PanatrackerGP USES the Dynamics GP database and extends GP to mobile devices to capture inventory-related transactions.
The transactions are created or updated in GP. There are many inventory features available to set up in GP to enhance inventory management using the PanatrackerGP solution. This page defines setup options available.
Multiple Bin Tracking
This feature is not typically utilized without the support of mobile data capture functionality. Once it is enabled in GP, every inventory-related transaction will require selection of the bin or will utilize default bins defined in GP. This feature allows the ability to assign multiple bin area locations under each Site. Every Site will require at least one bin to be setup when this feature is enabled.
If planning to enable this feature, it is recommended that you first enable it on a GP test environment. Be sure to plan your bin numbering based on logic such as the pick path through the warehouse or stockroom. Be sure to design the physical space for numbering.
Tip: Avoid starting your bin numbers with a 0. Avoid spaces. Instead use dashes.
Bins typically identify a specific location such as a Aisle or Row and Section and/or Shelf position.
Ideally, changing to multi-bin tracking is best to be coordinated with a full stock count of your warehouse or stockroom. To plan for your conversion to multiple bin tracking in GP, all inventory transactions (including invoices), must be posted in GP before enabling the feature. Once enabled, all items will be assigned to a bin named AUTOCREATE. Run a reconcile and check links. Complete your bin setup to each site.
Once GP inventory is set to AUTOCREATE, complete your counts using a bin move transaction (or put away). Your count will be moving the items in each bin location FROM AUTOCREATE TO the actual bin location. Once you have all bin locations completed; then you will be able to review the remaining items and quantities in the AUTOCREATE bin. This will represent your variances for your count. If your inventory is serial or lot tracked and you do not have enough to move from AUTOCREATE, then use the Adjustment Add to add the additional inventory. These transactions will also represent your variance.
Some organizations opt to set up a stock count schedule to complete a second count against the bin locations after the moves have been completed for a verification.
Setup of Default Bins
Once you have your bins defined, review the default bin setup. Default bins can be defined on the SITE level or an be defined for each ITEM + SITE. The default bin setup options include:
- Purchase Receipts. The default for PO Receiving transactions. If using a general Dock or Staging bin for your receipts and then plan to do a put-away step, define the default on the Site level. If you have a single or primary stock location or are putting the items away as they are received, then set this up on the Item+Site level.
- Purchase Returns.
- Sales Order Fulfillment. This is typically defined on the Item+Site level as the primary pick from bin location.
- Sales Returns.
- Assembly Receipts. Associated with the Inventory Assembly transaction. Similar to the Purchase Receipts logic, if the finished good, assembled item is recorded in a general bin and then put away, set the default on the Site level.
- Materials Issue. Associated with manufacturing. However, PanatrackerGP uses this for the Assembly components logic also. This is the default bin where component or ingredient items are issued from. Required to be setup on the Site level when GP manufacturing is installed.
- Manufacturing Receipts. Apply the same logic as Assembly Receipts for finished goods. This applies to manufacturing functionality. Required to be setup on the Site level when GP manufacturing is installed.
- Repair Issues.
Priority Bin Setup
On the Item + Site level, priority bins can also be defined. Priority bins add another level of logic that can be utilized such as restricting where items can be put away, for example. Also, min and max levels can be set up per item per site location for each bin.
It is recommended to set the Sales Order Fulfillment bin as Priority 1 bin if the item is a sales item used on sales order processing as this is typically the primary bin to keep stocked.
Adding multiple bin setup will provide the ability to know more specifically WHERE inventory is located and the quantity in each individual bin location. Basically, it provides a map of exactly where to find each item.
Sales Order Fulfillment
There are multiple ways to set up Sales Order Fulfillment processing. To use PanatrackerGP, sales order processing orders or invoices must be set up with a separate fulfillment process. The order fulfillment process using PanatrackerGP then updates the sales orders with the actual quantities picked, lots and serial numbers selected.
By setting up multiple bin tracking, the order fulfillment pick list can be sorted based on the Sales Order Fulfillment bin default for the Item+Site. A setting option to default the next bin with a quantity available can be enabled to direct the picker to overstock or additional inventory locations.
With the logic to set the To Invoice quantity to match the fulfilled quantity, transfer to invoices can be done without additional interaction when using the Order type.
Another advantage of using multiple bin tracking with sales order fulfillment is providing the most accurate quantity available levels. When a sales order is allocated, the allocation is applied to the quantities on the SITE level. Allocated quantities are applied to On Hand quantities to get to the Available quantity. When orders are picked, the bin quantities are allocated with the submitted pick back to GP to update the BIN available quantity. This will typically represent the most up-to-date quantity available for the item.
Sales Process Holds are a great tool to apply restrictions. A few examples include:
- Setup a hold to restrict transferring of documents to be applied at the start of the sales order pick functionality and removed at the end.
- Setup a hold to restrict fulfillment of sales orders for those orders that may be on credit hold.
Other Uses for Sites
Sites can be used for more than a location. Sites may be setup to quarantine inventory. This is especially effective for organizations that set sites on sales orders or manufacturing orders as the site selection will filter out the inventory that is technically not available.
Sites can also be set up to represent an ‘in-transit’ state of inventory when a transfer occurs over a longer period of time. Transfer 1 would be TO a ‘VIA’ or ‘IN-TRANSIT’ site. A second transfer provides a verification of the first transfer moving the inventory FROM the ‘VIA’ or ‘IN-TRANSIT’ site to the destination site. Consider using the Panatracker Directed Transfer infrastructure to support transfer functionality.
Sites can also be set up to be associated with customer address locations for consignment inventory tracking as well as the default Site when entering sales orders for the customer address.
Stock Count Schedules
Dynamics GP has a Stock Count infrastructure that can be setup. PanatrackerGP’s Stock Count functionality uses the Stock Count infrastructure in GP. Some tips in setting up your Stock Count Schedules:
- Instead of one large stock count, set up multiple stock counts. For example, for a specific site and a range of bins. This allows the ability to complete the review and processing of stock counts in a more manageable way and once each stock count is processed, activity for that item or bin can resume.
- Be sure to post all inventory transactions before you start the Stock Count to make sure the On Hand quantities are updated. (Stock Count logic in GP is based on the ON HAND quantities, not available.) If there are unposted sales orders that have been fulfilled (using multiple-bin tracking); be sure to record a list of the items on the orders and fulfilled quantities to apply to the counts. (For the same reason as other inventory transactions, the On Hand will not be updated until the transactions are posted. Sales orders fulfilled and not posted may represent incorrect variances.)
- When using multiple bin tracking, the option to move the items from the stock bin to a staging bin is available to setup on Order Fulfill to keep the stock bin On Hand quantities up to date. The staging bins used in this type of setup would not be added to a stock count schedule.
- Setup cycle counts versus a full physical. This allows counting a smaller group of items to limit downtime during the counts.
PanatrackerGP also has a SPOT COUNT transaction. This allows a single count against a specific item+bin and can be completed against either On Hand or Available quantities. The variance is submitted to GP as a Transaction Entry that is either negative or positive depending on the variance. Note: Serial tracked items are not supported for this count.