Efficient warehouse receiving processes are critical for maintaining accurate inventory, reducing errors, and ensuring smooth operations. Without the right tools, businesses may struggle with delayed shipments, misplaced stock, and inefficiencies that lead to increased costs. In this blog, we’ll explore how wave receiving and other warehouse receiving enhancements available in Sage 100 with ScanForce can help you accelerate your warehouse workflows, improve accuracy, and reduce operational bottlenecks.
Wave Receiving
When large shipments arrive, processing them efficiently is essential to prevent bottlenecks and keep operations moving. Wave Receiving allows businesses to receive multiple purchase orders (POs) simultaneously, rather than handling each order individually. Touching an item once and recording it reduces manual effort and improves efficiency.
For example, a distributor receiving multiple pallets of mixed products can scan and categorize items by PO in one streamlined process rather than sorting them one at a time. By scanning items as they arrive, warehouse staff can quickly verify quantities, reduce manual data entry, and minimize errors. This method not only speeds up the warehouse receiving process but also helps prevent dock congestion, ensuring that inventory is promptly updated in Sage 100 and ready for putaway or fulfillment.
RMA Receiving
Returns are an unavoidable part of business, but handling them effectively can make a significant difference in processing costs and warehouse efficiency. RMA (Return Merchandise Authorization) Receiving (or RMA processing) provides structured workflows to process returned goods efficiently, ensuring they are properly categorized, inspected, and either restocked, repaired, or disposed of accordingly.
Imagine an electronics distributor receiving customer returns. With RMA Receiving, returned items are scanned, and checked against the authorized return entered in Sage to ensure the correct items are returned, confirm the reason code, and follow the disposition instructions. It helps to prevent errors, streamline reconciliation, and ensure accurate inventory tracking.
Container Receipt Management
Managing inventory at the container level improves visibility and efficiency when handling large shipments. Container Receipt Management (or container management) enables businesses to track entire inbound containers, linking multiple POs and items to a single shipment for easier processing.
For instance, a business receiving overseas shipments can assign a container ID to a PO Receipt of Goods that is entered when the container leaves port. This allows for better visibility, quicker processing of the physical receipt when the items arrive, and improved forecasting, ensuring that received inventory is available when needed and accurately reflected in Sage 100
Labeling
Effective labeling is essential for maintaining organization and ensuring compliance in warehouse receiving operations. From labeling products for in-house barcoding needs to meeting strict customer requirements, comprehensive label printing solutions can handle the task. With the flexibility to create unlimited label designs and utilize various barcode fonts like QR, GTIN, and UPC codes, businesses can streamline their workflow by printing labels at the point of activity, such as during PO receiving, BOM production entry, or SO shipping.
For example, a warehouse that needs to meet stringent compliance requirements can design customized labels using a user-friendly label designer. Workers can print these labels directly from a PC or mobile handheld device, ensuring that all necessary data components are combined into one barcode. This approach not only enhances efficiency but also ensures that labels are accurate and meet regulatory standards.
Image Capture – Inbound and Outbound
Having a visual record of received and shipped items can enhance traceability and reduce disputes. Image Capture is a feature that enables businesses to take and store digital photos as part of their inventory and shipping records. This allows warehouse teams to attach photos to inbound and outbound transactions, providing proof of condition and shipment accuracy.
For example, a distributor receiving fragile goods can take photos of items upon arrival to document any damages. Similarly, outbound shipments can be photographed before dispatch to confirm the correct packaging and prevent disputes. These images are stored alongside transaction records in Sage 100, improving accountability and transparency.
Supplemental Field Capture – Receiving & Shipping
Every business has unique data requirements when receiving and shipping goods. Supplemental Field Capture (SFC) is a feature that allows users to enter and store additional information beyond the standard fields in Sage 100. With SFC, businesses can record crucial details such as batch numbers, inspection notes, or custom identifiers during inventory transactions. This added flexibility ensures compliance, enhances tracking, and provides valuable insights tailored to specific operational needs.
A warehouse handling high-value machinery may need to log serial numbers and inspection results upon receipt. With Supplemental Field Capture, these details can be entered during the warehouse receiving process, ensuring comprehensive records that support compliance and operational accuracy. Alternatively, a food distributor receiving perishable goods may need to capture additional details such as supplier batch numbers, temperature readings upon delivery, and storage conditions. By leveraging Supplemental Field Capture, they can ensure compliance with food safety regulations while preventing inventory loss due to improper handling.
Optimize Your Receiving Processes with ScanForce
Mastering these receiving enhancements can significantly improve warehouse receiving efficiency, reduce errors, and increase inventory visibility. ScanForce’s advanced solutions for Sage 100 help businesses streamline receiving operations with automation, real-time tracking, and enhanced data capture.
Stay tuned for upcoming blogs where we’ll explore additional warehouse management optimizations. In the meantime, if you’re ready to enhance your warehouse receiving workflows, contact us today to see how ScanForce can help!
