Predefined Settings

Before you start tracking stock, configure the foundational elements of your inventory system. Proper setup of warehouses, bins, and products ensures smooth stock management and accurate reporting.

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Accessing Settings

Navigate to the Inventory section in your Concord CRM sidebar, then open Settings. The settings page is organized into the following areas:

• Warehouses -- physical or logical storage locations
• Bins -- sub-locations within warehouses
• Product Configuration -- product catalog settings relevant to inventory
• General Settings -- module-wide preferences

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Warehouses

Warehouses are the top-level storage locations in your inventory system. You can create as many warehouses as your business requires.

Adding a Warehouse

1. Go to Inventory -> Settings -> Warehouses
2. Click New Warehouse
3. Enter the Warehouse Name (e.g., "Main Warehouse", "Distribution Center East")
4. Optionally add a Description or Address
5. Click Save

Use Cases

Scenario	Example
Single location business	One warehouse for all stock
Multi-site operations	Separate warehouses per office or region
Logical separation	"Returns Warehouse" for returned goods
Staging areas	"Receiving Dock" for unprocessed deliveries

tip

Create a dedicated warehouse for incoming goods (e.g., "Receiving") so you can track stock before it is put away into permanent locations.

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Bins

Bins provide a second level of location granularity within a warehouse. They represent shelves, racks, zones, or any subdivision that helps you locate stock quickly.

Adding a Bin

1. Go to Inventory -> Settings -> Bins
2. Click New Bin
3. Select the parent Warehouse
4. Enter the Bin Name or Code (e.g., "Aisle 3 - Shelf B", "BIN-001")
5. Click Save

Naming Conventions

Consistent bin naming makes stock lookups faster. Common patterns include:

Pattern	Example	Best For
Aisle-Shelf-Position	A3-B-12	Large warehouses
Sequential codes	BIN-001	Small to medium locations
Zone-based	ZONE-A-RACK-2	Zoned warehouse layouts

info

Each bin belongs to exactly one warehouse. If you restructure your warehouse layout, update bin assignments to keep stock locations accurate.

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Product Configuration

Products are managed through the Concord CRM Product Catalog. The Inventory module links stock records to these products. Ensure the following are set up correctly:

Required Product Fields for Inventory

• Product Name -- a clear, unique name for each item
• SKU (Stock Keeping Unit) -- a unique identifier for inventory tracking
• Cost Price -- the purchase price used in stock valuation
• Selling Price -- the sale price used in outbound shipments

Optional but Recommended

• Unit of Measure -- pieces, boxes, kilograms, etc.
• Category -- helps with filtering and reporting
• Description -- useful for warehouse staff identifying items

warning

Products without a SKU can still be tracked, but using SKUs is strongly recommended for accurate identification across warehouses and reports.

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General Settings

The General Settings section controls module-wide behavior:

Stock Adjustment Reasons

Pre-define the reasons that users can select when performing stock adjustments. This ensures consistency in your audit trail.

Default reasons include:

• Physical count correction
• Damaged goods
• Inventory reconciliation
• Receiving error
• Customer return

To add a custom reason:

1. Go to Inventory -> Settings -> General
2. Find the Adjustment Reasons section
3. Click Add Reason
4. Enter the reason text
5. Click Save

Permissions and Access Control

Configure which user roles can perform inventory actions:

Permission	Description
View Stock	See stock records and reports
Create Stock	Manually create stock entries
Adjust Stock	Perform stock increases and decreases
Transfer Stock	Move stock between warehouses/bins
Manage Shipments	Create, edit, and confirm shipments
Manage Settings	Access the Inventory Settings page

Assign permissions through Settings -> Roles & Permissions in Concord CRM.

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Best Practices

• Set up warehouses and bins first -- create your location hierarchy before processing any receipts or creating stock
• Use consistent naming -- standardize warehouse names, bin codes, and product SKUs across your organization
• Pre-define adjustment reasons -- this keeps your audit trail clean and consistent
• Start with a simple structure -- you can always add more warehouses and bins as your inventory grows
• Review permissions -- ensure only authorized staff can adjust or transfer stock
• Test the workflow -- process a test receipt and shipment to verify your configuration before going live