Here is an example the process we have with transfers.

Database ‘B’ request the following transfer from Database ‘A’:

Qty         Item

7              Endmills

20           Inserts

2              Drills

We enter a transfer from Database ‘A’ to database ‘B’ for the items and print a transfer.  Simple enough. 

But here is the problem we have.  Let’s say we only have 5 Endmills, 10 Inserts and 1 Drill in stock in Database ‘A’.  So, we do not have enough inventory in stock to fill the request from Database ‘B’.  Currently, we enter 2 transfers for this.  One for everything we have in stock and one for what we are short.  We have to enter the short transfer so Atrex will tell us to order these items in the Batch Order.  We print both transfers and deliver the transfer for the items we have in stock.  The short transfer we put in a tray until these items come in, which becomes the problem.  Each day, before we put incoming inventory up, we have to take these open transfer sheets and check to see if an item has come in.  If it has, we deliver it.  But, maybe only one item of 3 has come in.  So now we have to make a copy of the transfer sheet and mark what has been received and what is still open.  Anything open goes back into the open transfer tray.  And we repeat this each day until the transfer is complete.  Needless to say, this can be very confusing at times and very unproductive.  If we over look an item that we have received and it gets put on the shelf, it may be days before we realize what has happened.  And it has happened!

Our solution:

Make transfers work similar to an order entry.

Database ‘B’ request the following transfer from Database ‘A’:

Qty         Item

7              Endmills

20           Inserts

2              Drills

We enter a transfer from Database ‘A’ to Database ‘B’ for the items.  When processing the transfer, Atrex only transfers what is in inventory.  Atrex puts this remaining transfer into the ‘Process Pending Transfer’ module.  After receiving daily purchase orders, we want to be able to go to the ‘Process Pending Transfer’ window and transfer items that are now in stock.  We would like the icons of inventory available to transfer on that window (similar to the ‘Ship Order’ module) so we know which transfer can be processed.  If the transfer is now complete, it is closed, if not complete, it goes back into the ‘Process Pending Transfer’ module until it is complete.

I know I have read in the manual somewhere that transfers do not read inventory levels.  I have no idea why not, but I think this should be a must.  This is very valuable to us.  We move inventory daily to up to 10 or more databases.  So, we can easily have 15 to 20 sheets of unfilled transfers to keep track of in our tray. 

Maybe we are using the transfer process wrong, we don’t know.  But, to be able to use the transfer module with the same principle of the order module would be a huge improvement to the software.