PIA identifies the requested quantity of inventory in other locations where inventory are currently obtainable and performs the replenishment. This prevents the lengthy process of managing shortages in the locations.
In the standard replenishment model, all replenishments must first be completed in order for the work to be released; this basically helps ensure that the inventory is available before the picker arrives. The problem with this model is when you have a very large order with thousands of items that need to be picked; there is so much work to be done for these types of orders that you must immediately begin the picking process and pick what is available. This is where Pre Inventory Allocation (PIA) comes into play; PIA allows a site to allocate from the pickface on the premise that it will get there prior the picker arrives at the pickface. If the picker arrives at the location only to find that there is no inventory, the picker could skip the pick and come back to it at a later time or use the location exception functionality and choose the appropriate exception that will typically cancel the pick.
