Zoho Inventory Essentials: A Comprehensive Guide to Understanding and Utilizing Alias Names for Efficient Item Management

Zoho Inventory: Understanding and Using Alias Names for Items

This article summarizes the Zoho Inventory forum discussion on "Alias Name (on items) use case" and provides a helpful resource for users:

What are Alias Names in Zoho Inventory?

• Optional field allowing you to assign an alternative name to an item beyond its primary name and SKU.
• Primarily used for internal reference and not displayed on transaction PDFs.

Use Cases:

• Improve search functionality in Purchase Orders, Inventory Adjustments, etc.
• Use shorter internal SKUs instead of longer distributor or manufacturer part numbers.
• Avoid modifying the primary item name with additional information.

Limitations:

• Alias names not currently searchable in Zoho Analytics.
• Not displayed on transaction PDFs.

Alternatives:

• Contact Zoho support: Enable "Contains" search behavior instead of "Begins with" for broader item search.
• Item Categories: While not currently available in building/populating Estimates and Invoices in Zoho Books, Zoho is considering incorporating Alias Names for this purpose in the future.

Additional Notes:

• Consider using Alias Names strategically to enhance internal workflows and search efficiency.
• Explore alternative solutions like "Contains" search or future Zoho Books updates if needed.

I hope this resource clarifies the purpose and limitations of Alias Names in Zoho Inventory. Feel free to ask if you have further questions or require assistance with specific use cases.