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WarehouseQ

Mobile-first warehouse barcode scanning and operations management for Business Central.

1. Overview

WarehouseQ is a mobile-first warehouse management solution that transforms traditional paper-based warehouse operations into streamlined, digital workflows. Built for Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, it delivers real-time inventory accuracy, increased productivity, and seamless integration with your existing ERP environment.

Warehouse staff work directly from mobile devices — scanning barcodes for items, bins, and documents — with every transaction updating Business Central instantly. No batch imports, no duplicate data entry, no delays.

Core Capabilities

  • • Receiving: Scan and verify incoming shipments against purchase orders
  • • Put-Away: Directed storage with optimal bin location suggestions
  • • Picking: Optimized pick routes with barcode accuracy verification
  • • Shipping: Final verification and documentation generation
  • • Bin-to-Bin Movement: Inventory transfers with full scan validation
  • • Assembly: Component scanning and consumption tracking
  • • Item & Bin Inquiry: Instant stock lookups from any device
  • • Performance Analytics: Real-time KPIs and productivity monitoring

Requirements: Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central version 23.0 or later. Works with Cloud (SaaS) and On-Premises deployments. Mobile devices require iOS 12+ or Android 8+.

2. Getting Started

Install the Extension

  1. Navigate to Extension Management in Business Central
  2. Choose Browse Extensions or Upload Extension
  3. Install WarehouseQ by Business Dynamics Pro Inc.
  4. Verify installation shows as Installed in the Extension Management page

Initialize Required Journals

  1. Open the WarehouseQ Setup page from the Role Center
  2. Locate the Journal Setup Status section
  3. Click Create Required Journals if status shows INCOMPLETE
  4. Verify both Item Template and Reclassify Batch show EXISTS

Assign Permissions

  1. Assign the WAREHOUSE permission set to warehouse users
  2. Assign the ITEM-EDIT permission set for inventory modifications
  3. Configure WarehouseQ User Setup for each individual user

Configure Location Settings

  1. Set up warehouse locations with bin codes enabled
  2. Enable Bin Mandatory on each location
  3. Optionally enable Require Put-away and Require Pick
  4. Configure bin capacity and zone management as needed

3. Receiving Operations

Process incoming inventory from purchase orders with barcode verification at every step. Receiving clerks scan items as they arrive, verify quantities against the PO, and direct items to put-away locations.

Workflow

  1. Scan purchase order barcode or select from the prioritized list
  2. Scan incoming item barcodes to verify against the PO line items
  3. Enter received quantities using the touch-optimized number pad
  4. Specify bin locations for put-away (system suggests optimal bins)
  5. Process receipt — inventory updates in Business Central immediately

Business Value: 85% reduction in receiving errors, 60% faster receiving process, instant inventory updates, and automatic vendor compliance tracking.

4. Put-Away Operations

Move received items from the receiving dock to optimal storage locations. The system suggests bin placements based on item characteristics, zone rules, and available capacity.

Workflow

  1. Select a put-away document from the queue
  2. Scan the item barcode to confirm the product
  3. Navigate to the suggested destination bin
  4. Scan the destination bin barcode to verify correct placement
  5. Confirm put-away quantity and register completion

Business Value: 40% improvement in storage efficiency, reduced travel time through optimized routes, elimination of misplaced inventory, and dynamic bin allocation.

5. Picking Operations

Fulfill customer orders accurately and efficiently. Pick operators follow optimized routes on their mobile screens, scanning items and bins at every step to ensure 99.5% accuracy.

Workflow

  1. Select a pick order from the prioritized list
  2. Follow the optimized pick route displayed on the mobile screen
  3. Scan item and bin barcodes to ensure accuracy at each stop
  4. Enter picked quantities with exception handling for short picks
  5. Mark order as ready for shipping and register pick completion

Business Value: 99.5% pick accuracy rate, 50% faster order fulfillment, reduced customer complaints, and optimized labor utilization.

6. Shipping Operations

Final verification and dispatch of customer orders. Shipping clerks scan shipment documents, confirm contents, and generate shipping documentation before dispatch.

Workflow

  1. Scan shipment orders and verify packed contents
  2. Confirm tracking numbers and carrier information
  3. Generate shipping labels and documentation
  4. Update order status to “Shipped” in real time

Business Value: Elimination of shipping errors, automated documentation generation, real-time customer notifications, and carrier integration.

7. Bin-to-Bin Movement

Transfer items between warehouse bin locations for reorganization, replenishment, or optimization. Every movement is scan-verified with a complete audit trail.

Workflow

  1. Scan or enter the item number to move
  2. Scan the source bin location barcode
  3. Enter the quantity to transfer
  4. Scan the destination bin location barcode
  5. System validates the move and updates bin contents

Business Value: Accurate location tracking, simplified reorganization, full audit trail for all movements, and optimized picking routes.

8. Assembly Operations

Manage component consumption for assembly orders directly from the warehouse floor. Production operators scan components, verify lot and serial numbers, and record actual consumption against planned quantities.

Workflow

  1. Select an assembly order from the production schedule
  2. Scan component item barcodes for consumption
  3. Verify bin locations and lot numbers
  4. Record actual quantities consumed vs. planned
  5. Update assembly progress and post completion in real time

Business Value: Accurate BOM consumption tracking, lot and serial traceability, real-time assembly progress visibility, and reduced material waste.

9. Item & Bin Inquiry

Instant lookup of stock levels, bin contents, lot/serial numbers, and availability across all locations. Warehouse staff and customer service teams get immediate answers without switching systems.

Item Inquiry

  • • Scan or search for any item to view current stock across all locations
  • • View bin-level breakdown showing exact quantities per storage location
  • • Check lot and serial number details with expiration dates
  • • See pending receipts, open orders, and reserved quantities

Bin Inquiry

  • • Scan any bin barcode to view all items stored in that location
  • • View quantities, lot numbers, and item details for each bin
  • • Check bin capacity utilization and zone assignments
  • • Identify empty bins available for put-away operations

10. Performance Analytics

Built-in dashboards provide real-time visibility into warehouse operations performance. Track scan rates, error rates, user productivity, and operational KPIs to identify bottlenecks and optimize labor allocation.

Available Metrics

  • • Scan Rate: Items scanned per hour by user and operation type
  • • Error Rate: Scan mismatches, wrong-bin incidents, and correction frequency
  • • Throughput: Orders processed, items moved, and receipts completed per shift
  • • Accuracy: Pick accuracy percentage, receiving verification rate
  • • Productivity: User-level performance comparisons and trend analysis

Using the Dashboard

  1. Access the WarehouseQ Dashboard from the Role Center
  2. Select the date range and location filters
  3. View summary KPIs in the top metrics strip
  4. Drill down into detailed reports for each metric category
  5. Export data for external analysis or management reporting

11. Setup & Configuration

Configure WarehouseQ to match your warehouse operations through the centralized setup page.

WarehouseQ Setup Page

Access via WarehouseQ Role Center > Setup > WarehouseQ Setup

  • • General Settings: Default location, auto-post options, scan timeout duration
  • • Receiving Settings: Over-receive tolerance, auto-suggest bins, require PO scan
  • • Picking Settings: Route optimization method, short-pick handling, batch picking options
  • • Shipping Settings: Auto-generate documents, carrier defaults, packing verification
  • • Movement Settings: Require approval for movements, auto-register transfers
  • • Assembly Settings: Component verification level, lot tracking requirements

Web Services

WarehouseQ publishes 42 web services automatically during installation for mobile app connectivity. These appear in the Web Services page in Business Central.

  • • All web services use the BDP prefix for easy identification
  • • Services include pages, codeunits, and queries for all operations
  • • Do not rename or unpublish these services — the mobile app depends on them

User Setup

Configure individual user preferences and permissions via WarehouseQ User Setup.

  • • Default Location: Pre-select the user\'s primary warehouse location
  • • Allowed Operations: Control which operations each user can perform
  • • Scan Mode: Camera scan, Bluetooth scanner, or manual entry preference
  • • License Assignment: Activate or deactivate mobile access per user

12. Barcode Configuration

WarehouseQ supports multiple barcode formats and can be configured to match your existing labeling infrastructure.

Supported Barcode Formats

  • • Code 128: General-purpose barcode for item numbers and bin codes
  • • Code 39: Legacy barcode format widely used in warehousing
  • • EAN-13 / UPC-A: Standard retail product barcodes
  • • QR Code: Two-dimensional codes for encoding extended information
  • • GS1-128: Supply chain barcodes with application identifiers
  • • Data Matrix: Compact 2D codes for small items and components

Barcode Validation Rules

Configure validation rules to ensure scanned data matches expected patterns:

  • • Item Barcode Pattern: Define the expected format for item identification
  • • Bin Barcode Pattern: Set the pattern for bin location codes
  • • Document Barcode Pattern: Configure PO and shipment document patterns
  • • Cross-Reference Lookup: Map external vendor barcodes to internal item numbers

Tip: Use the Barcode Test function in WarehouseQ Setup to validate your barcode configuration before deploying to the warehouse floor. This scans a test barcode and shows how the system will interpret it.

13. License Management

WarehouseQ uses a per-user licensing model for mobile access. Manage licenses through the dedicated license management page.

License Overview

  • • License Type: Per-named-user for mobile device access
  • • Desktop Access: Business Central desktop users do not require a separate WarehouseQ license
  • • License Page: View and manage all licenses from WarehouseQ License Management
  • • Activation: Assign licenses to specific Business Central user accounts

Managing Licenses

  1. Open WarehouseQ License Management from the Role Center
  2. View current license count and active assignments
  3. Add new users by selecting from the Business Central user list
  4. Deactivate licenses for users who no longer need mobile access
  5. Contact support for additional license purchases

14. Role Center

The WarehouseQ Role Center provides a centralized dashboard for warehouse managers with activity cues, quick actions, and operational overview.

Activity Cues

  • • Pending Receipts: Purchase orders awaiting receiving
  • • Open Put-Aways: Items received but not yet stored
  • • Active Picks: Sales orders in the picking process
  • • Ready to Ship: Orders picked and awaiting dispatch
  • • Active Users: Currently connected mobile users
  • • Today\'s Scans: Total barcode scans processed today

Quick Actions

  • • Access WarehouseQ Setup and User Setup pages
  • • View Performance Analytics dashboard
  • • Open License Management
  • • Navigate to Barcode Configuration
  • • Access scan activity logs and audit trails

15. Permissions

WarehouseQ includes two permission sets for role-based access control.

Permission Sets

  • • BDP WQ FULL: Full access to all WarehouseQ functionality including setup, configuration, license management, and all warehouse operations. Assign to warehouse managers and administrators.
  • • BDP WQ VIEW: Read-only access to WarehouseQ data including inquiry pages, dashboards, and reports. Assign to supervisors and customer service staff who need visibility without modification rights.

Important: Mobile users performing warehouse operations (receiving, picking, shipping, etc.) require the BDP WQ FULL permission set plus appropriate standard Business Central warehouse permissions.

16. Troubleshooting

Mobile App Cannot Connect

  • • Verify the Business Central environment URL is correct in app settings
  • • Confirm the user has an active WarehouseQ license assigned
  • • Check that all 42 web services are published (WarehouseQ Setup > Web Services Status)
  • • Ensure the device has network connectivity to the Business Central server

Barcode Not Recognized

  • • Use the Barcode Test tool to verify the barcode is readable
  • • Check that the barcode format is in the supported formats list
  • • Verify the item or bin has a matching barcode entry in Business Central
  • • For cross-reference barcodes, confirm the vendor barcode mapping exists

Posting Errors

  • • Verify the user has sufficient permissions for the operation type
  • • Check that required journals exist (WarehouseQ Setup > Journal Setup Status)
  • • Ensure bin locations are valid and active for the selected warehouse
  • • Review the Business Central error log for detailed posting failure messages

Performance Issues

  • • Check network latency between mobile devices and the Business Central server
  • • Review the number of concurrent mobile users vs. licensed capacity
  • • Ensure the Business Central environment meets minimum performance specifications
  • • Contact support if scan response times exceed 2 seconds consistently

17. Support

Contact Information

When Contacting Support

To help us resolve your issue quickly, please include:

  • • Your Business Central version and environment type (Cloud or On-Premises)
  • • WarehouseQ extension version (found in Extension Management)
  • • Mobile app version and device type
  • • Description of the issue with steps to reproduce
  • • Any error messages displayed
  • • Screenshots if applicable

Documentation: This help page is also accessible from within Business Central by pressing Ctrl+F1 on any WarehouseQ page, or by visiting dynamicspro.ca/help/warehouseq.