Get started with setting up the Warehouse management module

This article explains how to work with the built-in wizards and checklists that can help you quickly and efficiently set up and configure the Warehouse management module.

Track the Warehouse management configuration processes

Use the Warehouse implementation tasks workspace to track your Warehouse management configuration processes. The workspace can be used during a new implementation, after an upgrade, or after a migration.

The workspace lets you create, edit, and import checklists that you can use to identify important implementation tasks and track your progress while you complete them. It lets you perform the following actions:

• Track progress by viewing all current and closed configuration tasks.
• Select hyperlinks to quickly access the configuration page that's required for each step.
• Import a default configuration checklist that includes the tasks that you must complete to get a warehouse up and running.

Open the Warehouse implementation tasks workspace

To open the workspace, go to Warehouse management > Workspaces > Warehouse implementation tasks.

Create an implementation project

You must first create at least one implementation task project. You can add as many projects as you need. All data that's shown in the workspace is filtered by the selected implementation task project. Follow these steps to create a project in the Warehouse implementation tasks workspace.

1. In the Warehouse implementation tasks workspace, select New project at the top of the page.

2. In the drop-down dialog box, set the following fields:

   • New project – Enter a name for the project.

   • Copy existing project – Select one of the following values to specify whether you want to create a new, blank project or to start from a copy of an existing project:

     • No – Create a new, blank project.
     • Yes – Copy an existing project.

3. Select OK to create the new project and close the drop-down dialog box.

Import the default configuration task list

Microsoft Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management includes a default task list. This task list is a good place to start when you're planning and implementing your Warehouse management setup. Follow these steps to import it into the Warehouse implementation tasks workspace.

1. In the Warehouse implementation tasks workspace, in the Implementation task project field at the top of the page, select the project that you want to import tasks into.

2. On the Tasks and status FastTab, select Import default tasks on the toolbar.

   The default tasks should be loaded. However, you might receive the following error instead: "Entity Warehouse implementation tasks not found. Refresh entity list from Data import/export framework parameters form." In that case, follow these steps:

   1. Go to System administration > Workspaces > Data management.

   2. Select the Framework parameters tile.

   3. On the Entity settings tab, select Refresh entity list.

      The system adds a refresh entity job to your batch job queue and will run it as soon as it can. You might have to wait several minutes for the task to be completed, depending on the number of other jobs in the queue.

   4. When the refresh entity job is completed, return to the Warehouse implementation tasks page, and select Import default tasks again on the toolbar of the Tasks and status FastTab.

Customize the task list

After you import a task list, you can customize it as you require by adding, removing, and rearranging the tasks. You can also create a fully customized task list by starting from scratch. Use the following buttons on the toolbar of the Tasks and status FastTab in the Warehouse implementation tasks workspace to customize the list:

• Add task – Create a new task. This button opens the Add task dialog box, where you must set the following fields:

  • Task category – Enter the type of task.
  • Description – Enter a detailed description of what the user should do to complete the task.
  • Task link – Select the page in Supply Chain Management where the user should go to complete the task.

• Edit task – Edit a selected task. This button opens the Edit task dialog box, where you can edit the Description and Task link fields for the task. Other settings are read-only for existing tasks.

• Remove – Delete all selected tasks. You'll be prompted to confirm the operation.

• Move up – Move a selected task up in the sequence order.

• Move down – Move a selected task down in the sequence order.

Work with the task list

When your task list is ready, follow these steps to work through it.

1. In the Warehouse implementation tasks workspace, expand the Summary FastTab for an overview of the total number of tasks and the proportion of them that has been marked as completed.

2. Expand the Tasks and status FastTab to view the full list and mark tasks as completed while you work.

   For each task, the following information is shown:

   • Sequence number – The order that you should complete the task in. Start with the task that has the lowest number, and work upward.
   • Completed – Select this checkbox for each task as you complete it.
   • Task category – The type of task. Select the text to open a page where you can configure the settings that are required to complete the task.
   • Description – Full details about what must be done to complete the task.
   • Status – A check mark indicates that the task has been completed.
   • Completed by – If the task has been completed, the name of the user who completed it.
   • Completed date – If the task has been completed, the date when it was completed.

   Use the following fields and buttons on the toolbar of the Tasks and status FastTab to find your way around the task list:

   • Filter – To quickly find a specific task in a long list, enter a value here, and then select the column where that value should be found.
   • Hide completed tasks or Show completed tasks – Select whether to hide or show tasks that have already been completed. The button label changes, depending on whether completed tasks are currently shown or hidden.

   To view the full task list (including both completed and non-completed tasks), on the Links FastTab, select the All tasks link. The page that appears is the same page that appears when you select the Warehouse implementation tasks tile on the Summary FastTab. It provides the same information as, and works like, the Task list FastTab on the Warehouse implementation tasks page.

3. Continue to work until all tasks are completed.

Warehouse management initiation wizard

The Warehouse management initiation wizard provides a step-by-step guide that helps you configure the most basic settings that the Warehouse management module requires. Use this wizard for new legal entities where you must configure the Warehouse management module from scratch. The wizard will define the main settings of Warehouse management parameters for you. The default task list that was described earlier in this article includes steps for setting up the prerequisites for this wizard. It also includes a step that indicates when you should run this wizard. We recommend that you run the wizard when you're instructed to do so in the default task list.

The following table summarizes the configurations that the wizard does.

Follow these steps to open and complete the Warehouse management initiation wizard.

1. Before you open the wizard, make sure that the following prerequisite is in place. (It should be in place if you run the wizard when you're instructed to do so in the default task list that was described earlier in this article.)

   • The user account that you're using to sign in to Supply Chain Management must be associated with a person record. (Person records are used by the Human resources module to manage employees.) To set up this association, go to System administration > Users > Users, open your user account in the list, and use the Person field to link the account to the correct person record. The wizard will add this person as a warehouse worker on the Worker page (Warehouse management > Setup > Worker). It will also add the default work user ID that you specify in the wizard to the warehouse worker record. (For more information, see Mobile device user accounts.) The system uses the default work user ID when it runs some automated processes.

2. Go to Warehouse management > Setup > Wizards > Warehouse management initiation wizard.

3. The first page of the Warehouse management initiation wizard is the Welcome page. It summarizes what the wizard will do. When you've finished reading the summary, select Next to continue.

4. On the Initialize base data page, use the following fields to define initial settings for the Warehouse management module. Default values are suggested, but you can edit them as you require. If you leave any field blank, the wizard won't initialize the setting.

   • Receiving – Specify the name of the receiving location type and location profile.
   • Staging – Specify the name of the staging location type and location profile. The specified staging location type will also be identified on the Warehouse management parameters page.
   • Packing – Specify the name of the packing location type and location profile. The specified packing location type will also be identified on the Warehouse management parameters page.
   • Final shipping – Specify the name of the final shipping location type and location profile. The specified final shipping location type will also be identified on the Warehouse management parameters page.
   • Sorting – Specify the name of the sorting location type and location profile. The specified sorting location type will also be identified on the Warehouse management parameters page.
   • User – Specify the name of the user location type and location profile. The specified user location profile will also be identified on the Warehouse management parameters page.
   • Create one generic format instead of each profile – Set this option to No to create a separate location format for each location profile. The name of each format will be based on the values that you specify in the Receiving, Staging, Packing, Final shipping, Sorting, and User fields. Set this option to Yes to create one location format that will apply to all the location profiles that are created. This format will use the name that you specify in the Location format field.
   • Location format – If the Create one generic format instead of each profile option is set to Yes, specify the name of the shared location format.
   • Default inventory status ID – Specify the name of the default inventory status. The specified default inventory status ID will also be identified on the Warehouse management parameters page.
   • Default work user ID – Specify the name of the default work user. The specified default user ID will also be identified on the Warehouse management parameters page.
   • Default work user password – Specify the password of the default work user.
   • Mobile device menu – Specify the name of the mobile device menu.

5. Select Next to continue.

6. The Base data setup complete page summarizes the settings that the wizard will apply, based on your input. Review the summary, and if everything looks correct, select Finish to apply the settings and close the wizard.

Inbound configuration wizard

The Inbound configuration wizard provides a step-by-step guide that will help you set up inbound operations for one or more warehouses. After you complete this wizard, settings will be in place that will let you receive purchase orders and/or inbound shipment orders. Use this wizard for new legal entities or new warehouses where you must configure basic inbound flows. The default task list that was described earlier in this article includes steps for setting up the prerequisites for this wizard. It also includes a step that indicates when you should run this wizard. We recommend that you run the wizard when you're instructed to do so in the default task list.

The following table summarizes the configurations that the wizard does.

Follow these steps to open and complete the Inbound configuration wizard.

1. Before you open the wizard, make sure that the following prerequisites are in place. (They should already be in place if you run the wizard when you're instructed to do so in the default task list that was described earlier in this article.)

   • Your basic configuration must be set up on the Warehouse management parameters page. You can complete this configuration by running the Warehouse management initiation wizard as described in the previous section. Alternatively, you can complete it manually by going to Warehouse management > Setup > Warehouse management parameters.
   • Each warehouse that you want to set up by using this wizard must already exist as a record in the system, and the Use warehouse management processes option must be set to Yes for it. You can create warehouses and set the Use warehouse management processes option for each of them by going to Warehouse management > Setup > Warehouse > Warehouses. Each warehouse must also be assigned to a site that exists as a record in the system. You can create sites by going to Warehouse management > Setup > Warehouse > Sites.

2. Go to Warehouse management > Setup > Wizards > Inbound configuration wizard.

3. The first page of the Inbound configuration wizard is the Welcome page. It summarizes what the wizard will do. When you've finished reading the summary, select Next to continue.

4. The Warehouse selection page opens. Use it to specify the warehouses where the wizard will apply. Set the Warehouse selection field to one of the following values, and then set the associated fields as required:

   • All – Configure all warehouses.
   • Warehouse group – Configure all the warehouses in a selected warehouse group. After you select this option, use the Warehouse group field to select the group that you want to configure. For more information about how to create warehouse groups, see Warehouse groups.
   • Warehouse – The wizard will configure the warehouses that are selected in the grid. Only warehouses where the Use warehouse management processes option is set to Yes are listed. Select the checkbox for each warehouse that you want to set up by using the wizard.

5. Select Next to continue.

6. When Warehouse management only mode is enabled, use the Work order type section to define purchase orders or inbound shipment orders for the following setup processes.

7. The Inbound setup page opens. Use it to define names for different elements of the purchase or inbound shipment order process. Default values are suggested, but you can edit them as you require. Set the following fields:

   • Purchase/Inbound work class – Specify the name of the work class for the receiving process. This value will be used in the work template.
   • Purchase/Inbound work template – Specify the name of the work template for the receiving process.
   • Purchase/Inbound put location directive – Specify the name of the put location directive for the receiving process.
   • Receiving location – Specify the name of the receiving location.
   • Location profile – Select the location profile that should be assigned to the selected receiving location.

8. Select Next to continue.

9. The Inbound setup complete page opens. It summarizes the actions the wizard will take. Review the summary, and if everything looks correct, select Finish to apply the settings and close the wizard.

Outbound configuration wizard

The Outbound configuration wizard provides a step-by-step guide that will help you set up outbound operations for one or more warehouses. After you complete this wizard, settings will be in place that will let you ship sales and/or outbound shipment orders. Use this wizard for new legal entities or new warehouses where you must configure basic outbound flows. The default task list that was described earlier in this article includes steps for setting up the prerequisites for this wizard. It also includes a step that indicates when you should run this wizard. We recommend that you run the wizard when you're instructed to do so in the default task list.

The following table summarizes the configurations that the wizard does.

Follow these steps to open and complete the Outbound configuration wizard.

1. Before you open the wizard, make sure that the following prerequisites are in place. (They should already be in place if you run the wizard when you're instructed to do so in the default task list that was described earlier in this article.)

   • Your basic configuration must be set up on the Warehouse management parameters page. You can complete this configuration by running the Warehouse management initiation wizard as described earlier in this article. Alternatively, you can complete it manually by going to Warehouse management > Setup > Warehouse management parameters.
   • Each warehouse that you want to set up by using this wizard must already exist as a record in the system, and the Use warehouse management processes option must be set to Yes for it. You can create warehouses and set the Use warehouse management processes option for each of them by going to Warehouse management > Setup > Warehouse > Warehouses. Each warehouse must also be assigned to a site that exists as a record in the system. You can create sites by going to Warehouse management > Setup > Warehouse > Sites.

2. Go to Warehouse management > Setup > Wizards > Outbound configuration wizard.

3. The first page of the Outbound configuration wizard is the Welcome page. It summarizes what the wizard will do. When you've finished reading the summary, select Next to continue.

4. The Warehouse selection page opens. Use it to specify the warehouses where the wizard will apply. Set the Warehouse selection field to one of the following values, and then set the associated fields as required:

   • All – Configure all warehouses.
   • Warehouse group – Configure all the warehouses in a selected warehouse group. After you select this option, use the Warehouse group field to select the group that you want to configure. For more information about how to create warehouse groups, see Warehouse groups.
   • Warehouse – The wizard will configure the warehouses that are selected in the grid. Only warehouses where the Use warehouse management processes option is set to Yes are listed. Select the checkbox for each warehouse that you want to set up by using the wizard.

5. Select Next to continue.

6. When Warehouse management only mode is enabled, use the Work order type section to define sales orders or outbound shipment orders for the following setup processes.

7. On the General warehouse page, use the following fields to define names for outbound processes. Default values are suggested, but you can edit them as you require.

   • Sales/Outbound work template – Specify the name of the work template for the shipping process.
   • Shipping wave template – Specify the name of the wave template for the shipping process.
   • Sales/Outbound pick location directive – Specify the name of the pick location directive for the shipping process.

8. Select Next to continue.

9. On the Staging area page, use the following fields to specify whether you'll use a staging area in your outbound processes and, if you will, to set up the feature. You might have to use the feature if you pick your items and then put them in a staging location where all lines of an order are held. In the staging area, items can be packed, relabeled, or loaded onto a delivery truck, and then sent out the door. Default values are suggested, but you can edit them as you require.

   • Use staging area – Select this checkbox if you'll use a staging area. If you clear this checkbox, no staging area will be set up, and all the other fields on the page will be unavailable.
   • Location – Specify the name of the staging location.
   • Directive code – Specify the name of the directive code for the shipping process. This value will be used in the shipping work template and location directive to link them together.
   • Sales/Outbound work class – Specify the name of the work class for the shipping process. This value will be used in the work template.
   • Sales/Outbound put location directive – Specify the name of the put location directive for the shipping process.

10. Select Next to continue.

11. On the Packing preference page, use the following fields to specify whether you'll use packing functionality in your outbound processes, and if you will, to set up the feature. You might have to use the feature if you pack items before you ship them. Default values are suggested, but you can edit them as you require.

    • Would you like to pack items before shipping – Select this checkbox if you'll use packing. If you select this option, you must also select the type of packing functionality that you'll use (manual packing or automatic packing through wave containerization). If you clear this checkbox, no packing will be set up, and all the other pages that are related to packing will be unavailable.

    • Manually pack items through Pack station – Select this checkbox if you want to use manual packing. Then set the following fields:

      • Directive code – Specify the name of the directive code.
      • Sales/Outbound work class – Specify name to use for the work class.
      • Pack location – Specify the name of the packing location.
      • Sales/Outbound put location directive – Specify the name of the put location directive for the packing process.

    • Pack items through wave containerization – Select this checkbox if you want to use automatic packing through wave containerization. Then set the following fields:

      • Container build template – Specify the name of the container build template.
      • Wave step code – Specify the name of the wave step code. This value will be used in the container build template and the wave template to link them together.

12. Select Next to continue. If you chose not to use packing, you'll skip ahead to the Final shipping area page of the wizard. Therefore, you can skip ahead to step 21 of this procedure. If you chose to use packing, move on to the next step.

13. On the Container type and group page, create or select container types for packing.

    • If you don't see the containers that you want to use, select Add on the toolbar, and then fill in the columns as required to create and set up the container.
    • If you selected the Manually pack items through Pack station option on the Packing preference page, you must select exactly one container type that has a maximum net weight that's more than 0 (zero).
    • If you selected the Pack items through wave containerization option on the Packing preference page, select one or more container types. Then set the Container group field to the name of the container group that you want to create to hold the selected container types.

14. Select Next to continue. If you selected the Pack items through wave containerization option on the Packing preference page, you'll skip ahead to the Final shipping area page of the wizard. Therefore, you can skip ahead to step 21 of this procedure. If you selected the Manually pack items through Pack station option on the Packing preference page, move on to the next step.

15. On the Release container page, set the following fields:

    • Container packing policy – Specify the name of the container packing policy.
    • Container weight unit – Select the container weight unit.
    • Packing profile – Specify the name of the packing profile.

16. Select one of the following options to specify what's done with the packed container:

    • Make available at the final shipping location – Select this checkbox to move the packed container to the final shipping location after it's closed. After you select this option, you must use the Default location for final shipment field to define the final shipping location.
    • Create work to move container from packing station to location – Select this checkbox to create work to move the packed container after it's closed. After you select this option, you must use the Work template field to define the name of the work template. Later in this procedure, you'll be able to use the Container staging area page to set up a staging area for this movement, as required.
    • Make available at sorting location – Select this checkbox to move the packed container to the sorting area after it's closed. Later in this procedure, you'll use the Sorting area page to set up the sorting area.

17. Select Next to continue. If you selected the Make available at sorting location option on the Release container page, the Sorting area page opens. In this case, move on to the next step. If you selected one of the other options on the Release container page, skip ahead to step 19.

18. On the Sorting area page, set the following fields:

    • Sort location – Specify the name of the sorting location.
    • Outbound sorting template – Specify the name of the outbound sorting template.
    • Create work on position close – Select whether you want to create work after the position is closed.
    • Work template – This field is shown only if you set the Create work on position close option to Yes. Use it to specify the name of the work template that's used to create the work.
    • Sort final location – This field is shown only if you set the Create work on position close option to No. Use it to specify the name of the final sort location.

    For more information about sorting, see Outbound sorting.

19. Select Next to continue. If you selected the Create work to move container from packing station to location option on the Release container page, the Container staging area page opens. In this case, move on to the next step. If you selected one of the other options on the Release container page, skip ahead to step 21.

20. On the Container staging area page, use the following fields to set up a staging area for staging packed items before moving them to the final shipping area. Default values are suggested, but you can edit them as you require.

    • Use staging area – Select this checkbox if you will use a staging area. If you clear this checkbox, no staging area will be set up, and all the other fields on the page will be unavailable.
    • Location – Specify the name of the staging location.
    • Directive code – Specify the name of the directive code for the shipping process. This value will be used in the shipping work template and the location directive to link them together.
    • Packing work class – Specify the name of the work class for the packing process. This value will be used in the work template.
    • Packing put location directive – Specify the name of the put location directive for the packing process.

21. Select Next to continue.

22. The Final shipping area page opens, regardless of which options you selected earlier. Use the following fields to define names for the final shipping area in the outbound processes. Default values are suggested, but you can edit them as you require.

    • Location – Specify the name of the final shipping location.
    • Directive code – Specify the name of the directive code for the shipping process. This value will be used in the shipping work template and location directive to link them together.
    • Packing work class – Specify the name of the work class for the shipping process. This value will be used in the work template.
    • Packing put location directive – Specify the name of the put location directive for the shipping process.

23. The Warehouse setup complete page summarizes the actions the wizard will take. Review the summary, and if everything looks correct, select Finish to apply the settings and close the wizard.