Putaway

Putaway takes stock from the receiving staging area to its long-term bin. The platform suggests bins based on product characteristics and free capacity.

Suggestion logic

For each SKU / pallet, the platform picks a bin by:

1. Compatibility — bin must match temperature, hazmat class, food-grade rules.
2. Customer ownership — if the SKU belongs to a customer with dedicated bins, only those bins are considered.
3. Slotting strategy — fast-movers land near the pick face; slow-movers in reserve / overflow.
4. Free capacity — weight + volume.
5. Proximity — prefer bins near the existing stock of the same SKU (consolidation).

Suggestion is a list, not a hard rule — the operator can override with a reason (audited).

Workflow on the handheld

1. Pick a pallet from receiving staging.
2. App shows suggested bin. Scan pallet → scan destination bin → confirm.
3. Stock ledger updates: pallet is now at that bin.
4. Next suggestion appears.

Directed vs opportunistic

• Directed — the app tells you where to put each pallet. Highest accuracy; expected.
• Opportunistic — operator picks any compatible bin and scans it. Faster in the moment, lower slotting quality.

Tenant sets policy per warehouse / zone.

Cross-docking

If an inbound SKU has an immediate outbound order (either a back-order or a configured cross-dock rule), the app suggests the outbound staging zone rather than storage. Skips putaway and pick — reduces labour.

Consolidation at putaway

If a bin already holds partial stock of the SKU and has capacity, the suggestion prefers merging. Lot / batch rules (FIFO / FEFO) still apply — mixing lots in one bin is configurable per SKU.

Exceptions

• Bin won't accept (too full, wrong zone) → app offers next suggestion.
• Damage noticed during putaway → redirect to quarantine with reason.
• Label unreadable → relabel or escalate.

Putaway complete

When all staging pallets are placed, receiving is closed. The GRN moves to fully-received state; customer can be notified.