In today’s complex supply chains, item tracking is essential. For industries like medical or chemical manufacturing, it’s a legal requirement. And for businesses handling warranties or expiration-sensitive goods – like electronics, food, or pharmaceuticals – accurate tracking ensures compliance, quality, and customer protection.
Past Challenges with Uploading Opening Balances
Before the recent update from Microsoft, uploading opening balances for item-tracked inventory in Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central was a manual and error-prone process. Users had to input tracking data like Lot No., Serial No., Expiration Date, etc., manually into the journal lines. Although these fields existed in the system, they were not visible or accessible via the Personalize feature, making the process non-intuitive and time-consuming.
What’s New: Microsoft’s Simplified Item Tracking Setup
Microsoft has introduced a streamlined approach to setting up item tracking during opening balance uploads. The key enhancement is the “Item Tracking on Lines” toggle in the Item Journal Batches page. When enabled, this feature allows users to directly enter tracking information – such as Lot No., Serial No., Expiration Date, Warranty Date, and Package No. on the journal lines.
Benefits for Users
- Faster data entry with direct access to tracking fields
- Fewer errors thanks to improved visibility and validation
- Enhanced compliance and traceability from the start
How to Use the New ‘Item Tracking on Lines’ Feature Step-By-Step
Step 1: Navigate to Item Journal Batches.
Step 2: Open the Item Journal Batches page.
Step 3: Enable the “Item Tracking on Lines” toggle.
Step 4: Enter Data in Item Journals. Open the Item Journals. You’ll now see fields like Lot No., Serial No., Expiration Date, etc., available for direct input.
Step 5: Post the journals.
Validations and System Behavior During Posting
Minor validations occur during data entry or import. A full validation is triggered when:
- Opening the Item Tracking Window from the journal lines.
- Selecting Update Item Tracking Lines.
- Upon posting, the system records the tracking information in the database.
Step 6: Personalize Your View to See Tracking Fields in Item Ledger Entries
After posting, you can view tracking data by:
- Navigating the Item Ledger Entries page.
- Using the Personalize feature to add tracking fields like Lot No. and Serial No.
Note: This does not automatically create Lot No. or Serial No. Information Cards.
Limitations to Keep in Mind
- Only one tracking line is supported per journal line.
- Edit in Excel cannot be used to create journal lines with tracking data.
- Lot/Serial No. Information Cards are not auto-generated.
Bulk Import Options for Tracked Inventory Data
For bulk uploads:
- Use Configuration Packages to import data into journals.
- Avoid using Edit in Excel, as it does not support tracking fields.
Streamline Inventory Accuracy from the Start
This new feature makes it easier for businesses to upload opening balances with item tracking. By simplifying the setup and improving visibility, Business Central helps ensure your inventory is accurate, compliant, and fully traceable from day one.
Ready to simplify your inventory setup?
Let’s turn your challenges into progress – connect with us today.
About the expert
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Sumit Singh, Business Central Functional Consultant, OnActuate Sumit has 7+ years of experience with Microsoft technologies. In addition to contributing to many customer success stories, Sumit has completed the MB-800 Microsoft exam for Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central Functional Consultants, further establishing him as expert in all things Business Central. |
The “OneByte” blog series are technical how-to articles by OnActuate’s expert consultants covering technologies like Microsoft Business Applications (Microsoft Dynamics, Power Platform) and Dayforce. Do you have a topic you’d like to learn more about? Email us at info@onactuate.com!
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