Stock transfers move inventory from one warehouse to another, helping balance stock levels and fulfill orders from different locations.
When to Transfer Stock
Common scenarios:
- Rebalancing - Even out stock across warehouses
- Fulfillment - Move stock to warehouse closer to customer
- Consolidation - Centralize slow-moving items
- Seasonal - Redistribute for regional demand
- Emergency - Rush transfer for urgent orders
Creating a Transfer
- Go to Inventory > Transfers
- Click New Transfer
- Select:
- From Warehouse - Source location
- To Warehouse - Destination
- Expected Date - Transfer date
- Add items:
- Search for products
- Enter quantities
- Verify availability
- Review total items
- Click Create Transfer
Transfer Statuses
| Status | Description | |--------|-------------| | Draft | Being prepared | | Pending | Awaiting approval | | Approved | Ready to ship | | In Transit | On the way | | Received | Arrived and verified | | Completed | Fully processed | | Cancelled | Transfer cancelled |
Transfer Workflow
At Source Warehouse
- Pick items - Collect products
- Pack - Prepare for transport
- Ship - Load onto vehicle
- Mark as "In Transit"
During Transit
- Track shipment
- Update ETA if needed
- Monitor for issues
At Destination Warehouse
- Receive shipment
- Verify quantities
- Note any discrepancies
- Mark as "Received"
- Putaway - Store items
Inventory Impact
When transfer ships:
- Stock deducted from source
- Marked as "In Transit"
When transfer received:
- Stock added to destination
- Transfer completed
Until received, stock shows as:
- Source: Reduced
- In Transit: Visible
- Destination: Not yet available
Transfer Orders
Transfers can create delivery orders:
Internal Delivery
- Transfer generates order
- Treated like customer delivery
- Assigned to route
- Driver delivers
- Received at destination
Third-Party Shipping
- Ship via carrier
- Enter tracking number
- Track externally
- Receive when arrived
Approval Workflow
For controlled transfers:
- Enable transfer approval in Settings
- Creator submits transfer
- Manager reviews and approves
- Transfer proceeds
Configure approval thresholds by value or quantity.
Automated Transfers
Set up rules for automatic transfers:
Reorder Transfers
When stock drops below minimum:
- System suggests transfer
- From warehouse with excess
- Review and approve
Balanced Distribution
Periodically even out stock:
- Set target levels per warehouse
- System calculates transfers
- Batch approval and execution
Reporting
Transfer reports include:
- Transfer history by warehouse
- Items in transit
- Average transfer time
- Transfer cost analysis
Access from Reports > Inventory.
Best Practices
- Plan ahead - Allow time for transfers
- Verify before shipping - Avoid errors
- Track in transit - Know where stock is
- Receive promptly - Update system immediately
- Review regularly - Optimize transfer patterns