> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.tetherdata.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Transaction Workflow
> Understanding the transaction lifecycle in Tether
# Transaction Workflow
Transactions follow a structured workflow from creation to completion. Understanding this workflow helps you manage orders efficiently and keep your supply chain running smoothly.
## Workflow Overview
All transactions follow a similar lifecycle:
```
Creation → Draft → Submit → In Progress → Completed → Archived
```
There is no "Cancelled" status at the transaction level. Individual **steps** within a transaction can be cancelled, but the transaction itself moves through Draft → In Progress → Completed → Archived.
## Workflow Stages
### Stage 1: Creation
**What Happens:**
* Transaction is initiated
* Basic information entered
* Line items added
**Sources:**
| Source | Description |
| ------------------- | ------------------------------------------------ |
| **Manual** | User creates from scratch |
| **Supply Planning** | Convert from an accepted planning recommendation |
| **Copy** | Duplicate existing transaction |
### Stage 2: Draft
**What Happens:**
* Transaction saved but not active
* Can be freely edited
* No inventory impact
* No external communication
**Available Actions:**
* Edit all fields
* Add/remove line items
* Change supplier/warehouse
* Submit
* Delete
### Stage 3: Submission
**What Happens:**
* Validation runs
* Status changes to "In Progress"
* Inventory effects begin
* Workflow steps created
**Validation Checks:**
| Check | Failure Action |
| ----------------------------------- | ---------------- |
| Required fields | Block submission |
| Quantity validation | Show error |
| Availability (transfers) | Block submission |
| Component availability (production) | Block or warn |
### Stage 4: In Progress
**What Happens:**
* Transaction is active
* Steps are tracked
* Inventory committed/reserved
* Documents can be added
**Status Updates:**
| Action | Trigger |
| --------------- | ---------------- |
| Step completion | Manual update |
| Partial receipt | Receiving action |
| Issues | Notes and flags |
### Stage 5: Completion
**What Happens:**
* All steps are completed
* Inventory fully updated
* Transaction status moves to "Completed"
**Completion Types:**
| Type | Description |
| ----------- | ----------------------------------------------- |
| **Full** | All items received/completed as expected |
| **Partial** | Some items completed, remainder steps cancelled |
### Stage 6: Archived
**What Happens:**
* Transaction is moved to the "Archived" terminal state
* Becomes fully read-only
* Preserved for historical records and audit
* No further status changes are possible
## Workflow by Transaction Type
Tether uses three step types—**Purchase**, **Shipment**, and **Production**—to model all transaction workflows. Each step has its own status (Draft → In Progress → Completed, or Cancelled) and tracks inventory through specific inventory state types.
### Purchase Order Workflow
```
Draft
↓
Submitted → Purchase Step created (In Process)
↓
Purchase Report submitted → Purchase Step completed (Completed Purchase)
↓
Shipping Plan submitted → Shipment Step created (In Transit)
↓
Shipment Receipt submitted → Shipment Step completed (Completed Shipment)
↓
Completed
```
#### PO Steps & Inventory States
| Step Type | Inventory State | Description |
| -------------------------- | ------------------ | ----------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Purchase** (In Progress) | In Process | Order is being processed by supplier |
| **Purchase** (Completed) | Completed Purchase | Supplier has fulfilled the order |
| **Shipment** (In Progress) | In Transit | Goods are in transit to destination |
| **Shipment** (Completed) | Completed Shipment | Goods received at destination warehouse; sellable inventory added |
### Transfer Order Workflow
```
Draft
↓
Submitted → Shipping Plan auto-created → Shipment Step created (In Transit)
↓
Shipment Receipt submitted → Shipment Step completed (Completed Shipment)
↓
Completed
```
#### Transfer Steps & Inventory States
| Step Type | Inventory State | Description |
| -------------------------- | ------------------ | -------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Shipment** (In Progress) | In Transit | Goods deducted from source sellable, in transit to destination |
| **Shipment** (Completed) | Completed Shipment | Goods received at destination; sellable inventory added |
For split shipments with multiple destinations, Tether creates separate Shipment steps and artifacts for each destination warehouse.
### Production Order Workflow
```
Draft
↓
Submitted → Production Step created (In Production, components Committed)
↓
Production Report submitted → Production Step completed (Completed Production, components Consumed)
↓
Completed
```
#### Production Steps & Inventory States
| Step Type | Inventory State | Description |
| ---------------------------- | -------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Production** (In Progress) | In Production | Finished goods are being produced |
| **Production** (In Progress) | Committed | Components reserved from sellable inventory |
| **Production** (In Progress) | Backordered | Components that couldn't be committed due to insufficient inventory |
| **Production** (Completed) | Completed Production | Finished goods added to sellable inventory |
| **Production** (Completed) | Consumed | Components fully deducted from inventory |
## Step Management
### Step Statuses
Each step within a transaction has its own status:
| Status | Description |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Draft** | Step created but not yet active |
| **In Progress** | Step is actively being worked on |
| **Completed** | Step finished successfully |
| **Cancelled** | Step was cancelled (does not block transaction completion) |
### Updating Steps via Artifacts
Steps are advanced by submitting the appropriate artifact:
Open the transaction detail view
Click on the **Steps & Inventory** tab (visible for non-draft transactions)
Find the step you want to update
Submit the matching artifact to advance the step:
* **Production Report** → advances a Production step
* **Purchase Report** → advances a Purchase step
* **Shipment Receipt** → advances a Shipment step
* **Shipping Plan** → creates a new Shipment step
Step status updates and inventory states change accordingly
### Step Details
Each step tracks:
| Field | Description |
| -------------------- | ------------------------------------------- |
| **Step Type** | Production, Purchase, or Shipment |
| **Status** | Draft, In Progress, Completed, or Cancelled |
| **Inventory States** | Current inventory impact of this step |
| **Source** | Where goods come from |
| **Destination** | Where goods are going |
## Handling Issues
### Delays
When steps take longer than expected:
1. Add notes explaining delay
2. Update expected completion dates
3. Communicate with stakeholders
4. Consider impact on inventory
### Partial Fulfillment
When not all quantities are received:
| Option | When to Use |
| --------------- | --------------------------------- |
| **Wait** | More expected to arrive |
| **Backorder** | Order remainder separately |
| **Close Short** | Accept partial, close transaction |
### Cancelling Steps
Individual steps can be cancelled without cancelling the entire transaction:
Understand what inventory effects will be reversed for this step
Mark the step as Cancelled
Committed or in-transit inventory associated with that step is released
**What Gets Reversed When a Step Is Cancelled:**
* Committed components are released back to sellable
* In-transit quantities are reversed
* The step moves to Cancelled status
The transaction itself does not have a "Cancelled" status. If all steps are cancelled or completed, the transaction moves to **Completed** and can then be **Archived**.
## Inventory Effects by Step Type
Inventory changes are tracked through `StepInventoryStateType` values on each step:
### Purchase Steps
| State | Effect |
| ---------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------- |
| **In Process** | Order is being processed; no inventory change yet |
| **Completed Purchase** | Purchase fulfilled; goods ready for shipment to warehouse |
### Shipment Steps
| State | Source Warehouse | Destination Warehouse |
| ---------------------- | ---------------- | ------------------------- |
| **In Transit** | Sellable reduced | In-transit quantity shown |
| **Completed Shipment** | — | Sellable inventory added |
### Production Steps
| State | Components | Finished Goods |
| ------------------------ | ------------------------------ | ----------------- |
| **Committed** | Reserved from sellable | — |
| **Backordered** | Insufficient inventory flagged | — |
| **In Production** | — | Being produced |
| **Consumed** | Fully deducted | — |
| **Completed Production** | — | Added to sellable |
## Best Practices
Keep workflow current:
* Update as events happen
* Don't batch updates
* Accuracy helps planning
When problems occur:
* Add notes immediately
* Attach evidence if available
* Flag for follow-up
Don't leave transactions hanging:
* Complete when done
* Close partial as needed
* Cancel if not proceeding
Steps create visibility:
* Team sees progress
* Reduces status inquiries
* Provides audit trail
## Workflow Reporting
### Lead Time Analysis
Track actual vs. expected:
* Step durations
* Total order time
* Supplier performance
* Transit times
### Bottleneck Identification
Find where delays occur:
* Which steps take longest?
* Which suppliers are slow?
* Which warehouses are slow to receive?
## Next Steps
Navigate detail pages
Create new transactions
See how recommendations are generated
Monitor inventory impact