This is what happens in the video
When you handle rental items in Business Central, you can use a transfer order instead of a resource on the sales order line. This gives you proper inventory handling through outbound and inbound transfer orders, and it lets you plan on the items so you always know when a rental item is available again.
The outbound transfer order acts as a supply entry in your planning. When you set an expected shipment date, the item leaves your basic stock on that date and shows up in your planning worksheet and standard item availability views.
The inbound transfer order tells you when the rental item is expected to come back to your basic location. By planning on both transfers, you can use the standard item availability functionality to see exactly when an item is out on rent and when it is back and ready to rent out again.
Using a transfer order instead of a resource for rental items
When you swap the resource on the sales order line for a transfer order, you get two things at once. First, you can use the outbound and inbound transfer order to handle the movement in inventory. Second, you can actually plan on the items, which a resource does not allow.
This means the rental items are no longer just a handling exercise. They become part of your normal inventory and planning flow.
Outbound transfer order as supply in planning
The outbound transfer order behaves like a normal supply when you plan on the item. If you have an outbound transfer order set to leave on September 20, that date shows up in your planning.
Whether you use the planning worksheet, requisition planning, or another planning tool, this becomes the actual physical inventory movement. On that date the rented-out items are removed from your basic stock.
Inbound transfer order shows when rental items return
If you plan on the inbound transfer order, you also see when the item is expected to come back. For example, you might register that on October 5 you expect the item to return to your basic location.
You can view this on the customer location as well, though that location is less interesting since the item simply sits with the customer until it comes back.
Tracking rental availability with standard item availability
By combining the outbound and inbound transfer orders, you can use the standard item availability in Business Central to control whether your rental item is on your basic location or not. This lets you see when an item is out on rent and, just as importantly, when it is back and available to rent out again.
Q&A
Why use a transfer order instead of a resource for rental items in Business Central?
A transfer order lets you handle the movement in inventory through outbound and inbound transfer orders, and it lets you plan on the items. A resource does not give you this planning capability.
How does the outbound transfer order affect planning?
The outbound transfer order acts as a supply with an expected shipment date. On that date the rented-out items are removed from your basic stock, and the movement appears in your planning worksheet and other planning tools.
How do you see when a rental item is available again?
Plan on the inbound transfer order, which registers the expected return date to your basic location. Using standard item availability, you can then see when the item is back in your basic stock and ready to rent out again.