for stores with multiple warehouses.
Magento Versions Compatibility	Works with older versions (before 2.3.0).	Works with Magento versions 2.3.0 or later.

FAQs

1. What is the purpose of MSI in Magento?

MSI in Magento (Multi-Source Inventory) helps manage stock from multiple locations. It tracks stock in real-time, giving store owners better control. MSI allows businesses to allocate inventory from specific sources. It is ideal for multi-location or multi-channel operations.

2. How do I disable MSI in Magento 2.4 using SSH?

Connect to your server using SSH. Go to the Magento root directory and run the turn-off command for MSI modules. Then, clean the cache and reindex the system to apply the changes fully.

3. What are the advantages of Magento 2 MSI for multi-warehouse businesses?

MSI includes tracking stock across multiple warehouses and optimizing shipping. It selects the nearest available source for fulfilling orders. It lowers delivery time and costs. MSI also provides better visibility and control over stock.

4. Can I manage Magento 2 multi-source inventory without enabling MSI?

Managing multiple stocks requires MSI to be enabled. With MSI, stock is unrestricted to a single source, limiting advanced features. To track stock by location or optimize shipping, you must keep MSI modules active.

5. How does disabling MSI affect inventory management in Magento?

Turning off MSI simplifies Magento inventory management by removing multiple stock features. However, it limits tracking and managing stock across various sources. It also removes shipping optimizations like fulfilling orders from the nearest source.

6. What are the disadvantages of using MSI for small-scale businesses?

MSI for small businesses is its complexity. Stores with one warehouse may not need advanced MSI features. Turning off MSI simplifies operations and reduces the time needed to manage inventory.

Summary

Magento 2 Disable Multi Source Inventory lets businesses turn off Magento MSI. It handles stock across multiple locations in single source mode. To disable the MSI, store owners need to run the proper command in the root directory.

Consider the following benefits:

• Marketplace Management: Easily track product stock using the Magento inventory system.

• Dropshipping and Multi-Source Sellers: Use source priority and distance priority for better efficiency.

• POS Integration: Manage separate stock for better control and tracking of inventory.

• Multi-Channel Selling: Use tools for tracking inventory across various platforms.

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