In inventory management, there often arises a need for flexibility, especially when dealing with orders that exceed current stock levels. Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations offers a solution to this challenge through enabling physical negative inventory.   This functionality allows organizations to create sales orders even when inventory levels are insufficient, catering to scenarios where a stock may be incoming or when manufacturing units are involved.  Purpose of Physical Negative Inventory:  Some organizations encounter situations where they must fulfil customer orders despite lacking sufficient inventory on hand. This could be due to various reasons such as pending stock arrivals or the need to initiate manufacturing processes upon order placement.   Enabling physical negative inventory facilitates the creation of sales orders under such circumstances, ensuring business continuity and customer satisfaction.  Process to Enable Negative Inventory:  Enabling physical negative inventory involves configuring settings within Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations. This can be achieved through the following steps:  Navigate to Inventory Management > Setup > Inventory > Item Model Group.  Within the Item Model Group, allow for physical negative inventory.  For further insights into this process, refer to our previous blog post on https://www.cloudfronts.com/blog/d365-enterprise/d365-finance-operations/physical-negative-inventory-dynamics-365-operations/ can provide additional guidance.  Necessary Steps to Manage Physical Negative Inventory:  Once physical negative inventory is enabled, it’s essential to adopt proper procedures for its management to maintain accuracy and efficiency.   • Ensure Availability of Physical Inventory during Shipment: Before shipping any items, verify the presence of physical inventory in stock. Only proceed with the shipment if the required items are physically available.  • Transfer Stock if Necessary: If the required stock is not available at the shipping warehouse but exists in the main warehouse, initiate a transfer process to move the items accordingly and receive that in a shipping warehouse.  • Periodic Inventory Closing: Implement regular inventory closing procedures to ensure accurate inventory valuations.  Issues Faced by Organizations if Proper Procedures Are Not Followed:  Failure to comply with the proper procedures can lead to various issues, including:  Invalid Cost Value of Items: This can result in an inaccurate inventory valuation, subsequently affecting main accounts and profit estimation.  In conclusion, by following these steps, organizations can effectively manage physical negative inventory within Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations, ensuring smooth operations and accurate inventory valuations.  We hope you found this article useful and if you would like to discuss anything you can reach out to us at transform@cloudfonts.com 

Hello everyone, in this series of Blog, we are going to learn about the Advance warehouse management in D365.  In this blog we will learn about the basic setups required for the Advanced Warehouse Management process. These setups may vary depending on the business scenarios. For a Warehouse to work in an Advance warehouse scenario, there are some prerequisites that we need to do first. The following are the setups that we need to configure:  Path: Inventory Management Inventory Breakdown Warehouses.  Click on New. Enter the warehouse and Warehouse name.  Most importantly, for warehouse to work in a advanced warehouse scenario, we have to enable the “Use warehouse management processes”.  For advanced warehouse management, the location plays an important role for better inventory visibility and item tracking. For this, we need to do multiple setups as per below.  In the location type, I have mentioned four main locations. These are Baydoor, Floor, receiving and User.  These locations will increase or decrease as per business scenarios.  Recv: This location I am using primarily for entry of the goods/items in the warehouse.   Floor: This location I am using for storing the goods/items in the warehouse.  Baydoor: This location I am using for exit of the goods/items from the warehouse.  User: This location I am using for default. This user location will be used in the Warehouse management parameter, in User Location profile.  Location formats are used as the naming system by which we can create the unique and consistent names for different locations within the warehouse.  Here, I have mentioned the length as 1.   The location profiles will be used for connection between location type, Location formats and the locations. The location profiles are very important setup because the location capacity can be mentioned here. Also, how the inventory is stored in the location, and how the inventory is getting accessed is also dependent on the location profiles.  Here, I have enabled User license plate tracking, allow mixed items, Allow mixed inventory statuses, Allow mixed inventory batches.  Click New. Select warehouse from the drop-down menu. Enter location name as per requirement. Select the Location profile ID from the drop-down menu.  We can add as many locations as we want.  Now, the warehouse and locations are ready to use in Advance Warehouse process.  That’s it for this blog!!  How to use these warehouses and locations in actual transaction will be discussed going forward in the blog series.  Keep learning!!!!! 

Hello everyone, in this series of Blog, we are going to learn about the Advance warehouse management in D365.  What is Advance Warehousing Process?  The day-to-day transactions in the advanced warehouse are a bit different than in a normal warehouse. Workers in the advanced warehouse use mobile devices to move stock from one location to another. Here location doesn’t mean just the location, we can move it from one warehouse to another. So, instead of sitting in one place, workers can move around the warehouse to pick up or put the stock. In Advance warehouse management, the visibility of the stock is very clear. Workers can see where the stock is in the warehouse and in what quantity. This results in Streamlined warehouse operations, reduced inventory carrying costs, and thus improvement in customer satisfaction through faster and more accurate order fulfillment.  In this blog we will learn about the basic setups required for the Advanced Warehouse Management process. These setups may vary depending on the business scenarios. For an item to work in an Advance warehouse scenario, there are some prerequisites that we need to do first. The following are the setups that we need to configure:  Path: Product Information Managementà Dimension and Variant Groupsà Storage Dimension Groups.  In the Storage dimension group, activate the “Use warehouse management process.”   Once you activate the use warehouse management process, the Location, Inventory Status, License Plate will be automatically activated.   2. Reservation hierarchy   Path: Warehouse Management à Setupà Inventoryà Reservation Hierarchy.  A reservation hierarchy helps delay specific reservation details until after you’ve placed an order. This hierarchy relies on item-related factors like inventory status and license plate for storage and tracking. While it’s essential to have site, warehouse, and inventory status information during the ordering process, certain details like location can be added after making reservations. For instance, the warehouse management system can identify the best locations for picking based on this reservation hierarchy.   3. Unit sequence groups Path: Warehouse Management à Setup à Warehouse à Unit sequence groups.  Unit sequence group is mandatory setup which works when dealing with movement of material. Now take one example: If the Unit sequence group is mentioned as Each and Box, then While making product receipt from a Purchase Order, mobile device will show the options to receive the materials in two different units which are Each and Box.  Here based on my scenario, I have mentioned the default unit for Purchase orders and Transfer Order as Box.  Now, the Item is ready to use in Advance Warehouse process.  That’s it for this blog!!  How to use this item in actual transaction will be discussed going forward in the blog series.  Keep learning!!!!!  Next in the Blog series:  How to create Warehouses in Advance warehouse management in D365.  How to create Locations in Advance warehouse management in D365. 

Introduction In this blog, we’ll be looking into creating a new environment for D365 Finance and Operations or D365 Commerce. Pre-requisites References Configuration Go to Microsoft Dynamics Lifecycle Services and log in with your account. If you select D365 Commerce, you get the following screen. If you select D365 Finance and Operations, you get another screen where you have to specify whether the project is an actual implementation or just for evaluation after which you get the same screen as below. Once the Project is created, we get the following screen. From here, we click on the hamburger menu at the top and then click on Cloud Hosted Environments. Click on Add to create a new environment. If you get the below pop-up asking to configure an Azure Connector, please refer to my blog – “Configure an Azure Connector in LCS”. Once, you have an Azure Connector configured, you can click on Add again and get the following pop-up. After selecting the Application and Platform version, you’ll get the option to select the environment topology. DEMO – A demo environment includes only Microsoft demo data. You can use a demo environment to explore default features and functionality. DEVTEST – A DevTest environment is for development or build. You can use this environment for development or build. Then we get another pop-up to select the environment topology. After that is selected, we decide the environment name and the size of the VM that is to be used for this environment. You can read more about VM sizes here – VM sizes – Azure Virtual Machines | Microsoft Learn Once we click on Next we get the last pop-up after which the environment gets deployed. Once we click on deploy, it takes about 6-8 hours to deploy the environment after which it’ll be available in the cloud-hosted environments section. If, for some reason, you try to create an environment with the latest platform and application version and that deployment fails, you can try to create an environment one platform/application version below that. Conclusion Thus we saw how to create an environment in LCS for either D365 Finance and Operations. Happy Coding!

In Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations (D365 F&O), the use of batch numbers is a common practice to manage and trace items with specific characteristics. Batch numbers are typically assigned to groups of items produced or received together, allowing for better control, tracking, and compliance with industry regulations. In this blog I will explain how to solve the expiration date issue while registering a Batch and Serial number tracked product. In the above screenshot you can see that the Batch Number 23010-CM-000088 has been assigned for my Item P-000014. Here, the Expiration Date is 08-04-2023. Now if I try to register this Item with the same Batch Number, I will get the Batch Number Expiration Date being past the Required Date error. Now to solve this error go to Inventory Management>Enquiries and Reports>Tracking Dimensions>Batches. Now on the Batch Number page go to Reset Tab then under the Reset tab click on Reset Shelf-Life Dates. The next step is to select the New Expiration Date and then Click Ok. This will Update the Expiiration Date of that Batch Number. In the above screenshot you can see that the Expiration Date has been changed. Now we will be able to register the Item. Here, you can see that now I am able to register the Item successfully. That’s it for this blog. Hope this helps you! Thank You!

Hello Everyone!!! In this blog I will explain the Quarantine Management process in Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management.  Here the Product was first received in the Main warehouse and then it was moved to Quarantine Warehouse for further inspection as the Product failed to clear the Quality Test. In this blog I will explain a scenario where the Products should be directly received in the Quarantine Warehouse for inspection and after final inspection it turns out that all the products fail the inspection so, a few products will be scrapped and the rest will be returned back to vendor. What is Quarantine Management? The quarantine management process in D365 aims to effectively manage and control quality issues, ensuring that only items meeting the required standards are released for use or distribution. The quarantine management process in Dynamics 365 is a systematic approach to handling items that are suspected of having quality issues or non-conformities. When an item is flagged for quarantine, it is physically segregated from the regular inventory and moved to a designated quarantine location. The quarantined item undergoes thorough inspection and testing to assess the extent of the quality issue. Based on the evaluation, decisions are made regarding the item’s disposition, which may include repair, return to the vendor, or scrapping. If the item is repairable, necessary actions are taken to rectify the identified issues. In cases where the vendor is responsible, the item can be returned for resolution. Once the necessary actions are completed, and the item meets the required quality standards, it is released from quarantine and reintegrated into the regular inventory for use or distribution. This process ensures that only items meeting quality criteria are allowed for further processing, while mitigating the risk of non-conforming products entering the supply chain Let’s start with the setups first: Step 1: Map the Quarantine Warehouse to the Main Warehouse. For that the Pathway is: Go to Inventory Management>Set Up>Inventory Breakdown>Warehouses. Step 2: The next step is to Enable the “Quarantine Management” parameter in the Item Model Group Quarantine Management Process: The below Purchase Order CM-PO-0000137 has been received in the Quarantine Warehouse as per the setup, hence a Quarantine Order CM-0000142 with 9 quantities has been created. Now if I go to the Quarantine Orders page, I can see that a new Quarantine Order has been created. The below screenshot shows the Transactions that took place after the Product Receipt was posted. After Inspection it was found out that 5 quantities were damaged, 4 quantities were to be returned back to the Vendor which means that all the 9 quantities failed to pass the Quality Inspection. So, what I will do is Scrap the 5 quantities and return back the 4 quantities to the Vendor by creating a Purchase Return Order.  Now I will split the Quarantine Order CM-0000142 into 2 separate Quarantine Orders. For that I will use the Split function which is available at the Top of the screen under the Functions Tab. In the above image you can see that I have split the Quarantine Order CM-0000142 into 2 different Quarantine Orders that is CM-0000143 and CM-0000144 for further processing. Now let’s begin the further processing. To scrap this order, I will use the Scrap functionality. To Scrap this order, click on Function and then select Scrap. Here, you can see that the Quarantine Order CM-000143 has been ended as it has been scrapped. 2.  Return the Items back to vendor: Now in order to return the Items back to vendor I will first the Invoice the existing Purchase Order which is CM-PO-0000137. Then I will receive the Items from the Quarantine warehouse to the W3 warehouse. Below you can see that I have invoiced the purchase order CM-PO-0000137. Now let’s receive the items from the Quarantine Warehouse to the Central Warehouse, for that I will use the Arrival Journal. As you can see that a New Arrival Journal has been created. Validate and Post the Journal. Vendor Return Process: After posting the Journal create a New Purchase Order with the type as Return Order.  For that go to Procurement and Sourcing>Purchase Orders>All Purchase Orders. Then select the Vendor to whom the Items will be returned and select the Purchase Type as Return Order. Enter the Site and Warehouse from which the Items will be returned back to the Vendor. Then enter the RMA number provided by the Vendor and then Click OK. Click on the Purchase Order line, select Credit Note, choose the specific invoice, input the quantity as a negative value, and then click OK. In my case the Invoice Number was 311711, so I will select that and then click OK. Then proceed with the normal purchase order processing which will be Product Receipt and Invoicing. After Invoicing the Return Order aa credit note will be  created which will be  deducted from the Vendor Balance. The below screenshot represents the On hand List before and after posting the Return Order Invoice. In the above screenshot you can see that the On hand Quantity changed from 26 to 22 since 4 quantities have been returned back to vendor. That’s it for this blog. Hope this helps you! Thank You!

In financial management, the accurate recording and reconciliation of transactions within the general ledger stand as paramount tasks. Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations, a comprehensive enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution, offers a feature known as General Ledger Adjustments. This feature, often overlooked or misunderstood, plays a pivotal role in addressing critical challenges associated with ledger adjustment entries due to environmental issues or data corruption. The recent discovery of the General Ledger Adjustments feature within the feature management workspace prompted a deeper exploration. However, upon enabling this feature, it became apparent that Microsoft aims to streamline and systematize a fundamental problem-solving process. Reflecting on past experiences, various challenges related to ledger adjustments surfaced: Traditionally, when encountering such issues, the path forward often involved engaging Microsoft support to delve deeper into the problem. While Microsoft proficiently identifies the root cause and initiates steps to address it in future product updates, the immediate concern revolves around rectifying the existing corrupted or missing data. The suggested workaround typically involves manual journal entries. However, this process traditionally unfolds through email communications, leading to potential discrepancies or misunderstandings regarding the specifics—such as the nature of the journal entries, relevant dates, or designated journals. The introduction of the General Ledger Adjustments feature within Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations appears as a structured attempt to address these challenges within the system itself, streamlining and formalizing the process that was previously conducted through ad hoc communications. Enabling General Ledger Adjustments: In this section, Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations provides an interface where recommended journal entries for data correction are populated based on identified discrepancies or issues within the system. Users are presented with suggested adjustments, and based on their discretion and analysis, they can decide to create a journal entry directly from this interface. Note: Creating a journal entry from this interface generates a “Daily” type of journal within the General Ledger, facilitating a more organized and systematic approach to handling the necessary corrections or adjustments. In conclusion, this feature signifies a proactive step towards enhancing the efficiency and accuracy of managing ledger adjustments within the Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations ecosystem.

In the dynamic landscape of manufacturing, retail and distribution, the selection of the right Warehouse Management System (WMS) holds paramount importance. It’s a pivotal decision that influences operational efficiency by saving time and labor in tracking processes, reducing loss of inventory, prevents loss of sales opportunities, greater productivity & stock control. Hence resulting into greater customer satisfaction and ultimately, business growth. Among the plethora of available options, two prominent choices stand out: D365 F&O out-of-the-box WMS solutions and SATO Global WMS. Out-of-the-box WMS solutions in D365 Finance and Operation offers standardized features designed to suit general warehouse management needs. These solutions are pre-configured and cater to businesses that prioritize simplicity and adherence to standard industry practices. Advantages of D365 F&O Out-of-the-Box WMS: Conversely, SATO WMS along with D365 F&O ERP: SATO WMS is 3rd party software which is tailored for customization and efficiency. SATO WMS is renowned for its adaptability and tailored functionalities. It offers a high level of customization, empowering businesses to mold the system according to their unique requirements. This flexibility facilitates seamless integration with existing processes, ensuring a smoother transition and optimized operations. Key Features of SATO WMS: The decision between SATO WMS and out-of-the-box WMS hinges on understanding the specific needs and priorities of the customer. If a customer prefers standardized processes and does not require extensive customization, an out-of-the-box WMS might be more suitable, offering a cost-effective and efficient solution. However, for businesses seeking a highly customizable solution to align with their unique operational workflows, SATO WMS stands out as the preferred choice, providing adaptability and tailored functionalities that enhance efficiency and productivity. Conclusion: Selecting the right WMS is a critical decision that directly impacts operational efficiency and business growth in the manufacturing, retail and distribution sectors. While SATO WMS offers unparalleled customization and flexibility, out-of-the-box solutions excel in providing standardized, cost-effective options. By comprehensively evaluating factors such as customization needs, operational workflows, scalability, and budget constraints, businesses can make an informed decision that maximizes efficiency and drives growth.

In today’s fast-paced business environment, efficient workflow management is essential for organizations to stay competitive.  Workflow email alerts help organizations stay on top of important business processes by automatically notifying designated individuals when certain tasks are completed or when specific conditions are met.  In this article, we will provide a step-by-step guide for setting up workflow email alerts in D365 FO. Before getting started, it’s important to ensure that email parameters are configured correctly and that you are able to receive test emails from D365 in your inbox.  To check this, navigate to System Administration> Setup > Email > Email Parameters.  1. In the configuration, Enable the email provider as per your requirement.  2. If your using the SMTP setting then enter the outgoing server information, and SMTP port and enable SSL/TLS required button. Set up an email address for the user who will receive alerts and enable workflow email alerts for that user. To accomplish this, go to the System Administration section, select Users, and then click on Users. Highlight and click on the user you wish to enable email alerts for.  If no email address is attached, enter the user’s email address. To enable email notifications, go to ‘User options’ on the ribbon, then click on ‘Workflow’ on the left side and set the option to ‘Send notifications in email’ to Yes. Create an email template or email message. Templates are generic and can be configured while configuring workflows.  Navigate to System Administration> Setup > Email> System email templates. Here you can create a template, such as “Workflow emails.” Assign your email template to the specific workflow. To configure the workflow email alerts, you can navigate to the workflow for which you want to send email notifications, Open that workflow access the basic settings, and choose the relevant workflow template from the dropdown menu. Configure the necessary notifications for the particular task, control, or approval while setting up the workflow steps. Here, you will specify the notification content which will be sent to the user in the email. Configure the batch job to distribute the email notifications. Navigate to System administration > Periodic tasks > Email processing > Email distributor batch.  Since we are now adding a batch job, it can be scheduled to run automatically at specified intervals. To schedule autorun, adjust the ‘Recurrence’ settings as per the requirements. Monitor email sending status. To access the E-mail Sending Status page, go to System administration > Periodic tasks > Email processing > Batch email sending status.  Here, you can monitor successfully sent, pending, or failed email messages. In conclusion, configuring workflow email notification alerts can be a simple yet effective way to stay on top of important business processes.  By following the above steps, you can set up workflow email alerts in D365 FO and start reaping the benefits of streamlined workflow management. Thank you for reading my blog!

In every organization, all kinds of expenses and revenues are tracked under dimensions like cost centers, departments, employees, etc. It is often a business requirement to split expenses or incomes in fixed proportions between two or more dimensions for accurate reporting.  On the other hand, it may be required to assign a dimension only on one GL account, restricting it from others. D365 Finance offers a smooth, flexible and a very easy process to fulfill both kinds of requirements to achieve accurate reporting of the organization’s P&L from a dimension standpoint. The blog assumes the reader is already aware about setting up financial dimensions and using them for regular transactions so the point of focus will be on the advanced features only. The procedures for both requirements are as follows: – Let’s assume that an organization tracks all kinds of office expenses in two dimensions – department and cost center. The organization wants to split the cost in a 70:30 proportion between both. In order to do that, we will use Ledger Allocation Journals. Path – General Ledger -> Allocations -> Ledger Allocation Rules The source defines the main account that will be used to split the amount. The Destination defines the dimensions and the proportion in which the amount will be split between them. In the General tab, we define the validity date for which the rule will be active. The allocation method defines the various methods in which the GL amount can be distributed. Most often, the splitting is in fixed percentages. Turn the Active checkbox to activate the rule. In the source, define the main account. In Destination, define the percentages of distribution. From the above image, we are using a 70:30 distribution ratio between Cost Center and Department.  Here, we have defined a default dimension so that the system will know how to distribute the amount between the cost center and the department only. It will ignore any other dimension. If the default field is left blank, then the user will have to manually select the dimensions at the time of the transaction. In the first distribution, a fixed percentage of 30% is applied to the Cost Center. Create a new distribution again and allocate the remaining 70% to a department dimension. In this example, we are using only 2 dimensions, but the user may define as many distributions between multiple dimensions as required as long as the percentages add up to 100%. Save the rule and close it. Now, create any regular transaction with the GL account, like a general journal. Select the dimensions for the cost center and the department as shown above and post the document. Once posted, go to General ledger -> Ledger Allocations -> Process Allocation Request. Select the allocation rule. In the field Proposal Options, there are two options: – The first option will directly post the entry and allocate it to the dimensions. The second option will keep the entry unposted so that the user may verify the dimensions or make changes to them manually if required. It is always preferable to select the second option. Upon clicking Okay, the system will create an allocation journal as shown below: – Upon clicking open the allocation journal, the accounting impact is shown as below: – The accounting impact can be summarized below as follows: – GL Account/Dimension Description Dr Cr 5103-007 Office Expense – Cost Center 700   5103-257 Office Expense – Department 300   5103 Office Expenses   1000 From the above ledger impact, the GL balance stays the same, but the amount gets distributed between the 2 dimensions in the exact proportion. II. Using advanced rules to assign an additional dimension to a particular GL account only. To understand this requirement, let’s take the example of an organization that has a mandatory Department dimension assigned on all expense accounts. But there may be an exceptional case where one expense GL account requires one more dimension apart from Department.   In this case, if we add a dimension in the account structure, then that dimension will be needlessly assigned to all GL accounts. We must ensure that it should be applicable to the one account only. For this, we use the concept of Advanced Rules. With the help of Advanced Rules, we can configure the Account Structures to accommodate any additional dimension for one particular GL account only. The steps to configure it are as follows: – Go to: General ledger -> Chart of Accounts -> Structures -> Advanced Rule Structures The screen displays all the Advanced Rule Structures present. Create a new one. Select the dimension that is required. In this example, we have selected the dimension of ‘Worker’ and kept it as mandatory. Activate the Advanced Rule Structure and close it. Open Account Structures. From the above image, all the GL accounts here will have a mandatory Department dimension. But let’s assume that one GL account – 4101 will require the dimension for Worker along with Department. For that, open Advanced Rules on top. Create a new rule. Select the Main Account where you want to apply the dimension as shown above. Then in the below section, add the Advanced Rule Structure that was created earlier. The rule works like this: – If Main Account = 4101, then apply Advanced Rule Structure where dimension = Employee. Therefore, in any transaction with the account 4101, it will assign the Worker dimension on it. Let’s take an example where a GL account other than 4101 is used here. In this transaction, for the account 4102, the system is prompting us to select the Department dimension only, as required. Now let’s select the account 4101. As observed from the above image, the system is now prompting us to select the Worker dimension also. Thus, this ensures that only some GL accounts may be configured to enter an additional dimension. We can also configure the rules such that there are combinations of Main Accounts and Dimensions to add any additional dimension. … Continue reading Distributing GL amounts between financial dimensions and using advanced rules to link a dimension to only one particular account →