Since the beginning of September, Wildberries has implemented a new inventory monitoring tool called the "Balance Index." This indicator is calculated as the ratio of the volume of the daily balance over the last 30 days to the amount of sales, including refunds. According to the marketplace, the index reflects the level of warehouse congestion and helps regulate the storage of goods.
The system divides the index into three categories: low, medium and high. If the product has a low indicator, the seller is offered three options.: to take out products, paying 50% of the cost for a refund, hold a sale with a reduced price, or invest in product promotion, but at the same time pay for storage at an increased rate of 1.5 rubles per unit per day. For many sellers, this becomes a serious problem, as each option carries risks and can entail significant financial losses.
Market experts point out that there is no universal solution. Sellers need to constantly monitor the index and correctly distribute goods between warehouses, including those where storage is free or where the rule does not apply yet. Otherwise, expenses may exceed profits. As an example, Konstantin Derbenev, development director of the e-commerce transport company KIT, told about a seller who had more than 7.5 thousand units in stock. With a monthly revenue of about 150 thousand rubles, the cost of exporting goods may exceed 550 thousand rubles. Such situations may become grounds for complaints to the Federal Antimonopoly Service.
According to experts, the new rules are aimed at optimizing warehouse processes and reducing the burden on logistics. However, for businesses, this means the need to build new strategies for dealing with leftovers. Sellers will have to analyze sales more actively, plan supply volumes in advance, and use promotion tools. Otherwise, the new conditions may result in losses and become a threat to the sustainability of the business on the platform.
