47 lines
1.8 KiB
ReStructuredText
47 lines
1.8 KiB
ReStructuredText
======================================================
|
||
What's the difference between lots and serial numbers?
|
||
======================================================
|
||
|
||
Introduction
|
||
============
|
||
|
||
In Odoo, lots and serial numbers have similarities in their functional
|
||
system but are different in their behavior. They are both managed within
|
||
the **Inventory**, **Purchases** and **Sales** app.
|
||
|
||
**Lots** correspond to a certain number of products you received and store
|
||
altogether in one single pack.
|
||
|
||
**Serial numbers** are identification numbers given to one product in
|
||
particular, to allow to track the history of the item from reception to
|
||
delivery and after-sales.
|
||
|
||
When to use
|
||
-----------
|
||
|
||
**Lots** are interesting for products you receive in great quantity and for
|
||
which a lot number can help in reportings, quality controls, or any
|
||
other info. Lots will help identify a number of pieces having for
|
||
instance a production fault. It can be useful for a batch production of
|
||
clothes or food.
|
||
|
||
**Serial numbers** are interesting for items that could require after-sales
|
||
service, such as smartphones, laptops, fridges, and any electronic
|
||
devices. You could use the manufacturer’s serial number or your own,
|
||
depending on the way you manage these products
|
||
|
||
When not to use
|
||
---------------
|
||
|
||
Storing consumable products such as kitchen roll, toilet paper, pens and
|
||
paper blocks in lots would make no sense at all, as there are very few
|
||
chances that you can return them for production fault.
|
||
|
||
On the other hand, giving a serial number to every product is a
|
||
time-consuming task that will have a purpose only in the case of items
|
||
that have a warranty and/or after-sales services. Putting a serial
|
||
number on bread, for instance, makes no sense at all.
|
||
|
||
.. seealso::
|
||
* :doc:`serial_numbers`
|
||
* :doc:`lots` |