Storage locations

Storage locations are the racks, shelves, or final spaces where goods remain after receiving and Putaway. They are used for storing stock, order picking, transfers, stock checks, inventory counts, and replenishment.

A storage location is not a receiving area, returns area, picking cart, or quarantine location. If goods are in storage, they should already be documented and moved out of receiving through the correct flow.

Before creating storage locations

First check the selected warehouse. Locations are created and displayed only for the current warehouse.

In Warehouse settings there are prefixes for aisle, bay, level, and bin. By default, they are:

• aisle: A;
• bay: B;
• level: L;
• bin: B.

Change these prefixes before creating the first storage bins. After at least one storage bin exists in the warehouse, storage prefixes are no longer changed from settings, so already printed labels remain valid.

Prepare the physical warehouse map before creating locations. The correct order is:

1. zone;
2. aisle;
3. bay;
4. level;
5. bin.

The operator scans the final bin, not only the zone, aisle, bay, or level.

Storage location structure

Element	What it means
Zone	A large part of the warehouse, for example a rack area, pallet area, or reserve area.
Aisle	The path or row inside the zone.
Bay	A segment inside the aisle, usually a rack column or section.
Level	The shelf or height inside the bay.
Bin	The exact place where the product is stored. This is the code that is printed and scanned.

Putaway WMS creates the numbers automatically. The user does not manually enter the aisle, bay, level, or bin number. At each step, the system uses the next free number in the right place.

If a location was deleted and can be restored, Putaway WMS can show a restore window. In that case, choose whether to restore the found location or create a new one.

Creating locations

Open Warehouse → Locations → Storage.

If there are no zones, the page shows that no storage locations were found. Use Create zone and enter the zone name.

After creating the zone:

1. open the zone and create the aisle;
2. open the aisle and create the bay;
3. open the bay and create the level;
4. open the level and create the bin;
5. print the bin label and place it in the warehouse.

If you do not see an action for creating, blocking, deleting, printing, or changing collection availability, your account may not have that permission.

Location code

The bin code is generated automatically from the zone name and warehouse prefixes.

Example:

1. You create the zone ZonaA.
2. Putaway WMS saves the zone name in uppercase: ZONAA.
3. The prefixes are the defaults: A, B, L, B.
4. The first created bin receives the code ZONAA-A01-B01-L01-B01.

If prefixes are changed before bins are created, new codes use the configured prefixes. If prefixes are not changed, codes use the default values.

On screen or on the label, a long code can be displayed on two lines so it fits better. When scanning, the full code is read, not only part of it.

If you click a bin card, the location code is copied. For warehouse work, the printed label remains the recommended method because it reduces typing mistakes.

Labels

Print labels immediately after creating bins.

You can print:

• one label from the bin card;
• multiple labels from the bulk print action.

When printing, you can choose the label format and the scannable code type: QR or Data Matrix. Putaway WMS accepts up to 200 locations in one print.

The label is used in Putaway, Transfer, Picking, Stock check, Inventory, and Replenishment. If the physical label does not match the code shown in Putaway WMS, stop working on that location and reprint the correct label.

Collectable and non-collectable locations

Collection availability is controlled at the level, not separately for each bin.

A collectable level is available for order picking if its locations are active and contain eligible stock.

A non-collectable level keeps stock, but is not used as a normal source for order picking. Use this state for reserve areas, hard-to-reach levels, or stock that must first be moved into a collection level.

Important:

• changing collectable/non-collectable applies to all bins under that level;
• the change does not move products;
• the change does not delete stock;
• the change does not replace location blocking;
• replenishment uses good stock from non-collectable levels to feed collectable levels.

If an order needs products that exist only in non-collectable storage, Putaway WMS can mark the situation as needing replenishment.

Blocking and unblocking

Blocking means the location should not be used operationally. When blocking, a reason is required so the team knows why the location is unavailable.

You can block:

• an entire zone;
• an aisle;
• a bay;
• a level;
• a bin.

When you block a zone, aisle, bay, or level, all bins below that element become unavailable for operations that move or pick stock. When you unblock, the location returns to the flow if there is no other reason keeping it blocked.

If all bins under a level, bay, aisle, or zone are blocked, Putaway WMS can also show the parent element as blocked. If you unblock a bin or child element, the upper display can update back to active.

A blocked location is not used for:

• Putaway as a destination;
• Transfer as a source or destination;
• Order picking;
• Replenishment as a source or destination;
• starting a new inventory count on that location, if it is already blocked.

Stock check can still be used to see what is recorded in a location, but blocking remains a signal that the operator should not move goods from that location until it is unblocked.

Deleting and restoring

Deleting is an administration action for the warehouse map, not a method for correcting stock.

Putaway WMS refuses deletion if the location still has elements below it or if deletion would affect existing stock.

The rules are:

What you delete	When it can be deleted
Zone	Only if it has no active aisles.
Aisle	Only if it has no active bays and is not blocked.
Bay	Only if it has no active levels and is not blocked.
Level	Only if it has no active bins and is not blocked.
Bin	Only if it contains no products and is not blocked.

If the parent element is blocked, deleting elements below it is refused. First unblock the zone, aisle, bay, or level, then retry deletion.

If there are deleted locations that can be reused, Putaway WMS can suggest restoring them. Restoring is useful when you deleted a location by mistake or when you want to keep the same numbering and labels.

How storage is used in operations

Operation	What happens
Putaway	A storage location can be a destination only for products in good condition. Damaged products or products held in quarantine must be sent to quarantine or to the right flow.
Transfer	A storage location can be a source or destination. Receiving is not accepted in Transfer. If the destination is storage, the product arrives there as good stock.
Order picking	Only active storage locations on collectable levels are selected. Blocked or non-collectable locations are not suggested for picking.
Replenishment	Moves good stock from non-collectable storage to collectable storage to feed picking. Source and destination must be active.
Stock check	Scan the storage bin to see the products recorded there. Stock check does not move or correct stock.
Location inventory	Storage bins with stock can be selected. When the inventory starts, selected locations are blocked until the inventory is completed or unlocked through the inventory flow.
Adjustment	Corrects stock through an adjustment document. Do not use location deletion as a replacement for adjustment.

Complete example

You have a physical rack named Zone A, aisle 1, bay 1, level 1, first storage place.

In Putaway WMS:

1. create the zone ZonaA;
2. create the first aisle;
3. create the first bay;
4. create the first level;
5. create the first bin;
6. print the label ZONAA-A01-B01-L01-B01;
7. place the label on the physical location;
8. use the label code in Putaway, Transfer, Picking, Stock check, Inventory, or Replenishment.

If the level is for reserve stock, mark the level as non-collectable. Products can remain there, but they will not be selected directly for order picking. When you need them for picking, use Replenishment to move stock into collectable levels.

Common situations

Situation	What to check
The bin does not appear for picking	Check whether the level is collectable, whether the location is active, and whether the stock is in good condition.
Putaway into storage is refused	Check whether the destination is active storage and whether the product is in good condition.
Transfer is refused	Check whether the source and destination are active and are not receiving locations.
You cannot delete a bin	Check whether the bin has products or is blocked.
You cannot delete a level, bay, aisle, or zone	First delete the elements below it, if they are empty and active.
The scanned label is not accepted	Check whether you scanned the full bin code, whether the label belongs to the current warehouse, and whether the location was not deleted.
The zone appears blocked after bins were blocked	If all bins below it are blocked, Putaway WMS can also mark the upper zone as blocked. Unblocking a child can bring the display back to active.

How storage locations should not be used

Do not create storage locations for goods that are still in receiving, for logistic returns, or for products that must be held in quarantine. The location type must match the real process.

Do not delete locations to hide incorrect stock. For stock correction, use Adjustment or Inventory, depending on the situation.

Do not mark a collection area as non-collectable without informing operators. Orders may need replenishment before products can be picked.