I am often asked about the differences between all the settings on the location card and have been engaged in making changes after a client has gone live with Business Central.

We have three levels: the first one with no dedicated warehouse activities. This is the simplest of the three, and all the receiving and shipping happens on the purchase order, sales order, and transfer orders; you can have bins turned on, and the user would need to specify the bin on the order before posting.  This option is excellent if you have a simple warehouse and minimal staff or the person entering orders is the same as the person receiving and shipping. 

The second level is basic, and you have a couple of options, require receipt and/or require ship, the process creates a separate document, and it allows the warehouse staff to avoid having to open or be in the orders for receiving and shipping. This also provides the option to use bins.  You can use this one to consolidate receiving and shipping for posting multiple orders simultaneously.  This is helpful for the segregation of duties.  Basic order by order, and you can require a Putaway and Pick; this one matches the warehouse and system processes.  You would also do what you physically do in the warehouse in the system.

The last option is advanced. This option comes with several different settings and processes.  On the location card, you set the required receipt and Putaway and need to ship and pick.  You don’t have to select all four options, but it is usually all or nothing when using this setting.  The other option to consider is directed Pick and Putaway; when you use this complexity, the system can suggest bins to put the product into when receiving and where to pick.  The system will require additional documents on the production order and consumption journal if you manufacture and use production orders.  This option is usually used in combination with barcoding and handheld devices.

The cross-dock functionality is another area to discuss.  If you have a short turnaround and receive a product that needs to be shipped that day, consider using the cross-dock.  This process will save you time in the warehouse.

Here is a chart for each of the options: