Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about KubeRiva — the open-source, AI-native order management system.
What is KubeRiva?
KubeRiva is an open-source, AI-native order management system (OMS) built for modern commerce. It provides multi-channel order ingestion from Shopify, Amazon, WooCommerce, and POS systems; a 15-state order lifecycle from PENDING to DELIVERED; an AI sourcing engine with 7 strategies including AI Adaptive; real-time multi-location inventory management; and KubeAI, a natural language assistant for operations. KubeRiva is licensed under Apache 2.0 and free to self-host.
Is KubeRiva free and open source?
Yes. KubeRiva is 100% free and open source under the Apache 2.0 license. You can self-host KubeRiva at no cost. The source code is available at github.com/KubeRiva/OMS. There are no per-order fees, no SaaS subscription required, and no vendor lock-in.
What is an AI-native order management system?
An AI-native order management system is an OMS where artificial intelligence is embedded into core operations rather than added as an optional plugin. In KubeRiva, AI powers the sourcing engine (selecting which fulfillment node ships each order), the operations assistant (answering natural language questions about orders and inventory), and continuous learning (improving sourcing decisions based on historical delivery outcomes). This is distinct from legacy OMS platforms that add AI features retrofitted on top of rule-based systems.
What is an intelligent sourcing engine?
KubeRiva's sourcing engine supports 7 strategies: Distance Optimal (minimize shipping distance), Cost Optimal (minimize total fulfillment cost), Store Nearest (prefer retail stores for ship-from-store), Inventory Reservation (route to the node with the most available stock), Least Cost Split (split orders across multiple nodes), AI Adaptive (use historical outcome data to score nodes contextually), and AI Hybrid (blend 60% AI scoring with 40% rule-based scoring).
What is a 15-state order lifecycle?
KubeRiva's 15 order states are: PENDING, CONFIRMED, SOURCING, SOURCED, PICKING, PACKING, READY_TO_SHIP, SHIPPED, OUT_FOR_DELIVERY, DELIVERED, BACKORDERED, ON_HOLD, RETURNED, REFUNDED, and CANCELLED. Each state transition fires an HMAC-SHA256 signed webhook event and writes to a MongoDB audit trail.
How does KubeRiva compare to Odoo for order management?
KubeRiva is purpose-built as an order management system with AI-native sourcing, while Odoo is a full ERP suite where order management is one of many modules. Key differences: KubeRiva deploys in under 1 day vs. Odoo's typical 3-12 month implementation; KubeRiva includes AI Adaptive sourcing out of the box while Odoo requires third-party modules; KubeRiva is Apache 2.0 licensed while Odoo Community uses LGPL; and KubeRiva has a modern REST API with 50+ endpoints and Swagger docs.
How does KubeRiva compare to ERPNext for order management?
KubeRiva and ERPNext are both open-source but serve different purposes. ERPNext is a full ERP covering accounting, HR, manufacturing, and purchasing — order management is a component. KubeRiva is an OMS specialist: its 15-state order lifecycle, 7 AI sourcing strategies, AI Adaptive learning engine, A/B sourcing experiments, and KubeAI natural language assistant have no equivalent in ERPNext.
What channels does KubeRiva support for order ingestion?
KubeRiva supports order ingestion from Shopify (via the Shopify platform connector), Amazon (via Amazon SP-API), WooCommerce, Magento, BigCommerce, point-of-sale (POS) systems, and any custom source via the REST API. Connectors sync bidirectionally — orders flow into KubeRiva, and fulfillment status flows back to the originating platform automatically.
Can KubeRiva handle B2B and B2C orders on the same platform?
Yes. KubeRiva supports multi-brand tenant modes: B2C_ONLY, B2B_ONLY, or HYBRID. B2B capabilities include customer accounts with credit limits, NET-term invoicing (NET_15 through NET_90), five pricing tiers (STANDARD through PLATINUM), and an order approval gate where B2B orders enter PENDING_APPROVAL before CONFIRMED.
What tech stack does KubeRiva use?
KubeRiva is built on FastAPI with async Python 3.12 for the API layer, PostgreSQL 16 for relational data, MongoDB 7.0 for order history and AI pattern data, Redis 7.2 for caching and Celery task queuing, and Elasticsearch 8.12 for full-text order search. The frontend dashboard uses React 18 with TypeScript. KubeRiva can be self-hosted using Docker Compose or Kubernetes.
What is the best open source order management system?
The best open source OMS depends on your requirements. For AI-native sourcing with intelligent fulfillment routing: KubeRiva (Apache 2.0, AI Adaptive sourcing, 15-state lifecycle, free to self-host). For full ERP with order management included: ERPNext (AGPL-3.0) or Odoo Community Edition (LGPL). KubeRiva is the only open-source OMS with a built-in AI sourcing engine, natural language assistant, and A/B sourcing experiments.