In inFlow, there isn’t a dedicated feature for tracking lot /batch numbers or expiry dates. But you can take a look at the workarounds we have so that you can track this information in inFlow.

Please note: location are only available on select plans or add-ons.

Web

There are currently two ways to handle lot numbers or expiration dates in inFlow Cloud:

• Using sublocations
  This uses inFlow’s sublocations feature, which you rename to track the lot, batch, or expiry date information.
• Setting up individual product records
  This option is where you create multiple product records of the same product with lot, batch, or expiry date information.

Using sublocations

If you’re not already using sublocations in inFlow Cloud, you could try using them to keep track of these numbers. This isn’t exactly what it’s designed for, but it’s worked well for a number of people.

This same trick will work for lot numbers, batch numbers, expiry dates, and so on. We recommend you enter expiry dates in a YYYY-MM-DD format so that they can be sorted properly.

To activate sublocations

1. Go to inFlow’s Inventory settings or Main Menu>Options> Inventory if you’re already logged in.
2. Click on Locations.
3. Put a checkmark next to Break locations down into sublocations.

To purchase/receive your products

1. Open your purchase order.
2. Click the Receive tab and split your items out line by line. 
3. You can then enter the expiry date/ lot number/ etc. into the sublocation column for each unit.

This will allow you to stock each item in a separate sublocation.

To sell/ship the items

1. Open your sales order.
2. Click the Fulfill tab (or Pick tab if you have shipping turned on) and select your items from the correct sublocation.

To track movements of lot numbers/batch numbers

1. Go to inFlow’s reports.
2. Click on the Audit log tab, then Inventory movement log.
3. Set the filters and columns for the report.
4. Click on the arrow next to the Serial to sort by this column.
5. Click Generate to view the report.

Setting up individual product records

If you are already using inFlow sublocations to track actual sublocations, the above workaround will not work for you.

What you may try is setting up an individual item record for each lot number/batch number (an example name would be LOTNUMBER-PRODUCTNAME).

To create your product

1. Go to Main Menu > Inventory > New Product.
2. Enter all the relevant details for your product, and be sure to use the lot number as the item code.
3. Save your product record.

You may try setting up a category named after the model number of your product so you can make searching on sales orders easier on yourself later. Have a look at the article on how to categorize products for more info.

To create another lot number of the same product

1. Open the product record for an item that has the same lot number as the item you’d like to create.
2. Click the Copy button at the top. This will replicate the record and simply ask you to enter a new item code.
3. Enter the lot number and click Save.

You can also set these items up ahead of time (let’s say your vendor sends you a list of these numbers) by importing the information into the system.

Simply match the lot number column to the Product name field in inFlow, and be sure to include any relevant details, such as product name or model category, in separate columns within that spreadsheet. For more information on importing data, please see our article on how to import data into inFlow.

Location settings for product picking

By default, when in the picking process, if your location/sublocation goes to zero, Flow will pick from the next location/sublocation with the most amount of quantity.

If you’re using sublocations to track batch/lot numbers, then it would be helpful to change the picking setting to pick by alphabetical order so that products from the batch or lot will be picked from instead of the sublocation with the most quantity available. See below for steps to set this up.

Please note this setting is only available on inFlow Cloud for Web.

1. Go to inFlow’s Inventory settings.
2. Click on Picking options.
3. There will be two options listed, select From locations/sublocations in alphabetical order.
4. Click Save.

Webinar

Check out this webinar for complete steps on how you can track lot/batch/expiry dates in inFlow Cloud.

Windows

There are currently two ways to handle lot numbers or expiration dates in inFlow Cloud:

• Using sublocations
  This uses inFlow’s sublocations feature that you rename in order to track the lot, batch, or expiry date information.
• Setting up individual product records
  This option is where you create multiple product records of the same product with lot, batch, or expiry date information.

Using sublocations

If you’re not already using sublocations in inFlow Cloud, you could try using them to keep track of these numbers. This isn’t exactly what it’s designed for, but it’s worked well for a number of people.

This same trick will work for lot numbers, batch numbers, expiry dates, and so on. We recommend you enter expiry dates in a YYYY-MM-DD format so that they can be sorted properly.

To activate sublocations

1. Go to Main Menu > Options > Settings.
2. Under Track inventory by click on Locations broken down into sublocations.

To purchase/receive your products

1. Open your purchase order.
2. Click the Receive tab and split your items out line by line. 
3. You can then enter the expiry date/ lot number/ etc. into the sublocation column for each unit.

This will allow you to stock each item in a separate sublocation.

To sell/ship the items

1. Open your sales order.
2. Click the Fulfill tab (or Pick tab if you have shipping turned on) and select your items from the correct sublocation.

To track the movement of a specific lot number/batch number

1. View the Movement History by going to Main Menu > Inventory > Movement History.
2. In Sublocation, type in the lot number that you want to look up.
3. Click Refresh.

From the Movement History screen, you can also double-click on the row to bring up any related orders. This will let you quickly look up who that particular item was sold to (as an example).

Setting up individual product records

If you are already using inFlow sublocations to track actual sublocations, the above workaround will not work for you. What you may try is setting up an individual item record for each lot number/batch number (an example name would be LOTNUMBER-PRODUCTNAME).

To create your product

1. Go to Main Menu > Inventory > New Product.
2. Enter all the relevant details for your product, and be sure to use the lot number as the item code.
3. Save your product record.

You may try setting up a category named after the model number of your product so you can make searching on sales orders easier on yourself later. Have a look at the article on how to categorize products for more info.

To create another lot number of the same product

1. Open the product record for an item that has the same lot number as the item you’d like to create.
2. Click the Copy button at the top. This will replicate the record and simply ask you to enter a new item code.
3. Enter the lot number and click Save.

You can also set these items up ahead of time (let’s say your vendor sends you a list of these numbers) by importing the information into the system.

Simply match the lot number column to the Product field in inFlow, and be sure to include any relevant details, such as product name or model category, in separate columns within that spreadsheet. For more information on importing data, please see our article on how to import data into inFlow.

Location settings for product picking

By default, when in the picking process, if your location/sublocation goes to zero, inFlow will pick from the next location/sublocation with the most amount of quantity.

If you’re using sublocations to track batch/lot numbers, then it would be helpful to change the picking setting to pick by alphabetical order so that products from the batch or lot will be picked from instead of the sublocation with the most quantity available. See below for steps to set this up.

Please note this setting can only be selected on inFlow Cloud for Web. Once set, the changes will apply to all inFlow applications.

1. Go to inFlow’s Inventory setting.
2. Click on Picking options.
3. There will be two options listed, select From locations/sublocations in alphabetical order.
4. Click Save.

Webinar

Check out this webinar for complete steps on how you can track lot/batch/expiry dates in inFlow Cloud.