D365 | SCM | Long Drive To Basic Warehouse - PDT QR Code Solution | Part 3

Hello Everyone,

In this blog, I will cover the Basic warehouse solution mapping with the PDT QR Code solution.

Mobile-first Cloud-first: The PDT QR code solution will stenghten your supply chain, it will enable your resources to access the information from anywhere and from any device.

Abstract:

For the pharmaceutical industry accuracy and transparency are the key elements for the successful and timely delivery of the drugs to the pharmacies. This blog is with reference to one of our implementation for the Pharma Industry. The customer is maintaining the stock in the main warehouse(Centralized Procurement). They are using the D365 SCM Master planning module for planning. Based on the min/max inventory levels defined for the central warehouse and stores, master planning is proposing the planned purchase orders and planned transfer orders for the Drugs. The central warehouse is responsible for all the bulk purchases and replenishment to the Pharmacies.

One of the biggest challenges for the pharma industry is to maintain the tracking of all the drugs at the batch level. Also, the expiry date for the batch will be maintained. The system should follow the First Expiry First Out principle at the time of goods transfer and sales. Feeding all this information into the system for Inbound and Outbound operations is one of the biggest challenges for the pharma industry.

QR codes can be used for detailed drug information. We can store detailed drug information in the QR code like the item number, variant information, batch, expiry date, and drug sales price.

Pharma Industry Challenges:

Following are the major business challenges for the Pharma industry.

• It's always a challenge for the Pharma industry to maintain the batch and expiry for the drugs.
• To capture the batch and expiry for Inbound and Outbound operations.
• First Expiry First Out principle for the picking against transfer orders and e-commerce sales orders.

Proposed Solution

It's possible in D365 to maintain the batches and expiry date for the batches. Also, we can capture the shelf life and shelf advice for the drugs. In the Pharma industry, the shelf life for the drug is pre-printed on the product label and the same will be used to calculate the expiry date for the drug. We can embed the drug information in the QR code, the information will contain the item number, variant information, batch, expiry date, and drug sales price. At the time of item registration against the purchase order, the warehouse receiver will scan only the QR code using the PDT, the PDT will populate all the information embedded in the QR code. The same will be applicable at the time of picking against the transfer order and sales orders. This will save time and provide accurate information for all the supply chain operations.

What is QR Code?

A QR code (quick response code) is a type of two-dimensional (2D) bar code that is used?to provide easy access to online information through a digital camera on a smartphone or tablet.

We will enable the basic warehouse in the Inventory and warehouse management module. The Main Warehouse(For centralized procurement) will be designed and configured for the Aisle, Rack, Shelf, and bin level inventory management. However, all the stores will be created with only one default location. A basic warehouse solution is feasible when you are not using the license plates(Pallet) tracking in your warehouse.

For the main warehouse, we will register all the goods first at the inbound location, inventory movement will be performed to transfer the stock from Inbound to the actual location.

PDT Operations Using QR Code

We can perform the following operations using the PDT

• Purchase Order Registration - Scenario1: Register Item using PDT if QR Code is Available
• Purchase Order Registration - Scenario 2: Register Item If QR Code is not Available
• Transfer order Picking
• Transfer order receiving
• Stock Count using QR code

Purchase Order Registration

Scenario 1: Register Item Using PDT If QR Code is Available

• This is the scenario when the supplier is printing the QR code on the drugs.
• We can register the items against the purchase order using the PDT device. The QR code will be scanned to register the items against the purchase orders.
• In the PDT module, the functionality is developed to register the items against the PO

• As highlighted the below screenshot select the PO.
• Scan the QR code

• The following information is embedded in the QR code. (01)100001(17)09/30/2025 00:00:00(10)Default(240)Accion 40MG Tab 1x10(21)100001(8005)50
• Note: The QR code contains the item number with variant information, batch number, and expiry date for the batch. Once the QR will be scanned there is no need to manually type or select the item number, item variant, batch number, and batch expiry date.
• Enter the Quantity
• Click Post to register the item.

Validate the inventory transactions, Item is registered in the warehouse.

Purchase Order Registration

Scenario 2: Register Item If QR Code is not Available

We have created one custom form to register the items against the PO if the QR label is not printed on the drugs by the suppliers. This item registration form will be used to register and print the QR code.

• Select the PO
• Click Item Registration
• Select the line and enter the registered quantity
• Click on Regist, this will register the quantity against the PO

Validate the inventory transactions, now the items are registered against the PO

Transfer order Picking

• Create a transfer order and generate and print the packing list for the transfer order.
• Note: It's not mandatory to print the picking list, the warehouse worker will log in to the PDT and start picking the items against the Transfer order. Once the picking will be completed, the transfer order will not appear in the PDT device.
• Login to the PDT device and start the transfer order picking.

• Select the Transfer Order number
• Scan the QR code, the following information, is embedded in the QR code: (01)100001(17)09/30/2025 00:00:00(10)Default(240)Accion 40MG Tab 1x10(21)100001(8005)50

• PDT will automatically pick the item, batch, and expiry.
• Enter the picked quantity and click on add
• The line will be created in the PDT
• Click Add to add more lines for the picking
• If you want to delete a line then click on delete
• Once the picking is completed against the transfer order, press the Post button. This will post the picking list

Validate the inventory transaction status, the items are picked in the inventory transactions

Transfer order receiving using QR Code

The destination store(Pharmacy) user will log in to the PDT device and start the TO receiving process.

• Select the transfer order for receiving
• Scan the QR code (01)100001(17)09/30/2025 00:00:00(10)Default(240)Accion 40MG Tab 1x10(21)100001(8005)50

• Enter the quantity to receive against the transfer order.
• Click "Add" to add more lines for receiving.
• Press "Post" to register the receiving against the transfer order.

• Validate the Inventory transactions, the items are purchased in the destination store(Pharmacy).

Stock Count using QR code

• It's possible to perform the stock count using the PDT handheld devices. The warehouse or store(pharmacy) workers will scan the QR codes for drugs and perform the stock counting.
• There are two prerequisites for this operation, first, we will create the tag counting journal in D365, the same journal will be selected at the time of stock counting operation from PDT. The next step is to create the bin locations using the PDT.

Stock Counting - Step 1: Create Tag Counting Journal

Create a tag counting journal in the inventory management module.

• Click on New
• Select the tag-counting journal
• Select the Site and Warehouse and press Ok
• Activate and save the journal

Note: Make sure the journal is active for PDT stock count. Only the active journals will appear in the PDT device.

Stock Counting - Step 2: Create bin location using PDT

• The warehouse worker will create the locations for the stock counting. These locations will be created from the PDT handheld device.

• Create bin location, and enter the location(warehouse). Also, the bin location code and bin location subcode, these bin locations codes are the actual locations in the warehouse or store(pharmacy).

Start stock count using PDT

• The next step is to log in and start the stock-taking process using the PDT.

• Select the relevant Tag Counting Journal
• Select Location
• Scan the QR code (01)100001(17)09/30/2025 00:00:00(10)Default(240)Accion 40MG Tab 1x10(21)100001(8005)50

• Enter the counted quantity

Note: There is no need to manually enter the batch and expiry, the QR code contains all the information for the drug.

• Click on Add to count the next drug.
• Click close location if all the drugs on this location are counted successfully.
• Click close to end the process. ?

• Close the location once counting completed

• Once the PDT user completed the counting process, the warehouse manager will log in to D365 and run the batch job to pull data from a mobile device(PDT) to the back office. This batch job will populate all the lines in the tag counting journal.
• Note: During the counting process from PDT all the data will be stored in the staging table. The batch job will pull the data to the tag count journal once the counting process will be closed by the PDT user.

• In the below screenshot we can see that the Line has been pulled into the Tag Counting Journal.
• Validate and Post the tag-counting journal

• The above-posted journal will create the Counting Journal.
• After the workflow approval by the Inventory controller and Finance, the counting journal will be posted by the business user.

Conclusion & Recommendations

• A QR code (quick response code) is a type of two-dimensional (2D) bar code that is used?to provide easy access to online information through a digital camera on a smartphone or tablet.
• The QR code contains the item number with variant information, batch number, and expiry date for the batch. Once the QR will be scanned there is no need to manually type or select the item number, item variant, batch number, and batch expiry date.
• We can store a string of information in the QR code. This will be helpful in the business operations, especially the inventory movement from point of production to point of consumption.
• For the Pharmaceutical industry, QR code is helpful in fair pricing. The sales price is embedded in the QR code, and the cashier at the POS terminal will scan the item and sell it to the customer at the standard rate.
• In the pharma industry, QR codes can be used for detailed drug information. We can store detailed drug information in the QR code like the item number, variant information, batch, expiry date, and drug sales price.

Let's conclude this blog and mention a few?Confiz ?champions who are the real heroes to develop this solution.

• Huzaifa Tur Razzam
• Waqar Ahmed
• Asad Ansari

Still, a long way to go, keep connected and stay tuned to?Walk the Talk.

Feel free to share your feedback in the comments section.?

Truly Yours,

Ali Danish?

ERP Microsoft D365FO Solution Architect | Corporate Trainer

M: +971554912688