In Warehouse Mobile for Business Central, you can create a new item reference directly from the handheld device. This is useful when you receive an item from a vendor with a barcode that is not yet registered in your system. Instead of going back to a desk and editing the item card, the warehouse worker creates the reference on the spot.
The new item reference is created with the standard Business Central settings. You choose the item number, the reference type (barcode, vendor, or customer), the unit of measure, and the item reference number. Once you save, the reference appears in the item reference list on the item card just like any reference created manually.
Creating an item reference from a barcode in Warehouse Mobile
An item reference links an external identifier, such as a barcode or a vendor’s part number, to an item in Business Central. This lets the system recognise the item when the barcode is scanned during receiving or picking.
Take item number 1000 as an example. Looking at the item reference list on the item card, you might already have two barcodes registered, for instance 001 and 002, both in pieces. These are the existing item references for that item.
When a worker in the warehouse encounters a new barcode that is not yet in the system, they can add it without leaving the floor.
How to create a new item reference on the handheld device
The process in Warehouse Mobile follows a few simple steps:
- Tap Create Item Reference.
- Scan or select the item number you want to attach the reference to.
- Choose the reference type: barcode, vendor, or customer.
- Select the unit of measure.
- Enter the item reference number, then confirm.
This mirrors the standard Business Central item reference functionality, so you are not learning a separate set of rules. After saving, the new reference appears in the item reference list. In the example with item 1000, you would see the new barcode added alongside the existing 002 entry.
Keeping warehouse data up to date
This gives you a practical way to maintain your data as you go. Rather than letting unregistered barcodes pile up as a task for someone at a desk, the warehouse worker captures them at the moment the item arrives. The data stays current, and the next time the barcode is scanned the system already knows the item.
Q&A
What is an item reference in Business Central?
An item reference links an external identifier, such as a barcode, a vendor’s part number, or a customer’s part number, to an item in Business Central. This lets the system recognise the item when the reference is scanned or entered.
When should you create an item reference in Warehouse Mobile?
Create one when you receive an item from a vendor with a barcode that is not yet registered in your system. The warehouse worker can add the reference directly on the handheld device instead of editing the item card from a desk.
What information do you need to create an item reference on the handheld?
You need the item number you want to attach the reference to, the reference type (barcode, vendor, or customer), the unit of measure, and the item reference number itself.
Where does the new item reference appear after you create it?
It appears in the item reference list on the item card, alongside any references created manually, just like standard Business Central functionality.