Handling units

Handling units are the physical objects used to group goods: boxes, pallets, and containers. In Putaway WMS they may appear as HU.

Each unit has its own code, printable label, and history. For an operator, the main question is: “What goods are in this box, on this pallet, or in this container, and where is it now?”

Where They Are Used

Use handling units when goods are tracked as a physical group, not only as loose stock in a location.

Examples:

• you receive products in a box and want to keep the box visible;
• you place several boxes on the same pallet;
• you move a whole pallet instead of scanning each product one by one;
• you seal a box, pallet, or container after checking it;
• you later check who created, moved, sealed, or removed a unit.

Types

• Boxes: for small products, grouped products, or boxes placed inside a pallet or container.
• Pallets: for products placed on a pallet or boxes placed on a pallet.
• Containers: for products or boxes grouped inside a container.
• Handling unit logs: history of actions performed on units.

In operational flows, a box can be placed inside a pallet or container. A box cannot contain another handling unit.

Codes And Labels

Putaway WMS generates a different code for each unit. Prefixes can be configured in WMS settings, for example PLT-00-00-01, BOX-00-00-01, or CNT-00-00-01.

After creation, print the label and attach it to the physical unit. The label contains the code and a QR code. Operators scan the label in receiving, putaway, transfer, picking, or other flows that ask for the unit.

Caution

Do not reuse the same label on another box, pallet, or container. The code must represent the physical object carrying that label.

Statuses

Handling units can have these statuses:

• Empty: the unit has no products. It can be deleted if it is not used in an active flow.
• Open: the unit can receive products or be used in operations.
• Sealed: the unit is closed. Products inside it are not changed individually until the unit is unsealed.

The status appears on the unit card and in flows where the unit is scanned.

What You Can Do On The Unit Pages

The Boxes, Pallets, and Containers pages allow you to:

• list units of that type;
• create a new unit;
• restore a previously deleted unit, if Putaway WMS finds one of the same type;
• print one unit label;
• print multiple labels from the displayed list;
• copy the code by selecting the card;
• delete the unit if it is empty.

If you no longer see a box on the Boxes page, it may already be inside a pallet or container. In that case, follow it in the operational flow where you are working or in Handling unit logs.

Rules

• Units belong to your account and are used only in warehouses you can access.
• A unit already used in one warehouse cannot be scanned as an active unit in another warehouse.
• A unit that contains products or is part of an active structure is not deleted.
• If previously deleted units exist, Putaway WMS may ask you to restore them instead of creating new codes.
• Your account plan may limit the total number of handling units.
• For audit, check Handling unit logs.