Warehouse Mobile in Business Central supports GS1 barcodes, which lets you scan a single barcode and have the system automatically read multiple identifiers at once. The supported identifiers are the Global Trade Item Number (GTIN), batch number, best before date, and serial number.
When you scan a GS1 barcode, Warehouse Mobile splits it into its separate identifiers and applies each one to the right field. If you scan a barcode that contains both a GTIN linked to an item and a serial number, the app records the item and the serial number in one action and moves on to the next line.
You can mix GS1-scanned items and manually entered items on the same purchase order receipt. After posting, the serial numbers you scanned appear directly on the item tracking lines of the purchase order.
What GS1 barcodes are and which identifiers Warehouse Mobile supports
GS1 barcodes are barcodes that combine several identifiers in one code. A single barcode can hold information about the item, item tracking details, and more. When you receive pallets of goods from your vendors, the packaging often carries a GS1 barcode like this.
In Warehouse Mobile, the GS1 barcode is split apart so each identifier is read and used separately. The app supports four identifiers:
- Global Trade Item Number (GTIN)
- Batch number
- Best before date
- Serial number
In a typical example, the barcode contains a GTIN that maps to a specific item in your database, plus a serial number for that physical unit.
Receiving a purchase order with GS1 barcodes in Warehouse Mobile
The scenario starts with a purchase order that has not yet been received. The item on it, item number 5000, is set up as an item tracking handled item. Before receiving, the item has no item tracking lines.
To receive, open Warehouse Mobile as a warehouse mobile user on a basic location, which is a simple location type that lets you receive directly on the purchase order. You first run through the standard purchase order logic: enter the purchase order number, posting date, and vendor shipment number, and confirm whether you want to set the quantity to receive in one step.
Once that is done, you scan the GS1 barcode. The barcode in this case holds the cross reference number for the item and the serial number. After you confirm, the app moves straight on to the next line, because it already knows the quantity must be one for a serial-numbered item. Scan the next serial number and it loops on the same item number again.
Mixing serial-numbered and non-serial items on the same receipt
You are not limited to GS1-coded items. If you switch to item number 20,000, which is not a serial-numbered item and is not handled with a GS1 barcode, you add the quantity to receive manually. You can then go back to scanning the serial-numbered item with the GS1 barcode again.
This makes it easy to scan GS1 barcodes one after another and handle multiple scans quickly, while still entering other items by hand when needed.
Where the scanned data ends up
When you look at the purchase order after scanning, you can see the result on the item tracking lines. Every serial number you scanned from the GS1 barcodes appears there, ready for posting.
Q&A
Which GS1 identifiers does Warehouse Mobile support?
Warehouse Mobile supports the Global Trade Item Number (GTIN), batch number, best before date, and serial number. When you scan a GS1 barcode, the app splits it and applies each identifier to the right field.
Can I receive directly on a purchase order with Warehouse Mobile?
Yes. Set up as a warehouse mobile user on a basic location and you can receive directly on the purchase order, entering the purchase order number, posting date, and vendor shipment number as part of the standard receiving flow.
What happens when I scan a GS1 barcode for a serial-numbered item?
The app reads the GTIN and the serial number from the barcode, records both, and moves on to the next line automatically, since it knows the quantity must be one for a serial-numbered item.
Can I mix GS1 scanning with manually entered items on the same receipt?
Yes. You can scan GS1 barcodes for serial-numbered items and manually enter the quantity to receive for items that are not serial-numbered or not GS1-coded, all on the same purchase order.
Where can I see the serial numbers I scanned?
The scanned serial numbers appear on the item tracking lines of the purchase order, where you can review them before posting.