Logistics Overview
The Logistics module in JobNext manages the complete lifecycle of physical material movement across project sites and warehouses. Every gram of cement, every steel bar, every pipe fitting that enters, moves within, or leaves a job site is tracked here — from the moment it arrives against a purchase order, through its storage in lot-based inventory, to its final consumption on the project or return to the vendor.
Logistics sits between two other critical modules: Procurement (which handles sourcing and purchasing) creates the purchase orders that logistics receives against, and Finance (which captures the cost impact) automatically generates accounting vouchers whenever stock moves. Together, these three modules ensure that the right materials reach the right site at the right time, with full traceability and cost control from purchase order to final consumption.
How Logistics Fits in the JobNext Workflow
Logistics is the physical inventory engine of JobNext. It connects the procurement cycle (buying materials) to the execution cycle (consuming materials on projects). Here is how it fits in the overall flow:
Material Flow Overview
The diagram below shows how materials flow through the Logistics module. Materials enter site stock from five sources (top), and leave through seven outward paths (bottom). Stock adjustments can increase or decrease quantities to reconcile with physical counts.
Key Concepts
Lot-Based Stock Management
JobNext uses lot-based inventory for full traceability. Every time materials enter the warehouse — whether through an MRN, cash purchase, stock transfer, or production receipt — the system creates a stock lot with a unique scannable barcode. Each lot tracks:
- Material — what the item is (linked to the Material Master)
- Quantity — how much is in this lot
- Rate — the cost per unit in job currency
- Source — which MRN or transaction created this lot
- Expiry Date — for perishable materials
- Putaway Location — physical warehouse bin/shelf location
- Barcode — scannable lot code for mobile warehouse operations
When materials are issued, the system deducts from specific lots (FIFO by default), ensuring accurate costing and traceability back to the original purchase.
Stock Transactions
Every movement of stock — in or out — creates a stock transaction record. Positive quantities represent inflows (receipt, return, adjustment up), negative quantities represent outflows (issue, transfer out, adjustment down). The current stock-on-hand for any material at any job is the sum of all its stock transactions.
Document Lifecycle
All logistics documents follow the standard JobNext lifecycle:
Until a document is approved, no stock movement occurs and no financial entry is created. This ensures proper review and authorization before any inventory change takes effect.
Logistics Sub-Modules
The Logistics sidebar menu provides access to 10 sub-modules. Each handles a specific type of material transaction:
| Sub-Module | Purpose | Stock Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Material Receipt Note (MRN) | Record materials received against approved purchase orders. Creates stock lots and updates warehouse inventory. | + Increases |
| Material Issue | Issue materials from warehouse stock to a job, machine, subcontractor, or customer. Supports 9 issue types including project, stock transfer, and return to vendor. | − Decreases |
| Stock Transfer Receipt | Receive materials transferred from another job site. Completes the second half of an inter-job stock transfer. | + Increases |
| Issue Return | Return previously issued materials back to warehouse stock when they are unused or surplus. | + Increases |
| Stock Adjustment | Reconcile system stock with physical counts after stock-taking. Can increase or decrease quantities with documented reasons. | +/− Adjusts |
| Cash Purchase | Record direct cash purchases of materials without a formal PO. Creates both an MRN and a cash payment voucher in one step. | + Increases |
| Upload Opening Stock | Bulk upload initial stock balances when setting up a new warehouse or migrating data from another system. One-time setup operation. | + Increases |
| Subcontractor Consumption | Track materials consumed by subcontractors on a job site. Deducts from stock and charges cost to the subcontractor’s work order. | − Decreases |
| Customer Issue | Issue customer-supplied materials. Handles materials provided by the customer that are consumed on their project. | − Decreases |
| Requisitions | Raise Material Requisitions (MR) from site. MRs can be fulfilled via procurement (RFQ → PO) or from existing stock (direct issue). Three tabs: Normal, Filled, Stock Transfer. | No direct effect |
Material Issue Types
The Material Issue screen supports 9 different issue types, each serving a distinct business scenario:
| Issue Type | Use Case | What Happens on Approval |
|---|---|---|
| To Project | Issue materials for direct consumption on a project/job scope activity. | Stock deducted, cost charged to job, voucher created. |
| Stock Transfer | Move materials from one job/warehouse to another. | Stock deducted from source, transfer note created. Destination receives via Stock Transfer Receipt. |
| Return to Vendor | Return defective or excess materials to the supplier. | Stock deducted, credit note generated against vendor. |
| Machine Consumables | Issue materials for machine maintenance or consumable use (fuel, lubricants, spare parts). | Stock deducted, cost charged to machine cost center. |
| To Subcontractor | Issue materials to a subcontractor for use in their work order activities. | Stock deducted, cost tracked against the subcontractor’s work order. |
| To Customer | Issue materials to a customer (e.g., returning customer-supplied stock). | Stock deducted, customer account updated. |
| Against Sales Order | Issue materials to fulfill a trading sales order. | Stock deducted, linked to sales order for billing. |
| Bar Bending | Issue rebar/steel for bar bending schedule activities with additional dimension tracking (length, shape). | Stock deducted with bar bending detail recorded. |
| To Waste | Dispose of damaged, expired, or unusable materials. | Stock deducted, loss recorded in finance. |
Common Workflows
Receiving Materials (Procure-to-Stock)
Issuing Materials (Stock-to-Consume)
Transferring Between Sites
Returning Unused Materials
Reconciling Physical Stock
Reports & Analytics
Logistics data feeds into several reports available under Analytics → SCM:
- Stock On-Hand Report — current stock levels by material, lot, and job
- Lot Ledger — complete transaction history for each stock lot
- Material Consumption Report — materials issued by job, scope, and period
- Stock Valuation — current stock value at cost for each job warehouse
- Slow-Moving Stock — materials with no movement for a configurable period
- MR Fulfillment Tracking — progress of material requisitions (procured vs. issued from stock)
Logistics Module Pages
Material Receipt Note (MRN)
Record materials received against purchase orders. Select a PO, enter received quantities, and create stock lots.
Material Issue
Issue stock for project execution, machine use, subcontractor consumption, stock transfer, vendor return, and more.
Stock Transfer Receipt
Receive materials transferred from another job site. Complete the receiving end of a stock transfer.
Issue Return
Return previously issued materials back to the warehouse. Restores stock and reverses the cost charge.
Stock Adjustment
Reconcile system stock with physical counts. Increase or decrease quantities with documented reasons.
Cash Purchase
Record direct cash purchases without a formal PO. Creates both an MRN and payment voucher in one step.
Requisitions
Raise Material Requisitions from site. View Normal, Filled, and Stock Transfer requisitions across three tabs.
Videos
The following videos demonstrate key features and workflows covered on this page.
How to Set Stock Reorder Levels.
Upload Opening Stock.
How to Upload Opening Stock.