Set up Amazon parent-child relationships using virtual variations (instead of NetSuite Matrix Item functionality)

In general, NetSuite supports creating a parent-child relationship between items using NetSuite's native Matrix Item functionality. This feature allows you to leverage the virtual variation functionality by Celigo to setup parent-child relationship between the Inventory (Matrix & Non-Matrix), Assembly (Matrix & Non-Matrix), and Kit Items without using the matrix item feature in NetSuite.

Using this feature, items set up as Virtual variation items in NetSuite can be exported as regular Matrix Items in Amazon. To support this feature, the NetSuite Item to Amazon Product Add/Update flow has been enhanced to accommodate creating virtual variation items. The Integration App allows you to use the SUBITEM OF field or a custom field where you specify the parent of an item to create the parent-child relationship needed for an item record in NetSuite.

Note: If you decide to use a custom field for creating virtual variation relationship, the custom field must be a drop-down field similar to the SUBITEM OF field. 

Prerequisites for leveraging the Virtual Variation feature

1. Configure the Advanced Settings
In the Product section, go to Advanced Settings and select a value in the NetSuite Saved Search for syncing Item details drop-down list. Now, select the Enable virtual variations checkbox which in turn displays the NetSuite field identifier for variation parent item field. Enter the Field Id value of the NetSuite field where you specify the parent of an item and SKU in the following format:

Parent (Internal ID).SKU(Internal ID)

Note: By default, the value parent.itemid is displayed in the NetSuite field identifier for variation parent item field as parent is the Field Id value of the SUBITEM OF field and itemid is the Field Id value of SKU in NetSuite. You can change it to the Field Id value of the NetSuite field where you specify the parent or SKU of a virtual variation item.

2. Configurations needed in NetSuite 
You need to make the following changes in NetSuite to use this feature:

1. Enable the IS VIRTUAL VARIATION checkbox for all Item record in NetSuite.
   You need to enable the IS VIRTUAL VARIATION checkbox in the eTail tab of item record for all the items for which you want to establish the parent-child relationship in NetSuite using the using the virtual variation functionality.
2. Enable the IS VIRTUAL PARENT checkbox
   You need to enable the IS VIRTUAL PARENT checkbox in the eTail tab of item record for the parent item for which you want to establish the parent-child relationship in NetSuite using the using the virtual variation functionality.
3. Select appropriate AMAZON CATEGORY and AMAZON VARIATION THEME 
   You need to select appropriate AMAZON CATEGORY and AMAZON VARIATION THEME in NetSuite for every Parent item record for which you want to use the virtual variation functionality.

4. All required column exists in the Celigo Amazon Item Export Search
The locked “Celigo Amazon Item Export Search” comes with the default columns as displayed in the Results sub-tab:

For the virtual variation, simple and matrix item sync  to work, ensure that the search selected in the NetSuite saved search for syncing Item drop-down list has the following columns added in the Results sub-tab:

Running the Matrix Item Data Flow with Virtual Variation Functionality

Set up the virtual variation item in NetSuite and Advanced settings in the Integration App as explained in the aforementioned section. The Integration App 'Settings' section displays the data flow groups/data flows. To run the data flow from this section, click the 'Play' button.

The dashboard shows the status of the data flow. It takes a few minutes for the flow to run.  Once the status is displayed as Completed, validate that the NetSuite record is exported to Amazon and the parent item record is displayed with all child items in it.