Set Up and Manage Inbound Outsourcing in DecoNetwork

Inbound outsourcing lets your fulfillment center accept outsourced production from other DecoNetwork Fulfillment Centers. When inbound outsourcing is enabled, other centers can request to link to your fulfillment center using your Outsource ID. After you confirm the link, their outsourced items appear in Business Hub → Production for you to produce using your standard workflow.

In this tutorial, we will guide you through the steps to set up and manage inbound outsourcing in DecoNetwork to grow your fulfillment operations. You’ll learn how to accept outsourced production from other fulfillment centers, manage inbound jobs in Business Hub, and turn available capacity into new business opportunities.

In this article

• Prerequisites
• Why use inbound outsourcing
• Step 1: Open Outsource Production settings
• Step 2: Enable inbound outsourcing and record your Outsource ID
• Step 3: Accept inbound outsourcing requests
• Step 4: Produce inbound outsourced items in Business Hub
• Best-practice tips
• Troubleshooting
• FAQs
• Additional Resources

Prerequisites

Why use inbound outsourcing

Inbound outsourcing helps you:

• Create a new revenue stream by producing work for other fulfillment centers.
• Improve equipment utilization by filling spare production capacity.
• Build partner relationships with other DecoNetwork members who can also support you when needed.

Step 1: Open Outsource Production settings

1. Log into your DecoNetwork Website.
2. Go to Admin → Settings.

3. Select Production & Order Settings, then Outsource Production.

   

   Admin menu showing Production & Order Settings → Outsource Production.

Step 2: Enable inbound outsourcing and record your Outsource ID

1. On the Outsource Production page, click Configure Settings.

   

   Configure Settings opens the inbound production settings

2. Tick Enable my fulfillment center to accept inbound orders from other DecoNetwork members.

   

   Inbound settings page where you enable inbound outsourcing

3. Record your Outsource ID (other centers use this to request a link).

   

   Your Outsource ID is used by other fulfillment centers to link to you

4. (Optional) Tick Display my Outsource ID number on primary website if you want it visible on your web store.
5. Click Save.

Step 3: Accept inbound outsourcing requests

When another fulfillment center requests to link to you, the request appears as Unconfirmed until you enable it.

1. Locate inbound link requests listed as Unconfirmed.

2. Click Manage, then click Enable this Link to accept the outsourcing relationship.

   

   Use Enable this Link to confirm the inbound relationship.

Step 4: Produce inbound outsourced items in Business Hub

After a link is confirmed, inbound outsourced items are processed directly in Business Hub → Production using your standard production workflow.

1. Log into Business Hub.
2. Click Production.

3. Locate inbound outsourced items in the production list (they are identified with an Outsource Inbound indicator).

   

   Inbound outsourced items are labeled Outsource Inbound in the Production list.

4. Produce the items using your normal production steps and equipment.

   

   Inbound outsourced items behave like standard production items in Business Hub.

   Tip: Inbound outsourced items can be prioritized, scheduled, and processed alongside your own jobs, use your normal production controls and download, print and view worksheets as required.

5. When production is complete, mark the items as Production Complete.

   

   Mark inbound items as Production Complete when finished.

   After production is completed, inbound outsourced items are automatically returned to the originating fulfillment center’s workflow. They move into the next stage of that center’s process, typically shipping.

Best-practice tips

• Confirm links before planning work: ensure inbound links show as confirmed before expecting partner items to appear.
• Align expectations outside DecoNetwork: agree turnaround times, quality checks, and handoff/shipping logistics with your partners.
• Keep decoration processes enabled: ensure any processes you produce are enabled in Admin → Decoration Processes.

Troubleshooting

I can’t access Outsource Production settings

• Confirm you have administrator access.
• Confirm the Outsource Production app is enabled.

Inbound requests are still “Unconfirmed”

• Open the request and click Manage → Enable this Link to accept it.

FAQs

What is an Outsource ID?

The Outsource ID uniquely identifies a fulfillment center for outsourcing. Other centers use it to find you when creating inbound links.

Does inbound outsourcing handle shipping?

No. Outsourcing routes production only. Shipping is handled separately.

Does inbound outsourcing handle financial arrangements?

No. Pricing and payments between fulfillment centers are managed outside of DecoNetwork.

Additional Resources

• Staff account role access and permissions
• Set Up and Manage Outbound Outsourcing in DecoNetwork
• Decoration Processes - Overview
• Enable a decoration process