When a customer tries to buy a product and an error occurs in creating the order, it can be due to different reasons, such as payment problems, logistics issues, or backend integrations with ERPs (Enterprise Resource Planning).

Before considering complex causes for errors with orders that were not created, try the troubleshooting processes presented in this article. Some of the most common error scenarios are:

• The item was not available in the inventory, and the store was not configured to sell out-of-stock products.
• The XML integration was not configured to send information about out-of-stock products.

Consider the following troubleshooting processes for order creation errors:

• Manage inventory: If you have no items for the product in your inventory and your store is not configured to sell out-of-stock products.
• Review XML integration: If your XML integration is not configured to send information about products with no inventory.

There are two ways to manage your inventory:

• Via API: Using the endpoint Update inventory by SKU and warehouse.
• Via VTEX Admin: Accessing Catalog > Inventory > Inventory Management.

The following solutions focus on inventory management via VTEX Admin:

• Update inventory count: In the line that corresponds to the desired SKU and warehouse, on the Update Count column, type the number of items available for sales, and click Save. This number cannot be negative, otherwise you will have a negative inventory.
• Configure unlimited inventory: In the line that corresponds to the desired SKU and warehouse, on the Unlimited inventory column, turn on the switch, and click Save. When this configuration is activated, the item is considered always available for sales and the store never runs out-of-stock for it.

To configure out-of-stock products to be displayed in your storefront, in your VTEX Admin access Catalog > All Products, and in the product configuration page, in the Product tab, select the checkbox Yes for Show when out of stock.

XML is a markup language that defines and stores data in a shareable manner. When your store’s XML integration is not set for certain configurations, it might not be able to export a product information.

An error with product missing information can happen when the product has no inventory and the integration is not set for sending out-of-stock products. To activate the configuration, follow the steps below:

1. In the VTEX Admin, go to Store Settings > Channels > XML Integration or type XML Integration in the search bar at the top of the page.
2. In the line of the desired XML integration, click Edit.
3. In the Edit XML tab, for the option Show unavailable SKUs, select the checkbox Show out-of-stock (sold-out) SKUs in the results.
4. Click Save.

You can have invoicing errors when trying to invoice an order with incorrect or missing XML information.