Locations — zones and bins

Every unit of stock sits in a bin (a location), and every bin belongs to a zone. Create the zones first, then generate the bins — hundreds at once — and print a barcode label for each.

Where: Master Data → Locations

How a bin code is built

An operator reads the code like an address: go to zone BULK, aisle A05, bay B1, level L2, position P01.

The order to set up locations

The Locations screen

The toolbar

1. Warehouse — the list shows the bins of this warehouse.
2. Bulk Generate — create a whole range of bins in one go.
3. Import — create bins from a CSV file.
4. New Location — create a single bin.

The zone list on the left

1. The warehouse and its total number of bins — click it to see all bins.
2. A zone — click it to show only that zone's bins.
3. Add zone — create a new zone.

Step 1 — Add a zone

Click Add zone.

New Zone

1. Zone code — short and upper-case, e.g. BULK, PICK, RCV.
2. Name — e.g. Reserve racking.
3. Purpose — what the zone is for: receiving, bulk storage, pick face, staging, QA, damage, returns … PrismaWMS uses this to choose bins automatically.
4. Click Create zone.

Typical zones

Most warehouses start with RCV (receiving dock), BULK (pallet racking), PICK (pick faces), STG (outbound staging), QA (inspection), DMG (damage) and RTN (returns).

Step 2 — Generate the bins (Bulk Generate)

Click Bulk Generate. A four-step wizard opens.

2a. Zone

Choose where the bins go

1. Warehouse.
2. Zone — e.g. BULK · Bulk Storage.
3. Location type — e.g. Bulk / Reserve for pallet racking, Pick Face / Forward for picking shelves.
4. Click Next.

2b. Ranges

One row per part of the code

1. Aisles — prefix A, from 5 to 6, pad 2 → A05, A06.
2. Bays — prefix B, from 1 to 2 → B1, B2.
3. Levels — prefix L, from 1 to 3 → L1, L2, L3.
4. Positions — prefix P, from 1 to 2, pad 2 → P01, P02.
5. Check the line above the buttons (24 codes · BULK-A05-B1-L1-P01 … BULK-A06-B2-L3-P02), then click Next.

What is "Pad digits"?

Pad digits adds leading zeros so codes sort correctly: with pad 2, aisle 5 becomes A05 and comes before A10.

2c. Attributes

Settings every new bin gets

1. Capacity UoM — what the bin holds: pallets, cases, eaches …
2. Max capacity — e.g. 2 pallets per bin.
3. Pickable — tick if pickers may take stock from these bins (leave Putaway-able ticked so stock can be stored).
4. Click Next.

2d. Preview and generate

Check, then generate

1. How many bins will be created.
2. The first and last code — check they look right.
3. Click Generate n locations. Codes that already exist are skipped, never duplicated.

Create a single bin

Click New Location.

New Location

1. Zone.
2. Location type.
3. Aisle, Bay, Level, Position.
4. Location code is built for you from the parts above (you can change it).
5. Optional: Capacity & dims (size, weight, capacity) and Behaviour & rules (pickable, mixing rules, dedicated item).
6. Click Create location.

Print bin labels

Each row has a Print label button. Stick the label on the shelf so operators can scan the bin instead of typing it. See Labels & Documents for printers and label designs.

Good to know

• Status — Available, Blocked, Full, Counting, Quarantine, Damage … Status legend explains each one. A Counting bin is being counted and cannot be picked or moved until the count is posted.
• Dedicated (fixed) bins — a pick face can be dedicated to one SKU in Behaviour & rules; other items are then refused there.
• AI Slotting suggests better bins for fast-moving items — see the AI & Automation chapter.