MasonHub typically allocates inventory to orders and ships them using the first-in first-out (FIFO) method, unless your account is configured to track expiration date — then we use first-expiry first-out (FEFO). However, you can manually adjust the priority in which backorders are allocated and fulfilled.
| IMPORTANT NOTE: This applies to backorders only. You cannot adjust the priority for orders that have already been allocated or are currently in process. |
MasonHub’s inventory allocation logic considers two key factors: (1) order priority, and (2) submitted at date.
Order Priority
By default, all orders are assigned a priority of 100. To reprioritize the fulfillment of a backorder, you can adjust its Priority between 1 and 10,000:
- Highest priority: 1
- Default priority: 100
- Lowest priority: 10,000
If you set the priority of an order while manually creating it in the MasonHub OMS, the priority will be ignored when there is available inventory. If there is sufficient inventory to fulfill the order, it will be allocated right away and ship according to FIFO.
Submitted At Date
More than one order can share the same priority (most do, as they default to 100). In this case, the submitted_at date determines which order is filled first: the earlier the date, the higher the priority.
| BEST PRACTICE: To ensure the correct order is allocated and shipped first, confirm that no other backorders share the same prioritization as the one you're adjusting. |
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: In some cases, like when orders were held for fraud or created through a third-party application, the submitted_at date may differ from the created_at date.
MasonHub’s inventory allocation logic uses the submitted_at date to ensure we're capturing the most accurate FIFO priority. |
Other Considerations
Full Allocation Logic for Backorders - (Important Note)
When inventory becomes available, MasonHub’s backorder allocation logic will first attempt to fully allocate inventory to any backorder that can be completely fulfilled.
Only after identifying all orders that can fully allocate does the system apply the standard backorder priority rules (priority value → submitted_at date).
This ensures that inventory is used efficiently and avoids partial allocations when a full fulfillment is possible for another order.
Multi-Facility Backorder Allocation (Virtual Location Logic)
When your account uses multiple fulfillment centers, MasonHub manages backorders through a virtual inventory location. This means all backordered items are grouped together logically, regardless of which physical facility will ultimately fulfill them.
However, when inventory becomes available, the system still respects partial routing rules:
- Orders with a suggested facility of Wilkes will only partially allocate from Wilkes inventory.
- Orders with a suggested facility of Fontana will only partially allocate from Fontana inventory.
This allows our systems to wait for inventory in case some arrives at the suggested facility.
Multi facility routing article here