As we discussed in the Item section, if an Item is serialized, a Serial Number (Serial No) record is maintained for each quantity of that Item. This information is helpful in tracking the location of the Serial No, its warranty and end-of-life (expiry) information.
Serial Nos are also useful to maintain fixed assets. Maintenance Schedules can also be created against serial numbers for planning and scheduling maintenance activity for these assets (if they require maintenance).
You can also track from which Supplier you purchased the Serial No and to which Customer you have sold it. The Serial No status will tell you its current inventory status.
If your Item is serialized you will have to enter the Serial Nos in the related column with each Serial No in a new line.
Serial Nos cannot be imported from Stock Reconciliation. To import Serial Nos, you will have to use the Data Import Tool. When you import the Serial Nos, the stock level of its corresponding Item will be automatically updated.
Serial Nos are a useful tool for tracking different kinds of Items, by using it along with Custom Fields. For example, in our internal system at Web Notes, each ERP account is a Serial No, with type of user “Plan” as the Item, its expiry date, whether it is Trial or Paid and other details as Custom Fields.
We have known customers who use Serial Nos to track fixed assets, real-estate properties or advertisement slots, even library books!
Since Serial Nos are deeply linked with all the core modules, Selling, Buying, Inventory and Accounting, you may find many uses for them.