Finale Knowledge Base

Receiving to a Dock and Transferring to Bin Locations

A common receiving workflow in Finale is to first receive products into a receiving dock location and then transfer them into their individual bin locations once you are ready to put stock away. This method allows you to centralize receipts at your dock before distributing items across the warehouse.

https://youtu.be/m_GL6EcOSTA


Why Use This Workflow?

  • Keeps all incoming stock in a central dock area before distributing.

  • Speeds up the receiving process by separating receiving from putaway.

  • Provides better control when bins may need rearranging or when dock workers and putaway workers are different teams.


Receiving to the Dock

  1. Sync the scanner to ensure you have the most up-to-date information.

  2. From the scanner Main Menu, select Option 3: Receive.

  3. Scan the Purchase Order ID (e.g., PO 100014).

  4. Select or scan the Receiving Dock sublocation.

    • Example: Scan the dock barcode or choose it from the list.

  5. Scan and receive each item from the purchase order:

    • Example:

      • Scan A-1000, receive 20 units.

      • Scan A-102, receive 20 units.

      • Scan A-101, receive 20 units.

  6. Once all items are received, exit back to the main menu and sync the scanner to upload the receipt.

At this stage, all products are recorded as received into the dock location.


Transferring to Bin Locations

When ready to distribute stock into bins:

  1. From the scanner Main Menu, select Option 6: Transfer.

  2. Choose the Quick Putaway function.

  3. For each product:

    • Scan the item.

    • Enter the quantity to transfer.

    • Scan the “from” location (the dock).

    • Scan the “to” bin location where the product will be stored.

Example transfer workflow:

  • Move 20 units of A-1000 from Dock > A01.

  • Move 20 units of A-101 from Dock > A01.

  • Move 20 units of A-102 from Dock > A02 (since A01 is full).

  1. Repeat as needed for additional products.

  2. Exit to the main menu and sync the scanner again to finalize transfers.


Verifying in Finale

  • In the Purchase Orders screen, you’ll see the order marked as fully received into the dock.

  • In the Stock Transfers > Transfer Shipments tab, you’ll see the follow-up transfer showing the movement of items from the dock to their final bin locations.


Key Tips

  • Always sync before and after both receiving and transferring.

  • Label your dock as a sublocation so staff can quickly scan it.

  • Use Quick Putaway for fast bin-level transfers directly from the dock.

  • If one bin is full, simply select or scan another available bin location.


Need Help?

If you have questions on this workflow or need further assistance, contact us at Descartes Customer Support or explore our other help articles and training videos.


Frequently Asked Questions

What plan level is required for access to the mobile barcode scanner?

The mobile barcode scanner is available on Gold Plans and above.

Is the physical scanner included with my Finale Inventory subscription?

We do not provide or sell any hardware. If you are upgrading your plan for access to Finale's Mobile Barcode Scanning features, you must purchase a scanner on your own, and can use one of our preferred vendors if you wish.

What are the hardware requirements for the mobile barcode scanner?

ANDROID-OS Based Minimum hardware requirements:

Operating system version: Android OS 8.1 or greater

Hardware specifications:
• WiFi 802.11a/b/g/n
• Touch Display
• 1GB RAM / 8GB Flash
• 1D/2D barcode scanner or embedded camera

I am using the free trial of Finale Inventory, how do integrate my mobile scanner with my trial account?

Please contact Descartes Customer Support to enable access.

How do I change the Orientation of the Barcode Scanner screen?

The mobile barcode scanner software has a toggle screen hot spot on the top of every screen in the app. Click the area under the title bar to swap your orientation.

How do I type a quantity on the scanner?

Press the Up arrow, on the bottom-of your screen in the app, BEFORE you scan the items you intend to receive or count. That will open up a quantity box for you to type into.

How do I use my own scanner with the Finale Inventory scanner app?

Ensure that your scanner is running on Android-OS 8.1 and that you are on the appropriate plan level to access Finale's barcoding features. The barcoding app can be downloaded directly from the Google Play Store.

Where do I purchase the scanner?

We have two preferred vendors that are recommended to purchase your scanner with however you may ultimately purchase a scanner from anywhere you wish. Our preferred vendors are Barcode-Arena and AML. Please note that Finale's Mobile Barcode Scanner app is only compatible on Android devices.

How do I know what version my scanner is running?

From the main screen of the Finale IMS Barcode Scanner app, click "More" until you reach option #18 "About." Selecting this option will tell you exactly which version of the app you're running on that device.

What is the difference between a USB/Bluetooth scanner and a Mobile Scanning device?

USB/Bluetooth scanners can plug directly into a phone or computer for the purpose of scanning a barcode, whereas a Mobile Scanning Device acts as one handheld tool to run Finale's Mobile Barcode Scanner app and scan barcode information simultaneously.


Back to Top