Inventory Locations

Learn how to create and manage inventory locations to efficiently organize and track your materials across facilities.

Overview​

Inventory Locations are the foundation of effective inventory management, providing a structured way to organize and track where materials are stored within your organization. Whether you manage a single warehouse or multiple facilities, proper location management ensures:

• Efficient material tracking and retrieval
• Organized storage hierarchy
• Accurate inventory operations
• Streamlined picking and restocking
• Enhanced inventory visibility

Key Features​

• Flexible Location Types: Choose between structured hierarchical locations or simple stock locations
• Hierarchical Organization: Create nested locations (Building → Floor → Room → Shelf)
• Address Management: Track physical locations with complete address information
• Barcode Integration: Generate and scan location barcodes for quick operations
• Custom Properties: Add location-specific attributes and forms
• Security Controls: Manage access through role-based permissions

Location Types​

Structured Locations​

• Hierarchical organization with parent-child relationships
• Ideal for complex facilities with multiple organizational levels
• Support for location type categorization
• Perfect for warehouses, distribution centers, and large facilities

Stock Locations​

• Simple, direct storage locations without hierarchy
• Suitable for straightforward inventory storage
• Faster setup and management
• Ideal for small facilities or temporary storage areas

To access locations, navigate to the Inventory section from the landing page by selecting 'Inventory' from the dropdown menu in the top left corner.

Once in the Inventory section, you'll find Locations in the navigation menu where you can view, search, and manage existing Locations:

Creating a New Location​

1. Click the + New Location button to start creating a new inventory location:

Location Types: Structured vs Stock Locations​

You have two types of locations to choose from:

• Structured Locations: Hierarchical locations that can contain other locations (e.g., Building → Floor → Room → Shelf). Ideal for complex facilities with multiple levels of organization.
• Stock Locations: Simple, direct storage locations for materials without hierarchical structure. Perfect for straightforward inventory storage needs.

Choose the type that best fits your organizational structure and storage requirements.

Structured Locations​

2. Enable Structured Location by toggling the "Structured Location" option on:

3. Complete the Location Details form with the required information. Start by filling in the basic location information:

4. Configure location hierarchy (optional fields):

   Location Type - Select from predefined location types if applicable:

   

   Note: The dropdown options are predefined and configured in a different system menu.

   Parent Location - Choose a parent location if this location is part of a hierarchy:

   

5. Enter the address information (required field):

6. Click + Continue once you've completed all required fields.

7. Configure Location Type Details - Fill in any specific details for your location type, then click + Continue:

Barcode Configuration​

8. Set up barcodes for the location (if needed). The barcode section requires two fields:

• Type: Select from the dropdown menu (configured in system settings):

• Value: Enter the barcode string value

9. Click + Continue to proceed to the next step.

Location Properties​

10. Add custom properties to the location if needed. This step is optional but useful for additional location metadata:

If you want to add properties, complete these required fields:

• Name: Enter the property name
• Value: Enter the property value

11. Click + Save to complete the structured location creation.

Stock Locations​

Stock locations follow a similar process to structured locations but are designed for direct material storage without hierarchical organization.

2. Select Stock Location by leaving the "Structured Location" toggle off (this is the default):

3. Fill in the location details - Complete all required fields for the stock location, including name, description, and address information:

4. Follow the same configuration steps as structured locations:
   • Configure any specific location type details
   • Set up barcodes if needed
   • Add custom properties as required
   • Click + Save to complete the creation

Stock locations are ideal for simple storage needs where you don't require hierarchical organization but still want the benefits of location tracking, barcoding, and custom properties.

Best Practices​

Location Structure​

• Create a logical hierarchy that matches your physical facility layout
• Use consistent naming conventions for easy identification
• Keep the hierarchy depth manageable (typically 3-5 levels)
• Consider future growth when planning the structure

Location Setup​

• Always provide accurate and complete address information
• Use descriptive names that reflect the physical location
• Configure appropriate location types for different areas
• Set up parent-child relationships carefully to maintain organization

Barcode Management​

• Generate unique barcodes for each location
• Use consistent barcode types within similar areas
• Place barcode labels in easily scannable positions
• Keep a backup record of barcode assignments

Custom Properties​

• Add relevant properties that aid in location management
• Use consistent property names across similar locations
• Document the purpose of custom properties
• Only add properties that provide operational value

Maintenance​

• Regularly review and update location information
• Archive unused locations instead of deleting them
• Maintain accurate parent-child relationships
• Update address information promptly when changes occur