Warehouse Management System Applet

Purpose and Overview

The Warehouse Management System (WMS) Applet provides end-to-end warehouse operations management within BigLedger. It handles every stage of warehouse activity — from receiving goods inbound, allocating storage space, and putting items away, through to picking, packing, and dispatching orders outbound.

Key Features Overview

Who Benefits from This Applet?

Warehouse Managers:

• Full visibility into warehouse capacity and space utilization
• Real-time tracking of inbound and outbound operations
• Container and picker management
• Space allocation optimization

Warehouse Staff / Operators:

• Step-by-step inbound receiving and putaway workflows
• Pick list and packing list generation
• Scan session support for barcode/QR-based operations
• Processing queue management

Logistics & Supply Chain Teams:

• End-to-end traceability from receiving to dispatch
• Integration with Purchase GRN and Sales Delivery Orders
• Stock movement audit trail
• Multi-warehouse support

Management / Finance:

• Warehouse utilization reporting
• Operational efficiency insights
• Inventory accuracy improvements
• Reduced stock discrepancies

What Problems Does This Solve?

The Manual Warehouse Problem:

Traditional warehouse management relies on paper-based tracking and manual processes. Common issues include:

• Lost or misplaced inventory within the warehouse
• No visibility into warehouse space utilization
• Manual putaway decisions leading to inefficient storage
• Picking errors and delayed order fulfillment
• No traceability for stock movements within the warehouse

The WMS Applet Solution:

• Digital receiving — Receive goods against Purchase GRN documents with full line-item verification
• Automated putaway — System-guided putaway with processing queues for efficient storage
• Space allocation — Manage warehouse containers and space assignments
• Structured picking — Generate picking lists from sales orders with queue-based processing
• Scan sessions — Barcode/QR scanning for fast, error-free operations
• Full traceability — Complete audit trail from dock to stock to dispatch

Key Features Overview

Key Concepts

Understanding the WMS Framework

The WMS Applet structures warehouse operations around two core flows and supporting master data:

Warehouse Hierarchy

Organization
│
├── Warehouse (physical location)
│   ├── Containers (storage units — shelves, bins, racks)
│   │   └── Spaces (individual positions within containers)
│   │
│   ├── Inbound Process
│   │   ├── Receiving Doc (link to PO/GRN)
│   │   ├── Receiving Line (line-level items)
│   │   ├── Processing Queue (items awaiting putaway)
│   │   ├── Putaway List (storage assignments)
│   │   ├── Putaway Processing (execution queue)
│   │   └── Scan Session (barcode/QR scanning)
│   │
│   └── Outbound Process
│       ├── Picking Queue (orders awaiting pick)
│       ├── Picking List (consolidated pick instructions)
│       └── Packing List (pack verification)
│
└── Pickers (warehouse staff)

Quick Start Guide

Get up and running quickly with these essential workflows.

Step 1: Set Up Your Warehouse

Goal: Create your first warehouse profile.

1. Navigate: Go to Warehouses from the sidebar
2. Create: Click "+" → Enter warehouse name and details
3. Configure: Set the warehouse address, contact person, and operating parameters
4. Save: Click Save to create the warehouse

Step 2: Set Up Containers

Goal: Define storage locations within your warehouse.

1. Navigate: Go to Containers from the sidebar
2. Create: Click "+" → Enter container details (name, type, capacity)
3. Assign: Link the container to your warehouse
4. Save: Click Save

Step 3: Receive Inbound Goods

Goal: Process goods arriving at your warehouse.

1. Navigate: Go to Inbound Process → Receiving Doc
2. Create: Click "+" → Select the source document (e.g., Purchase GRN)
3. Add Lines: Add or verify receiving lines against the source document
4. Submit: Submit the receiving document for processing

Step 4: Putaway Items

Goal: Store received goods in designated locations.

1. Navigate: Go to Inbound Process → Putaway List
2. Review: Check the system-generated putaway assignments
3. Execute: Assign pickers and process the putaway
4. Confirm: Mark items as stored in their designated containers

Step 5: Pick Outbound Orders

Goal: Fulfill customer orders.

1. Navigate: Go to Outbound Process → Picking Queue
2. Select: Choose orders to pick
3. Generate: Create a picking list for the selected orders
4. Pick & Pack: Execute the pick, then generate the packing list for verification

Sidebar Menu Reference

Warehouses

The Warehouses listing is the master data screen for managing all warehouse profiles in your organization.

Listing View:

• Displays all registered warehouses with key details
• Search and filter by warehouse name, status, or location
• Click any row to edit warehouse details
• Click "+" to create a new warehouse

Create / Edit View:

• Warehouse Name — Name identifying the warehouse
• Address — Physical location details
• Contact Person — Primary contact for warehouse operations
• Status — Active / Inactive
• Operating Parameters — Capacity, operating hours, and other configurations

Inbound Process

The inbound process handles goods arriving at the warehouse. It consists of 6 sub-modules, each managing a stage of the receiving-to-storage workflow.

Receiving Doc

Receiving Documents record the arrival of goods at the warehouse, typically linked to a Purchase GRN or inter-branch transfer.

Listing View:

• Lists all receiving documents with status indicators (Draft, Processing, Completed)
• Filter by date range, source document, or status
• Click any row to view or edit

Create / Edit View:

• Source Document — Link to originating Purchase GRN or Transfer document
• Warehouse — Destination warehouse
• Expected Date — When items are expected
• Line Items — Individual items being received with quantities
• Status — Draft → Processing → Completed

Receiving Line

Provides a consolidated view of all individual receiving lines across documents.

Listing View:

• Aggregated view of all receiving line items
• Filter by item, warehouse, receiving document, or status
• Useful for tracking partial receipts and outstanding items

Processing Queue

Items that have been received but not yet put away appear in the Processing Queue.

Listing View:

• Lists all items awaiting putaway processing
• Shows item details, received quantity, and target storage location
• Actions: Assign to putaway list, assign to picker

Putaway List

Generated lists of items to be stored in specific warehouse locations.

Listing View:

• Lists all putaway assignments
• Shows target container, picker assignment, and status
• Filter by picker, warehouse, or date

Processing:

• Assign pickers to putaway tasks
• Track completion of each putaway instruction
• Confirm storage when items reach their destination

Putaway Processing

Execution queue for putaway operations, providing a workflow view for warehouse staff.

Listing View:

• Active putaway tasks in queue
• Priority ordering
• Picker assignment and progress tracking

Scan Session

Barcode/QR-based scanning interface for warehouse operations.

Key Features:

• Scan items during receiving for fast verification
• Scan during putaway for location confirmation
• Scan during picking for accuracy validation
• Session-based tracking for batch operations

Space Container Allocation

Manage the allocation and utilization of storage containers within warehouses.

Listing

Listing View:

• Displays all container-space allocations
• Shows container name, assigned warehouse, current utilization
• Filter by warehouse, container type, or availability status

Create / Edit View:

• Container — Select the storage container
• Warehouse — Assign to a warehouse
• Space — Define available space / capacity
• Items Allocated — View current items stored in this container

Outbound Process

The outbound process manages order fulfillment from pick to dispatch. It consists of 3 sub-modules.

Picking Queue

Orders awaiting fulfillment appear in the Picking Queue.

Listing View:

• Lists all orders requiring picking
• Shows order priority, items to pick, and warehouse location
• Actions: Generate picking list, assign picker

Key Features:

• Priority-based queue ordering
• Multi-order consolidation for batch picking
• Picker assignment

Picking List

Consolidated picking instructions generated from the Picking Queue.

Listing View:

• Lists all generated picking lists
• Shows assigned picker, item count, and completion status
• Filter by picker, date, or status

Details View:

• Item-by-item picking instructions
• Container/location for each item
• Quantity to pick
• Checkbox or scan confirmation for each line

Packing List

Verification step after picking, ensuring items are correctly packed for shipment.

Listing View:

• Lists all packing lists linked to completed picking lists
• Shows order details, item verification status
• Filter by date, order, or status

Details View:

• Item-level packing verification
• Package assignment (which items go in which package)
• Weight and dimension recording
• Shipping label generation support

Containers

Master data management for storage containers used across all warehouses.

Listing View:

• Lists all registered containers
• Shows container name, type, warehouse assignment, and capacity
• Search and filter by name, type, or warehouse

Create / Edit View:

• Container Name — Unique identifier
• Container Type — Shelf, Bin, Rack, Pallet, etc.
• Warehouse — Assigned warehouse
• Capacity — Maximum storage capacity
• Dimensions — Physical dimensions (L × W × H)
• Status — Active / Inactive / Maintenance

Pickers

Manage warehouse picker profiles and assignments.

Listing View:

• Lists all registered pickers
• Shows picker name, assigned warehouse, current task, and status
• Search by name or warehouse

Create / Edit View:

• Picker Name — Staff name or identifier
• Assigned Warehouse — Primary warehouse assignment
• Skills / Certifications — Forklift license, hazmat handling, etc.
• Status — Active / Inactive / On Leave
• Current Assignment — Active picking or putaway task

Settings

Access Settings from the gear icon (⚙️) at the bottom of the sidebar.

Application Settings (Settings → Application Settings)

Control applet-level field visibility, mandatory fields, and system behavior.

Key Configurations:

• Toggle field visibility for listing columns and edit forms
• Set mandatory fields for data entry
• Configure default values for frequently used fields
• Enable/disable specific features

Default Selection (Settings → Default Selection)

Pre-set default values that auto-populate when creating new records.

Available Defaults:

• Default Warehouse
• Default Receiving Document Type
• Default Container Type
• Default Picker Assignment

WMS Item Maintenance (Settings → WMS Item Maintenance)

Manage item-level configurations specific to warehouse operations.

Key Features:

• Configure storage requirements per item (temperature, hazmat, fragile)
• Set minimum/maximum stock levels per item per warehouse
• Define default putaway locations
• Map items to WMS categories

WMS Item Category (Settings → WMS Item Category)

Create and manage item categories for warehouse classification.

Key Features:

• Define category hierarchies (e.g., Electronics → Laptops → Chargers)
• Assign storage rules per category
• Group items for batch processing
• Category-based reporting

WMS Item Category Group (Settings → WMS Item Category Group)

Group multiple WMS Item Categories for higher-level organization.

Key Features:

• Create category groups (e.g., Fast-Moving, Slow-Moving, Hazardous)
• Assign multiple categories to a group
• Group-level reporting and analytics
• Storage zone assignment by group

Personalization

Access Personalization from the profile icon at the bottom of the sidebar.

Default Selection (Personalization → Default Selection)

Set your personal default values that auto-populate when you create records. These override company-level defaults for your account only.

Available Personal Defaults:

• Your preferred default warehouse
• Your preferred default views and filters

Integration Points

Related Applets

Module Integration

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

Items Not Appearing in Processing Queue

Problem: Received items are not showing in the Processing Queue after submitting a Receiving Document. Symptoms: Processing Queue is empty despite completing a receiving document. Solution:

1. Verify the Receiving Document status is Completed (not Draft)
2. Check that the Receiving Lines have quantities entered
3. Ensure the destination warehouse matches your current warehouse filter Prevention: Always verify Receiving Document status transitions from Draft → Completed.

Putaway List Not Generating

Problem: Items in the Processing Queue are not generating Putaway Lists. Symptoms: Processing Queue shows items but no Putaway Lists are created. Solution:

1. Check that containers with available space exist in the target warehouse
2. Verify WMS Item Maintenance has default putaway locations configured
3. Ensure pickers are registered and active Prevention: Set up containers and default putaway rules before beginning operations.

Picking List Shows Wrong Quantities

Problem: Generated Picking Lists show incorrect quantities. Symptoms: Pick quantities don’t match the original order. Solution:

1. Check the source Sales Delivery Order for the correct quantities
2. Verify stock availability in the source container/location
3. Review any partial picks that may have already been processed Prevention: Always verify stock availability before generating picking lists.

Scanner Not Connecting in Scan Session

Problem: Barcode/QR scanner is not responding during a Scan Session. Symptoms: Scanned items are not being recognized by the system. Solution:

1. Ensure the scanner is paired/connected to the device
2. Check that the item barcodes match the format configured in WMS Item Maintenance
3. Try creating a new Scan Session if the current session is corrupted Prevention: Test scanner connectivity before starting a scan session.

Best Practices

Operational Best Practices

• Receive before putaway — Always complete receiving verification before moving items to storage
• Use scan sessions — Barcode scanning reduces errors by up to 80% compared to manual entry
• Assign pickers by zone — Assign pickers to specific warehouse zones for faster operations
• Batch process orders — Use the Picking Queue to consolidate multiple orders for efficient picking

Configuration Best Practices

• Default putaway rules — Configure WMS Item Maintenance with default storage locations per item
• Container naming convention — Use consistent naming (e.g., WH01-RACK-A01-BIN-03) for easy identification
• Category groups — Group items by movement speed (Fast/Slow) for optimal storage allocation

Security Best Practices

• Access control — Restrict Settings access to Owners and Admins only
• Audit trail — Review processing queues regularly for stuck items
• Regular reconciliation — Perform periodic stock counts against WMS container allocations

Related Documentation Links

Related Applets

• Stock Transfer Applet — Inter-branch and inter-warehouse transfers
• Stock Adjustment Applet — Manual stock corrections and write-offs
• Stock Report Applet — Inventory reporting and analytics
• Purchase GRN Applet — Goods received notes for purchase orders
• Sales Delivery Order Applet — Delivery order management

Core Documentation

• BigLedger User Guide — Overall system documentation
• Inventory Module — Inventory module overview
• Guides — Getting started and implementation guides