Putaway Rule
A Putaway Rule defines how incoming stock should be automatically assigned to specific warehouses based on predefined logic such as capacity and priority.
It ensures that goods received through Purchase Receipts or Stock Entries are systematically placed into the most appropriate warehouse locations without manual selection.
1. Prerequisites
Before creating a Putaway Rule, ensure the following master data is configured so that warehouse allocation logic can work correctly.
- Stock Item should be created and properly configured for inventory tracking.
- Warehouse structure must exist with defined storage locations and capacity planning in mind.
2. How to create a Putaway Rule
- Go to Stock > Stock Transactions > Putaway Rule and click on New.
- Select the Company and the specific Item for which the rule will apply.
- Choose the Warehouse where the item can be stored under this rule.
- Define the Capacity of the warehouse for that item. This ensures stock is not allocated beyond available space.
- Optionally define the capacity in a different UOM; ERPNext will automatically convert it to Stock UOM.
- Set a Priority value where 1 represents the highest preference for allocation.
- Save and optionally disable the rule if it should not be used temporarily.
Each Putaway Rule is defined for a unique Item–Warehouse combination, ensuring precise control over where each item is stored.
3. How Putaway Strategy Works
ERPNext uses a combination of priority and available capacity to decide where incoming stock should be placed.
- Priority is evaluated first (lower number = higher priority).
- Within the same priority, warehouses with more available capacity are preferred.
- Stock is allocated until the warehouse reaches its defined capacity limit.
- If no warehouse has available space, the system will notify the user.
4. How it Works in Transactions
Putaway Rules are applied during stock entry processes such as Purchase Receipts and Stock Entries when the “Apply Putaway Rule” option is enabled.
Once enabled, ERPNext automatically distributes incoming stock across warehouses based on defined rules.
The system re-evaluates Putaway Rules each time the document is saved, ensuring stock is always placed according to the latest capacity and priority configuration.
5. Example Workflow
When a Purchase Order is received for multiple quantities of an item, ERPNext automatically distributes stock based on available warehouse capacities.
- If Warehouse A has capacity remaining, part of the stock is assigned there.
- Once capacity is filled, remaining stock is automatically assigned to Warehouse B or the next available option.
- This ensures optimal utilization of storage space across multiple locations.
6. Warehouse Capacity Summary
The Warehouse Capacity Summary report provides a consolidated view of warehouse utilization against defined Putaway Rules.
It helps warehouse managers monitor available capacity and adjust rules where necessary for better inventory distribution.
7. Types of Putaway Application
7.1 Direct Putaway
In direct putaway, incoming stock is immediately assigned to warehouses during receipt based on configured rules. This is commonly used in straightforward receiving workflows.
7.2 Indirect (Combined) Putaway
In indirect putaway, stock is first received into a staging warehouse and later redistributed into final storage locations using Stock Transfers. Putaway Rules can still be applied during this second stage.
8. Key Benefits
- Automates warehouse allocation for incoming stock.
- Optimizes storage utilization across multiple warehouses.
- Reduces manual decision-making during receipt processes.
- Improves accuracy in inventory placement and tracking.
9. Related Topics
- Purchase Receipt
- Stock Entry
- Warehouse Management
