Advanced Inventory: Item Bins

Learn how to pull Item Quantities out of a Location and into Item Bins. This helps warehouses mirror the way they organize their surplus stock into overhead shelves/ bins.

Definition

Item Bins are a feature for segregating Current Inventory (Item quantities at a single Location) into temporary containers for the purpose of long term storage. Quantities transferred to a Bin are no longer married to a specific Location, and because of this they aren't available to the Portal Storefront, for Visits, or for larger item Transactions. This deliberately mirrors the way a larger warehouse operation segregates pallets or bins of items that aren't immediately destined for dispersal. You can track the rack and shelf locations of each bin, expiration dates, and of course their contents. As with all inventory, you can utilize barcode scanning to expedite moving Items to and from their intended bins.

Basic Setup Overview

Bins are created from the Inventory Management screen:

Once you have created bins you will be able to see them by going to Item Bins on the Inventory Menu noted in the image above.

From the Inventory Management screen, you will select the transaction type of Transfer and then select the item type or leave it defaulted to All. Choose the Source Location from which you would like to transfer to a bin and then under Recipient Bin select New Bin:   

The next step is to enter the quantities that you want to transfer to a bin and then select Move Quantities in the upper right corner. This will bring up a window to enter the details of your bin:

Name: The name should resemble the contents of the bin.

Number: A bin number is required but can be customized.

Rack/Shelf: Add information about the location of a bin in your facility. 

Weight: If the items in the bin already had a weight associated the weight would be automatically calculated or, you can enter the weight. 

Expiration Date: Enter the date that the items may expire.

Comments: Add any additional comments about the bin. 

Once a bin has been created the items will no longer be available for distribution until the bin has been transferred, in its entirety to the Recipient Location. However, the contents and quantities of each bin will be listed on the current inventory screen. 

When you are ready to make the bin contents available for distribution go to Inventory -> Management and select the transaction type of Transfer. Choose the Source Bin from which you would like to transfer to a Recipient Location (note: as of the writing of this article bins can only be transferred in their entirety and not as a partial)