Serial numbers
There are two recommended methods for handling serial numbers in Business NXT. The preferred method is using the Reservation table, which ensures complete inventory control and traceability. Alternatively, the Serial no. table can be used, but it lacks comprehensive stock control.
Serial numbers can be set up to handle goods throughout the supply chain, from inbound to outbound. It can also be set up to only handle serial numbers for outgoing deliveries.
Serial numbers throughout the supply chain
It is important to set up the products correctly in the Processing method dialog in relation to the level of traceability you require for serial numbers.
Stock increase
To get an allocation of serial numbers when there is a stock increase (goods receipt, production, credit notes) you need to set up One shipment per unit at stock increase in the processing method. With this setting, Business NXT automatically generates one shipment per unit.
With the setting in the processing method Calculate "Finish NOW" when entering serial no you can make Business NXT to automatically finish the post during stock increase. The value in the Finish NOW field in the order line increases when you register the serial number in the Order line, Reservation and Serial no. tables.
Serial numbers are updated from the order line to reservations, then to shipments, and finally to product transactions.
You can enter the serial number in the Order line table or in the Reservation table during finishing.
If the Reject: Duplicate serial no. option is enabled in the processing method for the product, Business NXT performs checks when entering a serial number, alerting if it’s a duplicate.
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| One shipment per unit at stock increase | One shipment for each serial number is generated if there is a goods receipt, production credit note or other stock increases. |
| Calculate "Finish NOW" when entering serial no. | The value in the Finish NOW field in the order line increases when you register the serial number in the Order line, Reservation and Serial no. tables |
| Reject: Duplicate serial no. | You select this option if you want to reject duplications of the same serial number for an order line in the Serial no. and Reservation tables. |
Stock decrease
Business NXT searches the Shipment table for the serial number during stock reductions.
In most cases you do not want to allocate serial numbers from shipments when printing the pick list. For this setup you need to enable One reservation line per unit at stock reduction in the processing method. You can enter the serial number in empty reservation lines for outgoing deliveries. If you have selected Calculate "Finish NOW" when entering serial no for the product, Business NXT updates the Finish NOW field with quantity 1.
If you instead want a strict allocation of serial numbers when printing the pick list, you must select Reserve serial no. at picking, and Business NXT will then generate reservation lines when picking in the usual way.
You can enter the serial number in the Order line table during finishing, but we recommend that you specify the serial number in the Reservation table, as this causes Business NXT to save one product transaction per reservation line. This gives you full control over withdrawals and at the same time traceability is ensured in the Product transaction table.
If the Reject non-existent serial nos. option is enabled in the processing method for the product, a registration of a serial number that does not exist in the Shipment table will be blocked.
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| One reservation line per unit at stock reduction | One reservation row for each serial number is generated if there is a finished sales order, further processing, production or other stock reductions. |
| Reserve serial no. when picking | Business NXT will generate reservation lines when picking |
| Reject: Non-existent serial no. | A check is done if the registered serial number is in the Shipment table. |
Serial numbers only for outgoing deliveries
You have the possibility to set up Business NXT to handle serial numbers only for outgoing deliveries. For this setup you need to enable One reservation line per unit at stock reduction in the processing method for the product for full traceability without needing to register serial numbers at goods receipt. In this case you should not select the Reject non-existent serial nos. option in the processing method.
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| One reservation line per unit at stock reduction | One reservation row for each serial number is generated if there is a finished sales order, further processing, production or other stock reductions. |
Serial no. table
You use this table when you need to enter several serial numbers for a sales order line or a purchase order line and do not want strict individual control. For example, serial numbers of electrical products such as TVs and radios are needed for guarantees. There is therefore occasionally a need for several serial numbers for a sales or purchase order line.
You can use serial numbers for either incoming or outgoing deliveries of products. If you want the serial numbers to be stored in a shipment, you must have one incoming delivery per individual per product. In this case we recommend that you use the Reservation table.
Pick list and reservations
As picking serial numbers doesn't produce reservation lines, you can't use Picked NOW or the processing menu item Withdraw pick list in this instance, as the reservation lines are the key to this function. There is therefore a separate processing menu item in the Order line table to withdraw these reservations called Withdraw picking without reservation.
Printing documents
When printing documents involving serial numbers, certain parameters must be considered to ensure accurate serial number inclusion.
Pick lists
If you have selected Reserve serial no. at picking in the processing method, you must not at the same time select the Combine reservations per order line on the Picking tab in the in printout settings. You would then not have serial numbers printed in the reserved lines. The Use serial no. from reservations selection does not apply for pick lists that generate reservation lines.
Invoice with serial number from the Reservation table
In the printout settings, you find the Serial no. from reservation lines option.
With this setting, order lines with serial numbers from the Reservation table are inserted under the order lines in the printout. Serial numbers are printed consecutively in the description column with spaces between them.
Invoice with serial number from the Serial no. table
In the printout settings, you find the Serial no. from Serial nos. table option.
With this setting, order lines with serial numbers from the Serial no. table are inserted under the order lines in the printout. Serial numbers are printed consecutively in the description column with spaces between them.