When you work with a location that uses bin codes but does not require warehouse receipts, you can receive and put away purchase order items in a single step using an inventory put-away document in Business Central. You do not need a separate warehouse receipt. Posting the inventory put-away both receives the goods and posts the purchase order at the same time.
You can handle the inventory put-away manually inside Business Central, or you can use the warehouse mobile functionality to scan and process it directly on the warehouse floor.
If a purchase order has only one inventory put-away, the mobile app finds it automatically when you scan the purchase number or item number. If there are several, you choose which one to work on.
The bin code defaults from the purchase line, which comes from the standard bin code on the item. You can override it and put the items on any bin you scan. You can also receive a partial quantity if you only received part of the delivery.
Receiving and putting away on a purchase order without a warehouse receipt
This process applies to locations that require bin codes but do not require a separate purchase receipt. Instead of receiving on a warehouse receipt document, you receive directly on the put-away document.
Start with the purchase order. In this example the order has two item numbers with different quantities. The system has already selected a bin code by default, because the location requires bin codes, and that bin code comes from the standard bin code set on the item.
Someone needs to release the purchase order, and then create a warehouse put-away document. This is standard Business Central. Once the put-away document is prepared, it is ready to handle.
Handling the put-away manually or with warehouse mobile
You can handle the document manually by opening it and entering the information yourself. If you use the warehouse mobile functionality out in the warehouse, the process can be flow based instead.
On the mobile device you select Put-away purchase, then either scan or enter the purchase number, or enter the item number and let the app find the purchase number for you. Both options work.
Pick one of the item numbers you have in your hand. It does not matter whether you start with the first or the second item.
Selecting bin code and quantity
Next you state the bin code. Because there is only one inventory put-away for this purchase order, the app finds it automatically. If there had been more than one inventory put-away, you would be asked to select which one you are working on.
The bin code shown is the one from the purchase line, but you can override it and scan whatever bin code you want to place the items on.
Then you select the quantity. You can move on to the next item or look at the list to see what is still expected. After taking the full quantity of the first item, only one item is left. You can scan or select it and put it on the same bin. You can receive the full quantity, or only part of it, for example four units if you only received four.
Posting the inventory put-away and the purchase order together
When you post the inventory put-away document, you also post the purchase order at the same time. This is the difference between a warehouse document and an inventory document. A warehouse document only handles the warehouse side, while the inventory put-away posts both the receipt and the purchase order in one action.
After posting, you are ready to receive on the next purchase order. Looking back at the purchase order in this example, four and six units have been received on bin code 12.05, and a posted inventory put-away document has been created.
Q&A
When can you use an inventory put-away instead of a warehouse receipt?
You use an inventory put-away when the location requires bin codes but does not require a separate purchase receipt. You then receive directly on the put-away document rather than on a warehouse receipt.
What happens when you post an inventory put-away document?
Posting the inventory put-away both receives the goods and posts the purchase order at the same time. This is the difference from a warehouse document, which only handles the warehouse side.
Where does the default bin code come from?
The default bin code comes from the standard bin code set on the item, which is carried onto the purchase line. You can override it and scan any bin code you want to place the items on.
Can you receive a partial quantity on an inventory put-away?
Yes. You can receive the full quantity or only part of it. For example, you can receive four units if only four were delivered.
What happens if a purchase order has more than one inventory put-away?
If there is only one inventory put-away, the app finds it automatically when you scan the purchase or item number. If there are several, you are asked to select which one you want to handle.