Duplicate Serial Number Handling in Shipment Verification

Duplicate Serial Number Handling in Shipment Verification

Release Date: 12/01/2022
Version: 7.5 & Up

Q - I have a scenario of two identical serial numbers from two different items. But Elliott won't accept them in shipment verification. See sample screen below:
 

We were able to verify item# EPS-GR-2, but it doesn't work for item number EPS-CARRY-GR-2 unless I enter the item number first. If I proceed with scanning serial number G2000457 for the order with item number EPS-CARRY-GR-2, I get the following message:
    This item is NOT on this order !


I thought Elliott would allow the same serial number as long as the item number is different, but if the serial number is scanned, it would ask which item number is being scanned. Am I understanding it correctly?

A - Elliott is able to handle duplicate serial numbers. The way it works is when you scan the value G2000457 the system does not know whether that is an item number or serial number. It first tries to see if it is an item number, UPC code, or manufacturing item number.  When all else fails, it tries to determine if it is a serial number. In this case, it finds the item number EPS-GR-2 first (because you received this item before EPS-CARRY-GR-2, the system uses a first-come, first-served logic on an index with duplicate values). The system knows that item number EPS-GR-2 is not part of the order. The system does not go to the extent of determining if there’s another item that also matches this serial number because this is such an exceptional case. Therefore, it concludes that what you scanned is not a serial number. At this moment, the only thing the system knows is that it can't resolve the value G2000457, It has no idea if that's an item number, manufacturing item number (catalog number), or serial number.  So it just makes an assumption and indicates that G2000457 is not a valid item number.

To handle a situation like this, you should scan the UPC code (or manually enter the item number EPS-CARRY-GR-2) first. The system will know that we still need a serial and will prompt you for that in a popup. Then you can scan the serial number at that time. This will handle the scenario correctly. Generally speaking, you can scan the serial number directly and the system will presume that a duplicate serial number does not happen often. So you rarely need to use this special procedure. The lesson for your warehouse to take away is “When scanning the serial number alone does not work, scan the UPC code (or enter the item number) first, then scan the serial number.”

EMK


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