Warehouse environment. Having difficulties in setting up an ad-hoc cycle count task for a scan view. Is there a tutorial for this process? I believe I am getting stuck at the proper function setup.
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Hi Dan,
An ad-hoc or on-the-fly cycle count means your warehouse team is able to scan a location or item and trigger a count immediately, without waiting for a scheduled cycle count. Business Central and most WMS setups fully support this.
Why it works
BC allows both planned cycle counts and spot counts. Spot counts are perfect when something looks off during picking or replenishment and you just want to verify stock.
What you need to have in place
• Warehouse and item setup must allow counting.
• A counting method must exist, such as a physical inventory journal, cycle count, or WMS work.
• For WMS users: set up a mobile device menu item for “Spot Count” and make sure it does not depend on existing work.
How it typically works in practice
A warehouse worker scans a bin or item on the mobile device. BC creates a quick count task on the spot. The worker enters the counted quantity, submits it, and BC flags any difference for review or posts it automatically if it’s within tolerance.
What to check technically
• Warehouse/location setup supports cycle or spot counting.
• Mobile device menu item is set to “Spot count / Ad-hoc count.”
• A simple work class/template exists (if using advanced WMS).
• Counting tolerances are set so minor differences auto-post, bigger ones need approval.
Why it’s useful
It gives your team flexibility, avoids waiting for scheduled counts, helps fix inventory issues immediately, and keeps warehouse operations moving smoothly.
For WMS users: set up a mobile device menu item for “Spot Count” and make sure it does not depend on existing work.
This part is my hang up. The process works in the desktop/web portal. I found basic information online pointing on how to set this up, but it is vague and not a full how-to. My assumption (possibly incorrect) was that if this is already a system capability, creating a scan view should be relatively easy.
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Hi Dan,
Yes, it’s definitely possible in Business Central. The system is designed to handle both scheduled cycle counts and quick, ad-hoc counts when you just need to verify a bin or item on the spot. It makes sense in a real warehouse too, things don’t always go as planned, so having a way to trigger a count through the scanner is really useful.
The tricky part is that BC won’t show the scan view until the mobile menu item, work class, and template are connected the right way. Once those pieces line up, the ad-hoc count works the way you’d expect: scan a location, and BC creates the count task instantly.
If you want, share your menu setup, usually, it’s just one small setting that needs adjusting.
That’s the thing, I don’t yet have the scan view card setup for this. I have a scan view card for a first count and a second count, but I can’t figure out how to setup the initial scan task. This task only exists on the web portal view.
Hi Dan,
Got it, that makes sense. If the scan view card for the ad-hoc/spot count isn’t created yet, the scanner has nothing to trigger. The first/second count views only work for pre-created tasks from the web portal.
You’ll need to create a separate scan view card for the initial/spot count, link it to the right function (Spot/Cycle Count with “Use Existing Work = No”), and then attach that to your mobile menu item. Once that’s in place, the scanner will start generating the count work on the fly.
If you want, I can hop on a quick knowledge-sharing call and walk you through the setup.
I’m using Boltrics WMS - would that matter for your help?
That’s totally fine, the core idea is the same. Whether it’s standard BC WMS or Boltrics WMS, you still need a scan view (or scan flow) that represents the “start” of the ad-hoc count. Boltrics just has its own names and screens for it.
In most cases you’ll still create:
• a scan view/flow for the initial count step,
• link it to the correct counting function,
• and then attach that view to the handheld menu.
Once that initial view exists, the scanner can generate the count task on the fly instead of waiting for a pre-created first/second count.
I apologize for dropping off - I would appreciate any assistance on setting this up. What time do you have free?
Hi @Dan_110
No worries at all, glad to hear back from you.
Happy to help you get this set up properly.
I’m flexible and can adjust to your schedule. Just let me know a time that works for you today or tomorrow, and I’ll be available.
Looking forward to walking you through it.
Hi @Dan_110
Are you available today at 10 AM - 11 AM EST ?
E: hardik.gupta@allgrowtech.com