This is what happens in the video
A warehouse receipt in Business Central handles the goods receipt process at locations that use directed put-away and pick. You use it instead of receiving directly on the purchase order when your location requires bin handling.
You create the warehouse receipt from the purchase order. The receipt collects the lines that need to be received, and you register the quantity to receive on each line before posting.
You can combine several purchase orders on the same warehouse receipt, even purchase orders from different vendors. This lets your warehouse staff receive across multiple documents in one operation.
When you post the warehouse receipt, Business Central posts the receipt itself and the related purchase orders, and it automatically creates a put-away document so you can move the goods from the receiving bin into your inventory.
What a warehouse receipt is in Business Central
A warehouse receipt is the document your warehouse uses to register incoming goods at a location set up with directed put-away and pick. On a simpler location you can receive goods directly on the purchase order, but on a full warehouse location you need the warehouse receipt as a separate step.
Take a purchase order with four lines that has not yet been received. If you check the related receipts and invoices, there are none. Because this purchase order points to a warehouse location with directed put-away, you cannot just receive on the order line. You create a warehouse receipt instead.
Creating a warehouse receipt from a purchase order
From the purchase order you use the action to create a warehouse receipt. Business Central opens the warehouse receipt directly with the lines from the order.
The warehouse receipt is meant as a working document for the warehouse staff. They fill in the quantity to receive on each line. You do not attach bins on the lines, because the goods default into the receipt bin defined in the header. In this example that is bin code 80. Everything you receive posts into that receiving bin.
Combining several purchase orders on one warehouse receipt
One warehouse receipt can hold lines from more than one purchase order. On the warehouse receipt you can import another document, for example a second purchase order, and that purchase order can even be from a different vendor.
In this example a second purchase order from vendor 88000 is added, and its lines appear on the same warehouse receipt. All those lines still default into bin code 80. This means your warehouse can receive goods across several documents in a single operation.
Printing the receipt for the warehouse staff
If you do not use handheld devices, terminal scanners, or other barcode-based equipment, you can print the warehouse receipt before you fill in the quantity to receive. The printed document gives the warehouse staff something to check the goods against when the delivery arrives. The print includes all the lines, also when they come from two different purchase orders.
Posting the warehouse receipt
Once you have entered the quantity to receive, you post the document. Posting does several things at once:
- It posts the warehouse receipt and turns it into a posted warehouse receipt.
- It posts the related purchase orders. In this scenario two source documents are posted.
- The quantity received is filled in on the purchase orders.
If you navigate into the receipts afterwards, you see a posted purchase receipt on each of the involved purchase orders.
The put-away document created after posting
Posting the warehouse receipt also creates a warehouse put-away document. The put-away holds all the lines you just received, with two lines per item: one to pick the item from bin 80 where you posted it, and one to place it in its final bin.
At this point the purchase orders and the warehouse receipt are posted, and the put-away document is open. You use the put-away to move the items from the receiving bin into your inventory.
Q&A
When do you need a warehouse receipt instead of receiving on the purchase order?
You need a warehouse receipt when the purchase order points to a warehouse location set up with directed put-away and pick. On simpler locations you can receive directly on the purchase order.
Can you receive goods from several purchase orders on one warehouse receipt?
Yes. You can import additional purchase orders onto the same warehouse receipt, including purchase orders from different vendors, and receive across all of them in one operation.
What happens to the bin when you post a warehouse receipt?
The received goods default into the receipt bin defined in the warehouse receipt header, for example bin code 80. You do not need to specify bins on the individual lines for the receipt.
What does posting a warehouse receipt create?
Posting creates a posted warehouse receipt, posts the related purchase orders, fills in the quantity received, and generates a warehouse put-away document so you can move the goods from the receiving bin into inventory.
How can you give the warehouse staff a checklist if you do not use scanners?
You can print the warehouse receipt before filling in the quantity to receive. The printed document lists all the lines, including those from multiple purchase orders, so staff can check the goods on arrival.