From version 10.0.41, receiving unannounced return orders is possible in WOM. The difference between a return order and a purchase or sales order is that the returns are often unannounced and hence there might not be a message coming form the source system for all returns. 

Therefore, we can now process two types of returns:

1. Blind return process enables a worker/user to create an RMA directly from the mobile device completely from scratch where no RMA order or return details record exists in advance and where no original sales order or shipment must be specified during receiving.
2. Return details process can be seen as the opposite of the blind return process. It enables a user to plan a return by creating a return label while packing a sales order. A record automatically generated when an order is shipped contains the Information required to process a return, such as the return ID, original order ID, shipment ID, order lines, and return-until dates.

Let’s see how to set this up and use it. Note that when using this process in WOM, the items processed must be configured as a source system item. Otherwise an error will be shown when finalizing the license plate.

Note that the non-WOM feature Receive unannounced sales returns is re-used for this purpose (D365 10.0.39 and higher), with some additions to it.

Basic setup

Warehouse management parameters

Under the General > Returns fast tab, turn on the Enable return details creation option.

Under the Loads, turn on the Enable sales load line picking route option.

For other basic setup, check out our feature review blog on this topic:

https://www.interradish.com/blog/receive-unannounced-sales-returns-part-1

https://www.interradish.com/blog/receive-unannounced-sales-returns-part-2 

Source systems

In the Source systems > Inbound shipment orders fast tab, we must first enable the returns process, add a (newly created) number sequence, and specify the Return order type of our external system.

On the Outbound shipment orders fast tab, we must select an Outbound shipment processing policy where the Enforce shipment to order matching option is set to Yes. Further, we must choose a value for the Enable return details creation. Select Yes, if return details receiving should be used. If using only blind returns, you can set this option to No. We will explore the difference in this post.

Return item receiving policies

This form is used to define how each MDMI will process the return order. Warehouse management > Setup > Mobile device > Return item receiving policies.

When using this with the WOM, the following setup must be used:

1.  Return process – defines which process to use. In both cases, the return order and lines will be created when the related mixed license plate receipt is completed.
   1.  Return details – the return item receiving will be performed against the return details identified by the RMA number. Only the items that are part of the return detail will be allowed for receiving (i.e. the classic way of processing the RO)
   2.  Blind receiving – the return item receiving will be allowed for any item.
2.  Created return order – defines which order type will be created. When using WOM, we must select Inbound shipment order

When using Blind returns and WOM (Inbound shipment order), some other options become available.

1.  Return order identification – defines which extra identifying information should be returned by the system when it registers a return order with the external system.
   1.  None – no extra information is returned and the MDMI will not ask the worker to provide any  
   2.  Account number – when D365 registers a return order with the external system, it returns the account number to help identify the return order. In this case, the MDMI will ask the worker to provide this number during the receiving process.
2.  Return order type – (Available only when the Return order identification field is set to Account number). When used, the value in this field will be returned to the source system when a return is registered with your external system (i.e. the document type for the return order in your external system).

Source system disposition codes 

Warehouse management > Setup > Warehouse management integration > Source system disposition codes

The source system disposition codes are essentially disposition codes that will be used when processing WOM return orders (Inbound shipment orders). But note that the source system codes are actually based on the classic (non-WOM) Warehouse disposition codes. In other words, the classic disposition code must exist before creating the same one specifically for the source systems. You can have different codes for different source systems.

Mobile device menu items

Warehouse management > Setup > Mobile device > Mobile device menu items

We create a new MDMI, with the new Work creation process = Return item receiving (Mode = Work, Use existing work = No). On the MDMI, some basic options can be configured, But the important one is the Return item receiving policy Id we set up in the previous step. Which one to use depends on the type of the return process (blind return or return details) you want to be using.

We’ll create both, as we will show both ways of receiving. Don't forget to add them to the mobile device menu of your choice.

Example 1 - Blind returns

In this case, warehouse worker can receive returned items without matching them to an original outbound shipment order or shipment, meaning we can simply start the return process. During the receiving process, the worker just enters some basic information, and the system takes care of the rest.

1. Open the MDMI and enter the customer number
   
   
2. Scan item, license plate, disposition code (if using it), quantity, and unit (the typical ones) -> Work is completed after confirmation.
   
   
3. The scanned products have now been assigned to a license plate for further processing. Open the Mixed license plate form (Warehouse Management > Inquiries and reports > Mixed license plate receiving). You can of course add more products to this license plate.
   
   
4. On the Action pane, select License plate and then Confirm license plate, to finalize this action after adding the Disposition code if needed. After this button is pressed, the system will create a new Inbound shipment order of type Return order is created, as well as the putaway work. The inventory on-hand is also updated.
   
   
   1. Note that completing the LP can be done via Mobile device as well, creating a detour to MDMI Complete mixed license plate. In that case, the warehouse workers can confirm the mixed license plate on their own, without checking the full screen.
      
5. The putaway work is now also created. The Work order type is Inbound shipment order and it uses that setup when creating and allocating the work.
   
   

In the background, a Load and Shipment Id have been created for this return order. After the receiving is completed physically, we can confirm that from the Load details screen as well.

This will generate a Shipment receipts journal.

It will also update our ISO Receiving status to Received.

And if used, the Warehouse inventory update log will also get a new record created for further communication to the external system.

Example 2 - Return order with return details

In this scenario, the return details are generated when an order is processed in a way that the system generates the return label. Most commonly, with e-commerce scenarios, where the customer would simply return the goods not needed. When the goods are back in the warehouse, the worker can scan the return label and the item to get the return id. With this id, it identifies the return details record that includes the original order details and the system can use those for further processing.

The Return details can be created in two ways:

1. At Container close on the packing form (typically e-commerce)
2. At Outbound shipment confirmation action (typically non-e-commerce companies)

For using the Return details functionality, the WMS parameters and Source system parameters mentioned earlier (the Enable return details creation) must be enabled.

I will show the option with the Outbound shipment confirmation. If you want to see how this can work with the packing scenario, see our non-WOM blog: https://www.interradish.com/blog/receive-unannounced-sales-returns-part-2

1. Create and process a simple Outbound shipment order and the related warehouse Work. Confirm the outbound shipment.
   
   
2. This will now create the Return details record for this shipment. From here, you can print the return label as well (I am yet to achieve this).
   
   

   Now that we have the Return detail created, we can start the return process, imaging that the customer has returned some of this product.

3.  Open the new MDMI for processing returns with the Return details. Enter the Return ID (which should be printed on the return label).
   
   
4. Enter the Item, the quantity returned, etc. Notice that entering any other item or quantity that is not on this return detail ID, you will receive an error. If everything is OK, you should get the Work completed message at the end.
   
   
5. You can add more items on the same LP, or simply complete it to indicate that the return order receiving is completed by the warehouse worker. This can be done from the MD or from the full screen via Mixed license plate receiving form as shown in the previous example.
   
   
6. This now created the putaway work for the returned items. The Work order type is Inbound shipment order.
   
   
7. We can now find the Load or Shipment for this ISO to Confirm Inbound shipment and indicate the Receiving completed. The latter action has created the Shipment receipts journal record and updated the Load status to Received, indicating the process is now completed.

Happy testing!