Short of something another branch is sitting on? Ask them for it, rather than ordering more.
Before you start
You need permission to raise a stock request. If Request stock is not there, ask whoever manages your roles.
Requests move sealed packs only, and only between two different branches. A business with one branch has nobody to ask.
Find what another branch can spare
- Go to Inventory, then Transfer & Request.
- Press Stock lookup.
- Search by product name, SKU or barcode, or press Filter to narrow by category, brand or branch.
- Tick each product you want. Choose the branch under Branch to ask, and enter how many under Ask for.
- Press the button at the bottom. It names the branch and how many, for example Request 3 from Andheri.
Leave Only what others can spare ticked to hide anything nobody can give up.
A row reading No other branch can spare it means the stock exists elsewhere but is all committed.
The bottom bar shows one button per branch, because a request goes to one branch at a time. Ticking products at two branches gives you two buttons, and two requests.
Send the request
Pressing that button opens New Stock Request with your products already on it.
- Check Ask (branch) and To (your branch).
- Check the Quantity on each row.
- Fill in Reason. It is required, because the other branch is giving up stock.
- Add For a customer if it is for somebody in particular. That one is optional.
- Press Send request.
One press sends it, and you land on the request. The stock is then held for you at the other branch while they decide.
You can also start from scratch: press Request stock on the Requests tab.
What happens next
The branch you asked sees it on the Requests tab, under Asked of us. It also lands on their Action pending tab.
They press Approve and it becomes a transfer. It then moves like any other, as in how to move stock between branches. Or they press Reject and say why.
Watch yours on the Requests tab, under We asked for. The status reads Requested, then Approved, Rejected or Withdrawn.
An approved request tells you which transfer it became, with an Open transfer link.
Answering a request somebody sent you
- Go to Inventory, then Transfer & Request, and open the Requests tab.
- Stay on Asked of us and open the request.
- Under Approve this request, enter how much you can spare in the Send box on each row.
- Press Approve.
One press turns it into a transfer. Anything you do not send goes back on your shelf.
To turn it down, press Reject, give a reason, and press Reject again in the panel that opens. A reason is required, and the branch asking sees it.
Only the branch that was asked can approve or reject. If the request says it is somebody else's turn, press Switch to that branch if you work there.
Changing your mind
Press Withdraw on your own request, then Withdraw again in the panel that opens. The stock being held goes back on their shelf, and the request stays on record as withdrawn.
If nobody answers
A request nobody answers expires, and the held stock goes back to being sellable. The request is kept, so what people keep asking for and not getting shows up as something worth ordering.
You get a notice before it expires, and another when it does.
If something goes wrong
If you ask for more than they can spare, the row says More than they can spare. Only what is free is held for you.
A medical supply only moves between two branches that both have Clinic turned on.
The same product twice on one request is refused:
The same product is on this request twice. Put the whole quantity on one line.