> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://www.twicecommerce.com/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# SKU - Fulfillment

> Set default buffer time and other fulfillment rules that apply to all stock items under a SKU.

export const viewAccessDefinition = "Read-only access without ability to make changes.";

export const editAccessDefinition = "Update and read data, but cannot create or delete.";

export const manageAccessDefinition = "Create, update, read, and delete data.";

export const permissionsDefinition = "The actions you are authorized to perform.";

export const visibilityDefinition = "Which features, sections, or data tables are visible to you.";

export const userRoleDefinition = "What a user can see and do. Each user has one built-in system role — Owner, Admin, Manager, or Member — and can also be assigned any number of custom roles you create with specific permissions. Effective access is the combination of all their roles.";

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/twicecommerce/5ARkyCTk5wMAizBn/images/sku-fulfillment-buffers.webp?fit=max&auto=format&n=5ARkyCTk5wMAizBn&q=85&s=4fbf6f2063c21a478a7de1e45455c9f7" alt="SKU fulfillment tab with before and after booking buffers" width="1920" height="1080" data-path="images/sku-fulfillment-buffers.webp" />
</Frame>

<Info>
  This view can look different dependent on your user role. <br />See [Visibility & Permissions](#visibility-and-permissions) for details.
</Info>

## Primary Purpose

The Fulfillment tab on a SKU defines default fulfillment rules that all linked stock items inherit.

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Set Default Buffer Time">
    Define default buffer times that apply to every stock item under this SKU. Buffer time blocks availability around each booking in two independent directions:

    * **Before each booking** — a preparation window before the customer's booking starts. On the storefront, this also acts as a minimum lead time: a booking starting sooner than the buffer allows is rejected. Admin staff can bypass this.
    * **After each booking** — a servicing window after the booking ends, for cleaning, inspection, maintenance, or transit time between orders.

    Set the duration for each direction (e.g. 30 minutes, 2 hours, 1 day) and all linked stock items inherit it by default. Individual stock items can override or disable either direction independently on their own [Fulfillment tab](/docs/inventory/stock-items/fulfillment).

    <Note>Changing the SKU buffer time triggers a conflict check across all inheriting stock items. If upcoming bookings overlap with the new buffer window, you can choose to skip conflicting bookings or cancel the change.</Note>
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Related Concepts

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Buffer Time Inheritance">
    Each direction (before and after) follows a three-state inheritance model independently on each stock item:

    * **Inherit from SKU** (default) — uses the SKU's buffer for that direction. If the SKU has no buffer (amount is 0), the item has none.
    * **No buffer** — explicitly disables the buffer for that direction, overriding the SKU.
    * **Custom override** — sets a different duration for this specific item.

    A stock item can inherit the before-buffer from the SKU while overriding the after-buffer, or vice versa. The stock item API response reports the origin per direction: `bufferTimeOriginBefore` for the before-buffer and `bufferTimeOrigin` for the after-buffer. Each is `article` when the item sets its own value (including an explicit no-buffer), `sku` when it inherits the SKU default, and `null` when neither defines one.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Effect on Availability">
    Both buffer directions extend the stock item's unavailability on the [calendar](/docs/concepts/catalog/availability) without changing the order's dates. The before-buffer blocks availability before the booking starts; the after-buffer blocks it after the booking ends. Customers see both buffered periods as unavailable when browsing the storefront.

    The before-buffer also acts as a minimum lead time on the storefront — a customer cannot book a start time sooner than the buffer allows. Admin staff are exempt from this restriction.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Visibility and Permissions

Access to this view is controlled by your <Tooltip tip={userRoleDefinition}>user role</Tooltip>. Your user role determines both
<Tooltip tip={visibilityDefinition}>visibility</Tooltip> and
<Tooltip tip={permissionsDefinition}>permissions</Tooltip> for
<Tooltip tip={manageAccessDefinition}>manage</Tooltip>,
<Tooltip tip={editAccessDefinition}>edit</Tooltip>, and
<Tooltip tip={viewAccessDefinition}>view</Tooltip> access levels.

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Visibility" icon="eye">
    | Feature     | Admin | Manager | Member |
    | ----------- | ----- | ------- | ------ |
    | Buffer Time | ✓     | ✓       | ✓      |
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Permissions" icon="key">
    | Resource             | Admin  | Manager | Member |
    | -------------------- | ------ | ------- | ------ |
    | Buffer Time Settings | Manage | Edit    | View   |
  </Tab>
</Tabs>