Transfer Types
There are three types of inventory transfers that you can create in Inventory Manager.
Before you start exploring the types, get a glimpse of key terms and definitions associated with inventory movement.
Standard Transfers
A standard transfer allows you to move inventory from one inventory location to another inventory location, for example, from a warehouse to a retail location that stores inventory or from one truck to another, showing the reduction of inventory from the location where the inventory was taken (source location) and the increase where the inventory was sent to (destination location).
Standard Transfer Statuses
For you to get better visibility into inventory movement and see which parts have already been picked, shipped, partially received, or received in full, there are five statuses:
- OPEN A transfer has been created. You can add items to the transfer or modify the part quantity to be shipped.
- PICKING The items are being picked off the shelf. You can no longer add other items to the transfer. When there is a need to add more parts, you should move your transfer back to the Open status.
- SHIPPED The items have been shipped to the receiving location.
- PARTIALLY RECEIVED Your transfer will be automatically moved to this status when the sum of the quantity received plus the quantity lost is less than the quantity shipped. Some of the items may still be on the way to the destination location. In that case, you will be able to update the part quantity received as soon as the part is delivered.
- RECEIVED The items have been received at the destination location.
See also Standard Transfer Lifecycle to learn more about transfer statuses.
There are also standard transfers that are carried out immediately. Immediate standard transfers skip the shipping and receiving processes. They are created with the Received status assigned.
Standard Transfer Lifecycle
The lifecycle of a standard inventory transfer consists of the following steps.
Step 1: Open Status
Creating a standard transfer is only the first step of the journey! While a standard transfer is in the Open status, you can add more parts to the transfer and adjust the part quantity to be shipped.
Step 2: Picking Status
Once you have added all the required parts to a transfer, it is time for a designated person to come and pick up the parts. When the items are being picked off the shelf at an inventory location, set the inventory transfer to the Picking status, letting all the stakeholders know that no more parts can be added to this transfer, and the part quantity to ship can no longer be modified as the parts are getting ready to be shipped. If you need to change the quantity to ship after the transfer is put into the Picking status, the inventory manager can reopen the transfer to make adjustments.
Step 3: Shipped Status
Parts have been shipped! They are on their way to the receiving location. Set the inventory status to Shipped.
Step 4: Partially Received Status
Some of the requested parts have not been delivered yet to the destination location. In this case, your transfer will automatically move to the Partially Received status.
Step 5: Received Status
Parts have been delivered to the destination location. The location manager acknowledged the receipt. The transfer status can be set to Received.
Learn how you can create standard transfers.
Store Transfers
A store transfer moves inventory parts from a warehouse or a supply house to a retail location where parts, for example, paper towels and light bulbs, are consumed. Keep in mind that store transfers are immediate, meaning that the on-hand quantity of the transferred part is reduced from the part on-hand quantity at the source location immediately.
Creating a store transfer results in a work order being automatically generated, with the transferred parts and their cost being attached to that work order.
Learn how you can create store transfers.
Restocking Transfers
A restocking transfer permits you to set up the restocking schedule and rules for your warehouses and trucks.
Restocking Process for Trucks
Inventory Manager will automatically detect parts to be restocked across your trucks based on the restocking method you have chosen in your restocking settings. Then, a restocking transfer will be generated to move parts from your warehouse to trucks.
The warehouse where parts should be taken from should be specified as the primary supply location for your trucks in Locations & Provider Assignments.
Restocking Process for Warehouses
Inventory Manager will automatically detect parts to be restocked across your warehouses based on the restocking method you have chosen in your restocking settings. Then, a restocking transfer will be generated.
Restocking Transfer Statuses
For you to keep track of inventory transfers and see which parts have already been picked, shipped, partially received, and received in full, there are four statuses:
- PICKING The items are being picked off the shelf. You can no longer add other items to the transfer and modify the quantity to be shipped. If you need to adjust the quantity to be shipped and add more items, you will need to move your transfer back to the Open status.
- SHIPPED The items have been shipped to the receiving location.
- PARTIALLY RECEIVED Your transfer will be automatically moved to this status when the sum of the quantity received plus the quantity lost is less than the quantity shipped. Some of the items may still be on the way to the destination location. In that case, you will be able to update the part quantity received as soon as the outstanding quantity is delivered.
- RECEIVED The items have been received at the destination location.
See also Restocking Transfer Lifecycle to learn more about transfer statuses.
- By default, all your inventory parts are included in the auto-restocking process. You can exclude certain inventory parts from the process by clearing the Auto Restock checkbox in the overlay for editing part information, in your Parts Catalog.
- Restocking transfers are created in the Picking status. No changes can be made to the list of items to be transferred when the transfer is in this status. However, your FTM internal techs can update the part quantity to be shipped or add more parts to the upcoming transfer from the SC Provider mobile app before the restocking routine runs. Once the routine runs per the configured schedule, the only way to update the part quantity to be shipped is to move the transfer back to the Open status and then adjust the part quantity.
Restocking Transfer Lifecycle
The lifecycle of a restocking transfer consists of the following steps.
Step 1: Picking Status
Once all the required parts are added to a transfer, it’s time for a designated person to come and pick up the parts. When the items are being picked off the shelf at an inventory location, set the inventory transfer to the Picking status, letting all the stakeholders know that no more parts can be added to this transfer, and the part quantity to ship can no longer be modified as the parts are getting ready to be shipped. If you need to change the quantity to ship after the transfer is put into the Picking status, the inventory manager can reopen the transfer to make adjustments.
Step 2: Shipped Status
Parts have been shipped! They are on their way to the receiving location. Set the inventory status to Shipped.
Step 3: Partially Received Status
Some of the requested parts have not been delivered yet to the destination location. In this case, your transfer will be automatically moved to the Partially Received status.
Step 4: Received Status
Parts have been delivered to the destination location. The location manager acknowledged the receipt. The transfer status can be set to Received.
