Ever ordered online a product where you subsequently received a totally different product?
It happened to me recently and apart from the irritation I felt, I thought (throw it on “professional deformation”) what the impact would be on the logistics process. After all, it took me time: I had to call the customer service department, then register the product online to be able to send it back and drop off the package at the post office. But it also cost the supplier time and money, because they had to reintroduce the product into their process, send the right product and analyze why an incorrect product had been delivered. Not good for the customer satisfaction, and also cost inefficient.

In order to be able to prevent this as much as possible, many clients demand that they can keep track of what happens to their goods at a detailed level. Especially when it comes to goods with a high value – for example of telecom products, hardware, consumer electronics or exclusive meat – it is not surprising that they want to know exactly what has been delivered to their customers. But what kind of impact would that have on your processes? Does the thought of all the extra actions that are needed to support this already stress you out? Or do you already receive goods that have different specifications? Do you have pallets with outer boxes, boxes and serial numbers, of which you should be able to easily store, move or take out in whole or in parts? How do you keep up to speed and prevent blocking the process?

Until recently, you were able to capture the serial number in our solution at box and piece level but only on one level. Suppose you receive a pallet with 500 hard disks. Depending on the lead time, you probably don’t store all the pieces on the pick location, but for example only 100 pieces. Forcing you to scan the hard disks you wanted to move one by one or even count them by hand. Not really efficient and there should be another – more efficient – way, right? With the help of the ‘serial number registration’ functionality you handle this process faster and more accurate.

In this blog, I have listed the 5 biggest advantages of the new ‘Serial registration’ functionality in Dynamics NAV.

1. Full track and trace capabilities of all specifications
Serial numbers and other specifications can – depending on the agreements made with your clients – be recorded upon arrival of the goods, when sending or both. The numbers can be tracked throughout the entire process. Based on the serial number, all related activities, such as goods in/out or movements, can easily be retrieved.

2. Adjust the specification method per item
Not all articles are the same. By establishing a specification method, the structure can be defined per customer item and also specify which characteristics are mandatory for the item. For example, the structure of an item hard disk can consist of a Pallet / Box / Box / Serial Number and a mobile handset of a Pallet / Box / IMEI. It is also possible to set at this level whether scanning of the serial numbers is mandatory on entry, sending or movement, and even what characteristics are mandatory for the article in question. For example, in the case of a hard disk, a serial number is required and, in the case of a mobile handset, an IMEI number.

3. Layered structures
Has a pallet been built up with multiple boxes and contents? By means of a simple scanning action, the pallet can be split or a box can be added. Scanning is possible at all levels within the specified set.
Serial number registration - Layered structures | Boltrics
4. Final check when booking
Depending on the specification method, it is possible to check during the process of goods in, movement or goods out whether all serial numbers have been fully specified. Based on the serial number, it is also possible to check whether the correct item has been taken from the correct lot and whether a serial number is unique.
5. EDI
Do you receive specifications in a pre-notification or do you have to report these back to the customer? Via an EDI link, you can easily exchange information with your client and suppliers.

Would you like to learn more about the possibilities for your organization?

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