Supply chain management
Microsoft Dynamics Business Central Supply Chain Management Software:
Deliver products on time and adapt to changing business models with visibility across purchasing, manufacturing,
inventory, and warehouses.
1
Purchase invoicing
Set up, post, and print purchase invoices and purchase
credit memos.
2
Purchase order management
Manage quotes, blanket orders, and purchase order
processes. Creating a purchase order differs from
creating a purchase invoice directly. The quantity
available is adjusted as soon as an amount is entered
on a purchase order line, but it is not affected by a
purchase invoice until it is posted. Easily manage partial
receipts, receive and invoice separately and create
prepayment invoices for the purchase order, use quotes
and blanket orders in the purchase phase. Quotes and
blanket orders do not affect inventory figures.
3
Purchase return order management
Create a purchase return order in order to compensate
your own company for wrong or damaged items. Items
can then be picked from the purchase return order. You
can set up partial return shipments or combine return
shipments in one credit memo and link purchase return
orders with replacement purchase orders.
4
Purchase invoice discounts
Calculate invoice discounts automatically. The discount
can differ from vendor to vendor with different
minimum amounts (also in different currencies) and
different rates, depending on the size of the invoice.
The discount is calculated on the individual item lines
and becomes part of the net sum of the invoice.
Supply chain management: Inventory control
Supply Chain Management: Planning and availability
5
Purchase line discounting
Manage multiple item negotiated purchase price
discounts as based on such parameters as minimum
quantity, unit of measure, currency, item variant and
time period. The best unit cost, as based on the highest
discount, is calculated for the purchase line when
the order details meet the conditions specified in the
purchase line discounts table.
6
Alternative vendors
Manage purchase of the same item from different
vendors. Set up alternative vendors for items, specify
typical lead times, and record price and discount
agreements with each vendor.
7
Alternative order addresses
Set up multiple addresses to manage orders from
vendors who have more than one shipping site. These
additional locations can then be selected by
the purchasing agent when creating a purchase order
or invoice.
8
Vendor catalogue
Offer items to customers that are not part of regular
inventory, but can be ordered from vendors or
manufacturers on a one-off basis. Register these items
as non-stock items but treat them like regular items.
9
Inventory management
Set up stock items and specify properties such as unit of
measure, costing method, inventory posting group, and
unit cost and price. Post item transactions, such as sales,
purchase, and negative and positive adjustments from
item journals. Store quantity and cost records of posted
transactions in the inventory ledger, and use it as the
basis for valuation and other costing calculations.
Set up non-inventory and services in the same way
as stock items and use them in sales, purchase, or
consumption transactions, but without need to keep
track of stock and costing.
10
Item categories
Group items in a hierarchy and define custom
categories that include specific attributes.
11
Item attributes
Add custom data, such as color, country of manufacture,
size, or product dimensions, to applicable items, to
supplement built-in global item fields. Use Azure AI to
let Business Central analyze images of your items and
automatically suggest attributes.
Define types of attribute options, including list and
text, and integer and decimal that can include units
of measure. Translate attribute names and options to
multiple languages.
Block attributes or attribute options from being used, if
for example, they no longer are applicable.
12
Item tracking
Manage and track serial and lot numbers. Assign serial
or lot numbers manually or automatically, receive and
ship multiple quantities with serial or lot numbers from
a single order line entry.
Use the additional customizable item tracking
dimension to keep track of simple WMS packages
or pallets.
13
Multiple locations
Manage inventory in multiple locations, such as
production plants, distribution centers, warehouses,
show rooms, retail outlets, and service cars. Inventory
at each location can have its own location-specific
financial dimensions or posting rules. Enable CFO or
financial leaders to get information about inventory
using financial reporting.
14
Stock-keeping units
Manage stock-keeping units (SKUs). Identical items
with the same item number can be stored in different
locations and managed individually at each location.
Add cost prices, replenishment, manufacturing
information, and so on, based on the location.
15
Item variants
Item variants are a great way to keep your list of items
under control, especially if you have a large number
of items that are almost identical—for example, when
they vary only in color. Rather than setting up each
variant as a separate item, you can set up one item and
then specify the various colors as variants of the item.
Variants are supported in all areas of product including
manufacturing and planning, unlocking scenarios in
industries where, for example, inventory is tracked by
revision.
16
Location transfers
Track inventory as it moves from one location to
another. Account for the value of inventory in transit
and at various locations.
17
Shipping agents
Set up multiple shipping agents (for example, UPS, DHL,
external carriers, or your own carrier) and relate their
services (express, overnight, standard) with shipping
time. Associate default shipping agents and their
services with individual customers or specify those
details on sales orders and transfer orders to improve
accuracy of order promising.
18
Online bank connectivity*
Easily and securely connect to banks online to import
transactions for easy reconciliation and bank account
settlement.
Transfer funds online to other bank accounts to pay
your vendors and employees or refund your customers.
*Optional capabilities provided by 3rd party add-ons.
19
Calendars
Set up calendars with working and non-working days.
Assign a base calendar to customers, vendors, locations,
companies, shipping agent services, and the service
management setup and make changes when needed.
Use calendar entries in date calculations on sales,
purchase, transfer, production, and service orders,
and the requisition and planning worksheets.
20
Item charges
Manage item charges. Include the value of additional
costs such as freight or insurance in the unit cost or
unit price of an item.
21
Item references
Identify the items a customer is ordering based on
item numbers other than your own. Store and easily
access cross-reference information from customers,
vendors, and manufacturers, as well as generic numbers,
universal product codes (UPCs), and European article
numbers (EANs).
22
Item substitutions
Link items that have the same or similar characteristics
to suggest alternatives for out-or-stock items on orders.
Provide extra service to customers by offering lowercost
alternatives.
23
Item budgets
Define sales and purchase budgets on the customer,
vendor, and item levels. Prepare and record a sales
budget that can serve as input to decision makers in
operational areas such as purchasing and logistics.
Get information about expected demand and use it in
business discussions with customers.
Finalize budgets and track the actual sales performance
by calculating the variance. Export budget figures to
Excel for flexible calculations in the budgeting process.
24
Analysis reports
Provide decision makers with insightful details that
inform day-to-day decisions regarding sales, purchases,
and product portfolio management. Build on item
entries to provide customizable analytics that let you
add and combine analysis objects, such as customers,
items, and vendors, according to your needs.
25
Cycle counting
Manage cycle counting to verify inventory record data
used to maintain and increase inventory accuracy. You
can set up cycle counting on the item or SKU level.
26
Supply planning
Plan material requirements based on demand with
support for master production scheduling and materials
requirements planning. Generate optimal suggestions
for replenishing inventory transfers based on the item’s
current and future demand and availability, as well as a
variety of planning parameters, such as minimum and
maximum quantities and reorder quantities.
Use automatic orders for assembly, purchase,
production, and transfers, and action messages to
balance supply and demand. Use time buckets when
planning material requirements.
27
Demand forecasting
Manage demand forecasting based on items. Input
demand (sales) forecasts for products and components
in a more convenient way (daily, monthly, quarterly).
Create production and purchase orders that consider
the demand forecast, available inventory, and plan
requirements.
28
Sales and inventory forecasting
Get deep insight into potential sales and a clear
overview of expected stock-outs by using the Sales and
Inventory Forecast extension. Leverage its built-in AI
capabilities to generate reliable forecasts that make it
easier to manage replenishment.
29
Order promising
Promise accurate order shipment and delivery dates
based on an item’s current and future availability. When
items are not available to meet a customer’s requested
delivery date, calculate the earliest shipment date as
either an available-to-promise date that is based on
upcoming uncommitted supply or a capable-to-promise
date, which is when items can become available.
30
Drop shipments
Handle orders that ship directly from the vendor to the
customer without having to physically stock items in
your inventory. Keep track of order costs and profit. Link
sales orders to purchase orders to control the sequence
of posting tasks.
31
Order planning
Plan supply for all types of demand on individual orders
using a simple supply planning tool.
32
Calculate availability on the fly
Once quantity is entered in any type of order: purchase,
sales, production or transfer, the system immediately
updates the availability information, notifying the user
who enters the order about current and future situation.
Be fully equipped with information about inventory
availability by date, event, variant, location, even bill of
material and unit of measure.