This is what happens in the video
When you count inventory with item tracking in Business Central, you should use the physical inventory journal rather than inventory counting orders. The physical inventory journal lets you count by lot number and serial number, while item tracking counting in inventory counting orders is not supported in the same way for now.
When you calculate inventory in the physical inventory journal, post the journal with the option to include calculated quantity and serial number. This adds lot number and serial number lines so you can enter your counted quantities per lot or per serial number.
If your count differs from the calculated quantity, you enter the total counted quantity on the journal line and then open the item tracking lines to specify which lot number or serial number the negative or positive adjustment applies to.
Choosing between the physical inventory journal and inventory counting orders
When you count items on a simple location or an advanced location, you have two options. You can use the physical inventory journal, or you can use inventory counting orders. Both work for standard counting.
If you want to count with item tracking, use the physical inventory journal for now. It handles lot numbers and serial numbers in a way that fits the counting process.
Calculating inventory in the physical inventory journal
In the physical inventory journal, you start by calculating your inventory. You can select different items and, if needed, mix locations on the same journal. In normal day-to-day work you would not mix locations, but it works fine for showing how the process behaves.
If you look at an item without specifying any item tracking and the quantity you are changing is zero, no item tracking lines are shown yet. When you preview or print the journal without including the calculated quantity and serial numbers, the journal only lists your items and an empty quantity column where you enter what you counted.
Printing the journal with serial numbers and calculated quantity
If you only want to count at item level, you can enter the counted quantity directly on each line without dealing with lot numbers. But if you want to count per lot number or per serial number, print the journal with serial numbers included, and add the expected, calculated quantity as well.
When you do this, the document changes. It now shows lot number and serial number information for the items that use item tracking. You can count each of these and enter the quantities in the counting column.
The journal also shows whether the items are placed in bins. For example, on your main location you might have two serial numbers in one bin and two other serial numbers in another bin. You can count each one per serial number.
Entering adjustments per lot number or serial number
If your count does not match the calculated quantity, you record the difference in the journal. Say one lot number shows eight items in the system, but you only counted six. You need to make an adjustment of two.
In that case, you enter the counted total on the line. For example, if the calculated total was 18 and you counted 16, you enter 16. Then you open the item tracking lines and select the specific lot number you are making the negative adjustment to. You enter a quantity of two for that lot number.
When you post the journal, it takes away two from that lot number. This is how you count and adjust inventory with lot number information or serial number information.
Q&A
Which tool should you use to count inventory with item tracking in Business Central?
Use the physical inventory journal. It supports counting by lot number and serial number, which is why it is the recommended option for item tracking counting for now.
How do you get lot numbers and serial numbers to show on the counting journal?
Print or post the journal with the option to include calculated quantity and serial numbers. The journal then adds lot number and serial number lines so you can count and enter quantities per lot or per serial number.
How do you record a count difference for a specific lot number?
Enter the counted total on the journal line. Then open the item tracking lines, select the lot number the difference applies to, and enter the adjustment quantity. When you post, Business Central adjusts the stock for that lot number.
Does the physical inventory journal show bin information when counting?
Yes. The journal shows whether items are placed in bins, so you can see which serial numbers sit in which bin and count each one accordingly.