.svg){kind=icon}
.svg)
.svg){kind=icon}
Serial, lot, and expiration date tracking FAQs
1. What is the difference between serial number tracking and lot or batch tracking?
A serial number identifies one individual unit; a lot or batch number identifies a group that arrived or was produced together. Serials suit high-value items where each piece has its own history. Lots suit interchangeable stock where the origin matters — a production run, a delivery, a batch from one supplier.
2. Can HandiFox generate and print serial or lot barcode labels?
Yes. HandiFox generates and prints barcode labels for serial, lot, and expiration-date-tracked items, including stock that arrives without a usable barcode. Labels can carry the tracked number, so scanning identifies the specific unit or batch rather than only the SKU.
3. How does HandiFox handle expiration dates?
Expiration dates are recorded on lots. With FEFO fulfillment enabled, stock closest to its date is picked and sold first, so older units move before they expire. Products that have expired or are close to it can be written off, keeping the on-hand number aligned with what is actually sellable.
4. Can I trace where a batch went if I need to recall it?
Yes, through the Transactions by Serial/Lot Numbers report. It shows the movement history behind a tracked number — the purchase order it arrived on, the locations it moved through, and the sales it left on. HandiFox provides the traceability record; the recall decisions and customer contact remain your process.
5. Which transactions are available in the Transactions by Serial/Lot Numbers report?
The report covers the transactions that touch a tracked number: receiving, transfers between locations, counts, picking and packing, and sales. It is the tool for investigating discrepancies and for answering questions about where a specific unit or lot has been.
6. Can I track lots and serial numbers across multiple locations?
Yes. Tracked numbers hold across every warehouse and site, so a unit or batch is identifiable wherever it sits. Per-location quantities and the company total both reflect tracked stock, and transfers between locations record against the number.
