Returns locations

Returns locations are the warehouse places where products are kept separate for checking: products that came back, products from orders cancelled after picking, or products intentionally moved into the returns area. They keep these products away from normal stock until the operator checks what is physically there and what must happen next.

A returns location is not a supplier receiving area and it is not a permanent storage shelf. It is a temporary area for products returning from existing orders, products already picked for cancelled orders, and products moved there according to the internal procedure.

Where To Find It

In the application, go to Warehouse -> Locations -> Returns.

The page shows returns locations for the selected warehouse. If there are no locations yet, the screen shows that no returns locations were found and you can create the first one.

This page is connected to:

• Logistic returns: the operator scans the returns location before searching for the order and scanning the products from the parcel;
• Packing: if an order is cancelled after picking, the operator may be asked to scan a returns location and the products that must be set aside;
• Warehouse settings: this is where the returns prefix is configured;
• Stock: shows products entered into the returns location;
• Traceability: shows product entries and any adjustments;
• Transfer: used to move products into returns or out of returns into the proper locations;
• Inventory adjustments: used only for confirmed physical corrections in a returns location.

When To Use Returns Locations

Use returns locations when:

• the courier brings a parcel back;
• products from a cancelled order were already picked and must be set aside correctly;
• the operator processes the parcel in Warehouse operations -> Logistic returns;
• a product must be moved into returns through Transfer, according to the internal procedure;
• a physical difference in a returns location must be corrected through Inventory adjustments;
• the product must stay separate from normal stock until it is checked;
• the product must be recorded with its real observed condition: Good, Damaged, or Quarantine.

Do not use this page for commercial return requests that have not physically reached the warehouse, and do not use returns locations for supplier receiving.

How Products Can Enter Returns Locations

Products can enter a returns location through several workflows. The difference matters because the operator must know why the product is there.

Logistic Return

This is the classic case: the parcel physically comes back to the warehouse. The operator opens Warehouse operations -> Logistic returns, scans the returns location, searches for the order, and scans the products from the parcel.

Scanned products enter the returns location with the condition chosen by the operator: Good, Damaged, or Quarantine.

If an expected product is missing from the parcel, Putaway WMS asks for confirmation. The missing product is recorded for traceability and then removed through a negative adjustment, so it does not remain available stock.

Order Cancelled During Packing

Another case appears when the product was already picked and reached packing, but the order is cancelled before the process is closed.

In this situation, the packing screen can move to Return products to stock. The operator:

1. scans a returns-type location;
2. scans the product shown in the return list;
3. confirms the lot or serial number, if the product uses them;
4. repeats scanning until all cancelled products have been moved to returns.

This is not the same as a courier return. The product does not come from a returned parcel; it comes from the packing area or from the picking cart. Putaway WMS accepts only a returns-type location from the current warehouse for this step.

In this case, the product enters returns as Good, because it was picked from workable stock. If the operator later finds that the product should not be treated as good, use the proper check, transfer, or adjustment flow.

Transfer Into Returns

Products can also be moved into returns through Warehouse operations -> Transfer. Transfer allows the destination to be a Storage, Quarantine, Returns, or Picking cart location.

Use transfer into returns when the product already exists in stock and must be temporarily separated in the returns area. For example, a product found on a storage shelf may be moved into a returns location if the internal procedure requires a check before the final decision.

During transfer:

• the source and destination must be scanned correctly;
• locations must be active and not deleted;
• a receiving location is not accepted as source or destination in transfer;
• the product must exist in the source;
• for products with lots or serial numbers, the operator chooses the correct lot or serial number;
• if the destination already contains similar products with different traceability, the transfer can be blocked so hard-to-track stock is not mixed.

Transfer can also be used in the opposite direction: from returns to storage, quarantine, or another accepted location after the product has been checked.

Adjustment In A Returns Location

A returns location can also be scanned in Inventory -> Inventory adjustments. This is not a normal intake method for returns; it is a stock correction.

Use adjustment only when the physical product was checked and the difference in the returns location must be corrected. For example:

• the product is in the returns location but must be removed because it is physically missing or was identified incorrectly;
• the product in the location must be replaced with the correct product found physically;
• the product condition must be changed, for example from Good to Damaged or Quarantine.

In a replacement adjustment, the added product enters the scanned location. If the scanned location is a returns location, the added product appears in that returns location. The operator must fill in the reason and carefully check the product, lot, serial number, condition, and price before completion.

Stock Check

Stock check can read a returns location and show the products located there. This check does not add products and does not move products. If stock must change after the check, use the proper flow: Transfer, Logistic returns, or Inventory adjustments.

Preparation

Before operators process real returns:

1. Select the correct warehouse.
2. Open Warehouse -> Warehouse settings and check the returns prefix.
3. Open Warehouse -> Locations -> Returns.
4. Create at least one returns location.
5. Print the location label and place it physically where returned parcels are received.

Without a created and labeled returns location, the operator has nothing to scan in logistic returns or when returning products from packing for cancelled orders.

Location Code

The location code is generated automatically in this format:

PREFIX-NUMBER

In the standard configuration, the prefix is RETURNS, so the first locations look like:

• RETURNS-1
• RETURNS-2
• RETURNS-3

The prefix is changed from Warehouse -> Warehouse settings, in Returns prefix. After at least one non-deleted returns location exists in the warehouse, the prefix can no longer be changed from settings. This protects labels that were already printed and scanned in operations.

The number at the end is assigned automatically for the current warehouse. Do not type the location code manually.

Creating A Returns Location

To create a location:

1. Open Warehouse -> Locations -> Returns.
2. Open the action menu in the page header.
3. Choose Create returns location.
4. Putaway WMS adds the location to the list and generates its code.

If the user does not have create permission, the action does not appear in the menu.

If returns locations were deleted before, Putaway WMS may show a restore window. In that window you can:

• restore one or more deleted locations;
• create a new location instead of restoring.

Restoring brings old codes back into the list, which is useful when the physical labels still exist in the warehouse.

What The List Shows

Each location appears as a card with:

• location code;
• location status: active or blocked;
• print label action;
• block or unblock action, if you have permission;
• delete action, if you have permission.

Clicking the card copies the location code. This helps when you need to send the code to another colleague or search for it in another screen.

Labels

The label is required during work because the operator scans the location in Logistic returns, when returning products from Packing, and in other flows where the returns location is the source or destination.

You can print:

• one label, from the print action on the location card;
• multiple labels, from Print multiple labels.

When printing, choose:

• code type: QR Code or Data Matrix;
• label size.

Use clear, durable labels. If the label is damaged or the code cannot be read, the operator cannot start the return quickly by scanning.

How It Is Used In Logistic Returns

The operational flow is:

1. The operator opens Warehouse operations -> Logistic returns.
2. The operator scans the returns location label.
3. Putaway WMS accepts only a returns-type location from the current warehouse.
4. The operator searches for the order by AWB or return AWB, order ID, or customer name / phone.
5. The operator chooses the product condition: Good, Damaged, or Quarantine.
6. The operator scans the products from the parcel.
7. Scanned products enter the selected returns location with the chosen condition.

Products with lot or serial number must match the lot or serial number expected on the order. If they do not match, the return cannot be completed.

If products are missing from the parcel, Putaway WMS asks for confirmation at completion. Missing products do not increase final stock: they are recorded for traceability and then removed through a negative adjustment.

Note

The Quarantine condition selected in logistic returns does not automatically move the product to a quarantine location. The product enters the returns location, but it is recorded with Quarantine condition.

Products Already In The Returns Location

A returns location can contain products from logistic returns, products returned from packing after an order cancellation, products moved through transfer, or products created by an adjustment. However, it should not be used as permanent storage.

If the location already contains similar products with different traceability, return completion can be blocked to avoid mixing stock that looks identical but comes from different origins, lots, receipts, or values.

In this situation:

1. check the existing products in the returns location;
2. move already checked products into the proper locations;
3. retry the return after the returns location is ready for work.

Blocking And Unblocking

On the location card, you can mark the location as blocked or bring it back to active, if you have permission.

When blocking a location, the application asks for a reason. Use blocking for cases such as:

• missing or damaged physical label;
• physical location unavailable;
• products that must be checked before the area is used again;
• internal reorganization.

The status shown on the locations page helps coordinators see which locations should not be used. For daily work, train operators to scan only prepared and correctly labeled locations.

Deleting And Restoring

You can delete a returns location only when it is safe to remove it from the list.

Putaway WMS does not allow deletion when:

• the location contains products;
• the location has movement history.

If the location contains products, move or process the products before trying to delete it. If the location has movement history, keep it for traceability and use a new location if you need a separate area.

Deleted locations no longer appear in the list and are no longer accepted as returns locations. During a future create action, Putaway WMS may offer to restore them.

Rules

• Do not use storage locations for logistic returns.
• Do not use returns locations for supplier receiving.
• Do not use returns locations as permanent storage.
• The location label must be scanned in logistic returns and when returning products from packing.
• Returned products must be checked before they are moved further.
• Products can enter returns through logistic returns, packing for cancelled orders, transfer, or inventory adjustment.
• Good, damaged, and quarantine products can enter the same returns location, but each product remains recorded with the correct condition.
• If the same product appears with different lots, serial numbers, or origins, keep operational separation so stock does not become hard to trace.

Example

A parcel refused by the recipient comes back to the warehouse.

1. The operator scans location RETURNS-1.
2. The operator searches for the order by AWB.
3. The operator selects Good for intact products.
4. The operator scans the products found in the parcel.
5. For a damaged product, the operator changes the condition to Damaged before scanning.
6. The operator completes the return.

After completion, scanned products appear in RETURNS-1 with the selected conditions. The order is marked as returned, and the shipment is marked as returned to sender.

If one expected product is missing from the parcel, the operator completes with missing products only after explicit confirmation. The missing product does not remain as available stock.

After Processing The Return

After the logistic return is completed:

• check entered products in Stock;
• check movements in Traceability;
• move checked products into the proper locations;
• keep damaged or quarantine products separated according to your internal procedure;
• do not let returns locations become permanent storage.

If the product entered returns through packing, transfer, or adjustment, use the same discipline: check the physical product, check its condition, and move it further through the proper flow.

What To Check

If the operator cannot start the logistic return, check:

• whether the current warehouse is correct;
• whether a returns-type location exists;
• whether the location is not deleted;
• whether the scanned label matches the created location;
• whether the user has Logistic returns permission;
• whether the user has access to the selected warehouse;
• whether a receiving, storage, quarantine, or cart location is being scanned instead of a returns location.

If the return is blocked at completion, also check:

• whether the scanned products belong to the order;
• whether the lot or serial number matches the expected product;
• whether scanned plus missing quantities match the expected quantity;
• whether the returns location already contains similar products that must not be mixed.

If the product does not enter the returns location from other flows, check:

• in Packing, whether the product is shown in the list of products that must be returned and whether the scanned location is returns-type;
• in Transfer, whether source and destination are accepted, active, and unblocked locations;
• in Transfer, whether the product exists in the source with the selected lot, serial number, barcode, and condition;
• in Inventory adjustments, whether the returns location is active and whether the operator selected the correct physical stock line.