Serial Numbers
Serial Numbers allow you to uniquely identify and track individual units of serialized inventory. Each unit of a serialized item is assigned its own Serial Number, making it easy to monitor its movement and current inventory status.
Serial Numbers are commonly used for products such as electronics, machinery, equipment, and other items that require individual tracking throughout their lifecycle.
Tip
Every serialized item must have a unique Serial Number. This allows Frappe Books to accurately track where each unit is stored, shipped, or received.
Enable Serial Numbers
Before using Serial Numbers, enable the feature from the Inventory Settings.
After enabling the feature, you can access the Serial Number List by opening Quick Search, typing “Serial Number List”, and selecting the corresponding option.
Enable Serial Numbers for an Item
To make an item serial-controlled:
- Open or create an Item.
- Enable Track Item.
- Enable Has Serial Number.
- Save the Item.
Information
The Has Serial Number option is available only when Track Item is enabled.
Using Serial Numbers in Transactions
Once an item is configured as serialized, every inventory transaction involving that item must include the corresponding Serial Numbers.
This applies to inventory transactions such as:
- Purchase Receipt
- Shipment
- Stock Movement
- Manufacturing transactions
While entering an item in a transaction, click the edit button for the item row and enter the required Serial Numbers.
Serial Number Entry
Enter one unique Serial Number for each unit of quantity. For example, if the quantity is 5, you must provide five separate Serial Numbers.
Serial Number Status
Each Serial Number maintains a status that reflects its current inventory state.
| Status | Description |
|---|---|
| Active | The item is available in stock and can be used in outward inventory transactions. |
| Inactive | The item is not currently in stock and can only be used in inward inventory transactions. |
| Delivered | The item has been shipped or consumed and is no longer available in inventory. |
Status Changes
Serial Number status changes automatically based on the inventory transaction performed.
| Status Change | Triggered By |
|---|---|
| Inactive → Active | Material Receipt, Purchase Receipt, or Manufacture (Finished Goods). |
| Active → Delivered | Material Issue, Shipment, or Manufacture (Raw Material Consumption). |
If a transaction is cancelled, the associated Serial Numbers automatically revert to their previous status.
Best Practices
- Enable Serial Numbers only for products that require individual tracking.
- Assign one unique Serial Number for every unit of a serialized item.
- Verify Serial Numbers before submitting inventory transactions.
- Use Serial Numbers to improve product traceability, warranty tracking, and inventory accuracy.
- Review Serial Number status to quickly determine whether an item is in stock, delivered, or awaiting receipt.
