The graphical inventory profile in Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central lets you see your inventory across multiple locations. You can combine locations to check whether you can fulfil an order, even when a single location shows a negative inventory.
When you open the graphical inventory profile from an order line, it defaults to the location code on that line. You can change this to view other locations or sum up all locations at once.
A location that goes below zero does not always mean you cannot deliver. If you can move stock between locations, the combined inventory may still cover all your customer demand.
What the graphical inventory profile shows
The graphical inventory profile gives you a visual overview of inventory development over time. The key feature is that it works across locations, so you can add locations together and see the combined picture rather than looking at each one in isolation.
Take an example with item number 1000. You enter a quantity of 12 on a given date, and the inventory drops below zero on that line. That is an issue you need to investigate.
Investigating a single location from the order line
If you open the graphical inventory profile from the line, it defaults to the location code from that line. In this example, the profile shows the inventory going to minus 6 and minus 4. With those numbers, fulfilling the order from that single location is not possible.
Comparing other locations and combining them
Directly from the line, you can investigate other locations. You can switch from the default location to another one, for example the basic location, and see that the inventory profile there sums up to plus 10. This way you can step through the different locations one by one.
You can also look at all locations in one go. When you combine them in this example, the lowest point in the inventory profile is only one, not negative. The total inventory across all locations stays positive.
What this means for fulfilling customer orders
The combined view changes the conclusion. A single location showing minus 6 looks like a problem, but if the total across all locations never drops below one, you have enough stock overall.
If you can move inventory between locations without much effort, you can fulfil all customer demand, including the latest line you just entered. The graphical inventory profile helps you decide whether a transfer between locations solves the shortage before you turn down or delay an order.
Q&A
What does the graphical inventory profile in Business Central do?
It gives you a visual overview of your inventory across one or more locations. You can view a single location, compare different locations, or sum all locations together to see the combined inventory development over time.
Why does the inventory profile default to the location on the order line?
When you open the profile from an order line, it uses the location code on that line by default. This shows you the inventory situation for the exact location you are working with before you decide whether to look wider.
Can I fulfil an order if one location shows negative inventory?
Possibly yes. A negative inventory at a single location does not always mean you cannot deliver. If you combine all locations and the total stays positive, and you can move stock between locations easily, you can still fulfil all customer demand.
How do I check inventory across all locations at once?
From the order line, open the graphical inventory profile and switch from the single location view to all locations. You then see the combined inventory profile, including the lowest point across all locations.