Receiving Inventory
The Receiving Inventory section explains how new inventory enters the Teamship warehouse system.
Receiving workflows establish:
- Inventory ownership
- Receiving location
- Initial inventory state
- Operational readiness for fulfillment
All inbound inventory—planned or unplanned—flows through this domain.
⚠️ Receiving actions affect inventory availability, reporting, and billing. Review inbound workflows carefully before proceeding.
Ways inventory is received
Inventory can be received using different approaches depending on how much information is available before arrival.
Planned inbound inventory
Planned inbound inventory is created before inventory arrives at the warehouse.
This approach:
- Provides advance visibility to warehouse staff
- Defines expected SKUs and quantities
- Associates inventory to a customer and warehouse in advance
- Supports scheduling and operational planning
Planned inbound inventory is managed using inventory orders.
→ See: Inventory Orders (Inbound)
Unplanned or blind inbound inventory
Unplanned inbound inventory is created at the time of receiving.
This approach is typically used when:
- Inventory arrives without prior notice
- Shipment details were not provided in advance
- Receiving must proceed immediately
Blind inbound inventory allows inventory to be associated to:
- A customer
- A warehouse
- SKUs and quantities in real time
Blind inbound inventory is also managed using inventory orders, but information is captured during receiving.
→ See: Inventory Orders (Inbound)
What happens during receiving
During receiving:
- Inventory is physically received at the warehouse
- Actual quantities are recorded
- Discrepancies may be identified
- Inventory may be restricted or quarantined
Receiving outcomes determine when and how inventory becomes available for operational use.
Inventory state after receiving
After receiving:
- Inventory may be immediately available
- Inventory may be quarantined for review or inspection
- Inventory availability depends on receiving results and state
Inventory state is reflected across inventory views and operational workflows.
Common inbound scenarios
- Customer sends inventory with advance notice
- Warehouse receives inventory without a prior order
- Inventory arrives with quantity discrepancies
- Inventory requires inspection or quarantine
Each scenario is handled through the receiving workflows documented in this section.