The information contained in the respective origin document from Navision or Business Central is available to warehouse employees in real time on their mobile devices (handheld, mobile barcode scanner, PDA, tablet, etc.) via the NAV/Business Central warehouse management system.
To execute the controlled putaway, the employee selects the corresponding putaway document in the mobile data collection. The employee can filter based on various parameters in order to select the correct document.
The following filters are available:
• Order number/document number
• Item number
• Show all open documents
After selecting the correct document, the employee will automatically receive all information about this shipment on their mobile device (barcode scanner, tablet, PDA). By scanning a barcode, the warehouse personnel records the information on the goods putaway, such as the current quantity moved as well as the respective storage bins to which the goods have been put away, and transfers the information directly to MS Dynamics NAV/Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central while the goods are still physically being put away.
In addition, in the NAV free space search function of the WMS for NAV or Business Central, the employee has the option of having a free storage bin displayed directly on the mobile device, where they can store the goods if the suggested bin is not available. Splitting to other locations is also possible with mobile warehouse management.
Following completed execution of the goods putaway process, the warehouse personnel confirms the completion of the controlled storage in the NAV/Business Central warehouse management software. The receipt disappears from the mobile device and the employee can focus on the next warehousing of goods.
The entered or registered putaways are further processed according to the business logic of Navision or Business Central and the information is forwarded back to the respective source documents.
Putaway is the process of placing the goods to be stored in the warehouse. In contrast to the warehouse bin cards used in the past to document the storage of goods, nowadays the warehouse stock is increased by a goods receipt entry in an EDP system and then stored by means of a putaway entry.
MS Dynamics NAV and Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central offer two options for goods putaway following goods receipt. You can create a putaway directly from a purchase order. In addition, you can also create a putaway from this document for storage locations that use the Navision or Business Central goods receipt document. This is also referred to as a two-stage goods receipt or putaway process.
A purchase order is entered in MS Dynamics NAV or Business Central by the purchasing department prior to generating a warehouse putaway from a purchasing document in NAV or Business Central. The information about the expected items, such as item number, storage bin code, ordered quantity, etc., is copied from the linked order. In addition, an additional column will appear on the warehouse putaway document, called “Movement quantity.” In practice, the movement quantity corresponds to the quantity actually delivered.
Often, the warehouse putaway document is still printed out directly after creation in MS Dynamics NAV or Microsoft Dynamics Business Central without specifying the movement quantity and passed on to the warehouse personnel. After the goods have arrived and been put away, the information about the delivered items, which was previously recorded in writing on the printed receipt, is added or corrected at a later time at a desktop workstation on the warehouse putaway receipt in Navision or Business Central. The document is then entered in NAV or Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, the stock putaway is archived and the order lines are updated at the same time.
The goods receipt document within Warehouse Putaway usually consists of several purchase orders that are combined into one document in Navision or Business Central. Similar to the “warehouse putaway,” all information about the expected items, such as item number, storage bin code, ordered quantity, etc., is also transferred during putaway in connection with a Warehouse Receipt document. Subsequently, the putaway can be output as a printed list for the employees.
Once the goods have been put away and the warehouse worker’s handwritten information has been manually transferred to the putaway document in MS Dynamics NAV or Business Central, the goods putaway can be registered in Navision or Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central and the lines of the original document updated accordingly.
The problem of putaway in Microsoft Dynamics NAV and in Business Central is primarily caused by the use of paper documents. The transparency of inventory cannot be guaranteed at all times due to the possible risk of errors caused by incorrect entries as well as the time lag between the information update on the paper documents and its final transfer to Navision or Business Central. This, in turn, results in inconsistencies in the flow of information and brings with it an increased administrative burden. Another problem with putaway in MS Dynamics NAV and Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is that goods are often physically available in a storage bin, but have not yet been entered in the system. Conversely, entering the issue of these goods in a manufacturing order is not possible and all subsequent entries are delayed.
Using a mobile data collection system including a mobile-controlled storage system will remedy this situation. Stock can be entered directly at the storage compartment. The risk of errors is also significantly reduced with the warehouse management software (WMS) from L-mobile, and the delay-free feedback without changes in media to MS Dynamics NAV or Business Central ensures consistent stock transparency.
Begin with the L-mobile starter kit and add other modules as you need
Feel free to also read our information center article and learn how mobile putaway with L-mobile warehouse speeds up the storage of your goods thanks to barcodes and scanners.
