In Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, receiving goods in an advanced warehouse setup involves three connected documents: the purchase order, the warehouse receipt, and the warehouse put-away. This article explains how they work together on the inbound side.
You create a purchase order manually or from the planning worksheets. When you release it, Business Central creates a warehouse request. This is a hidden table that tells the warehouse there is work to be done.
From the warehouse request you create a warehouse receipt, where you register the quantities actually received. Posting the warehouse receipt also posts the purchase order receipt and creates item ledger entries and warehouse entries.
Posting the receipt automatically creates a warehouse put-away document. You use the put-away to move items from the receive zone into your inventory bins. Registering the put-away creates the warehouse entries that finalise the storage location.
From purchase order to warehouse request in Business Central
In Business Central you can create a purchase order manually or generate it from the planning journals and planning worksheets. Before the warehouse can act on it, the purchase order needs to be released.
You open the purchase order and run the release from an action button. Releasing the purchase order creates a warehouse request. The warehouse request is a hidden table that informs the warehouse that there is something to be done.
Creating and posting the warehouse receipt
Once the purchase order is released, you can create a warehouse receipt. You can do this directly from the purchase order, or you can create the warehouse receipt manually and fetch the lines into it.
The warehouse receipt lets you bundle many purchase orders into one receiving document, or you can work with a one-to-one purchase order. On the warehouse receipt you enter the goods you actually receive. When the items arrive on the ramp, you count them and register the quantities the warehouse received.
When you post the warehouse receipt, Business Central also posts the purchase order receipt. This creates item ledger entries and warehouse entries, and the items are now shown on the bins in the receive zone.
Moving goods with the warehouse put-away
Posting the warehouse receipt automatically creates a warehouse put-away document. The put-away is meant for moving items out of the receive zone and into your inventory.
You enter the new bin codes on the put-away document to record where the goods are placed. When you register the put-away, Business Central creates the warehouse entries that move the goods from the receive zone into the correct bins in the warehouse.
This is the relation between the three documents on the inbound side: the purchase order, the warehouse receipt, and the warehouse put-away.
Q&A
What is a warehouse request in Business Central?
A warehouse request is a hidden table that Business Central creates when you release a purchase order. It tells the warehouse that there is work to be done and links the purchase order to the warehouse documents.
What happens when you post a warehouse receipt?
Posting the warehouse receipt also posts the purchase order receipt. It creates item ledger entries and warehouse entries, and the received items are shown on the bins in the receive zone.
Can you receive multiple purchase orders on one warehouse receipt?
Yes. The warehouse receipt lets you bundle many purchase orders into one receiving document, or you can work with a single purchase order one-to-one.
How are goods moved from the receive zone into inventory?
Posting the warehouse receipt automatically creates a warehouse put-away document. You enter the new bin codes on the put-away, and when you register it, Business Central creates the warehouse entries that move the goods into the correct bins.