When you register a warehouse put-away in Business Central, you move items between bins without creating new item ledger entries. The actual inventory increase happens when you post the warehouse receipt, not the put-away. This article walks through a concrete example with item 1800 to show exactly what the system records and what it leaves untouched.
If you check your last item ledger entry number before and after registering a put-away, the number stays the same. That confirms the put-away only updates bin content and does not affect the item ledger.
The warehouse receipt is what posts the item ledger entry. The put-away simply moves the goods from the receiving bin into your storage bins inside the WMS location.
What a warehouse put-away does in Business Central
To see the behaviour clearly, start by looking at the history of the item. On item 1800 (the handlebars), open the item ledger entries and scroll to find the last entry number. In this example the last item ledger entry number is 1985.
Next, look at the bin content for the same item. On a WMS location you will typically see the item spread across several bins: a shipping bin, a production bin, a receive bin, and a couple of regular storage bins.
Now open a prepared warehouse put-away document for the item. The document shows:
- Item number 1800, the handlebars
- Quantity to handle: 3 boxes
- Take bin code: 80
- Place bin code: 1606
You can change the place bin code before you register, but not after. Once the put-away is done, you register the warehouse put-away document.
What changes after you register the put-away
Go back to the item card and check the bin content. It now shows the new bin code 1606 with the 3 boxes that moved in. Those boxes came from the warehouse receipt bin.
Then check the item ledger entries again. The last entry number is still 1985. Nothing new was posted to the item ledger.
This is the key point. The item ledger entry was created when you posted the warehouse receipt, not when you registered the put-away. The put-away is a movement of goods between bins, from the inbound receiving bin into your inventory bins. The inventory quantity in the item ledger was already accounted for at the receipt stage.
Why this matters when reconciling inventory
Understanding this split helps when you reconcile inventory or troubleshoot stock levels. The warehouse receipt drives the financial and inventory posting. The put-away only changes where the goods physically sit. If you expect new item ledger entries every time you register a put-away, you will be looking in the wrong place.
Q&A
Does registering a warehouse put-away create item ledger entries in Business Central?
No. Registering a warehouse put-away only updates the bin content by moving goods from the receiving bin into your storage bins. It does not create any new item ledger entries. In the example, the last item ledger entry number stayed at 1985 before and after the put-away.
When is the item ledger entry posted in a warehouse receipt and put-away flow?
The item ledger entry is posted when you post the warehouse receipt. The receipt brings the quantity into inventory. The later put-away only moves the goods between bins and does not touch the item ledger.
Can you change the bin code on a warehouse put-away?
Yes, but only before you register the document. In the example the place bin code was 1606, and you can adjust it up to the point of registration.