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Put-Away and Storage
Put-Away refers to the warehouse process in which goods are transported from the receiving area to their final storage location and booked there after goods receipt. In the German fulfillment context, Put-Away is used synonymously with storage, putting away, or bin placement. It is the critical step between goods receipt inspection and subsequent order picking – and thus the foundation for accurate inventory management, short pick paths, and reliable delivery times.
A poorly organized Put-Away process causes downstream costs: items end up in the wrong locations, inventory counts are incorrect, pick errors increase, and expensive rack space is wasted. Professional Put-Away, by contrast, combines physical logistics with intelligent storage location logic – manually in small warehouses or fully automated in modern fulfillment centers.
Definition: What Put-Away Means in Fulfillment
Put-Away begins as soon as incoming goods have passed goods receipt inspection and are released for saleable inventory. The process ends when the goods are physically at the target storage location and the WMS (Warehouse Management System) has updated inventory at bin level.
In the narrower sense, Put-Away includes:
- Storage location determination: The system or employee determines the optimal slot according to rules (ABC class, size, temperature, FIFO).
- Transport: Pallet truck, conveyor belt, AGV, or manual transport from the goods receipt zone to the target location.
- Booking: Scan of storage location and SKU – inventory is transferred from "goods receipt" to "available at storage location X".
- Confirmation: Completion in the WMS so that the goods are visible for picking and order release.
Process Flow: Put-Away in Goods Receipt
Distinction: Put-Away vs. Goods Receipt vs. Storage
The terms are often used interchangeably, but they differ clearly:
- Goods receipt: The entire process of receiving, inspecting, and documenting incoming deliveries.
- Put-Away: Specifically the transport and booking from goods receipt to the storage location.
- Storage: The broader German term that encompasses Put-Away and, where applicable, the preceding inspection.
In the pick-pack-ship workflow, Put-Away is at the beginning of the warehouse chain – before orders are picked. Errors here affect the entire fulfillment process.
Put-Away Strategies at a Glance
The choice of storage strategy affects pick paths, storage location utilization, and throughput in goods receipt. Each model optimizes a different lever.
Storage Location Selection: What Matters in Put-Away
The quality of Put-Away depends significantly on storage location logic. A good WMS considers several factors simultaneously when generating location suggestions.
ABC Analysis and Turnover Frequency
Fast movers (A items) belong in near zones to picking and shipping – typically at ergonomic height and with short paths. Slow movers (C items) can be stored further away or in height ranges with lower access frequency. Turnover frequency is thus the most important lever for Put-Away rules.
FIFO and Best-Before Dates for Perishable Goods
For items with best-before dates or batch requirements, Put-Away must support FIFO logic (First In, First Out): new goods are placed behind older stock of the same SKU or managed in separate batch areas. Incorrectly stored batches lead to spoilage, complaints, and legal issues with food products.
Size, Weight, and Storage Conditions
Heavy pallets go to floor storage locations or low rack rows. Small parts belong in bin shelves or compartments. Temperature-controlled goods (cold chain) require immediate Put-Away in refrigerated zones – every minute outside the cold chain counts.
The Put-Away Process Step by Step
Typical Workflow Steps in In-House Warehousing
- Complete goods receipt: Delivery inspected, quantities and quality documented, SKU recorded in the system.
- Receive Put-Away order: WMS generates storage order with target storage location or target zone.
- Choose transport equipment: Pallet truck, pallet jack, or hand truck depending on weight and packaging unit.
- Drive to target location: Observe warehouse labeling (rack, aisle, level, bin).
- Scan storage location and SKU: Scan barcode of location and goods – inventory is booked.
- Physical storage: Place goods securely, comply with stacking limits and weight restrictions where applicable.
- Confirm completion: Set WMS status to "stored" – inventory is immediately available for order release.
Put-Away at Packing-Table-Adjacent Goods Receipt
Put-Away with 3PL Partners
External fulfillment partners handle Put-Away as part of onboarding and stock intake. SLAs for storage time and ASN-based advance notification should be contractually agreed.
Technical Systems: WMS, Scanner, and Storage Location Logic
Put-Away in professional warehouses does not run without digital support. The WMS is the central control system.
Without scanning at the storage location, the error rate increases: goods end up in the wrong place, inventory is incorrect, and cycle counts reveal discrepancies that are costly to resolve.
KPIs and Quality Measurement in Put-Away
Successful Put-Away can be measured by clear metrics. These belong in every warehouse reporting dashboard.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Typical Put-Away problems: wrong storage locations without scanning, overfilled bins, delayed storage in the receiving area, ignored FIFO/batch rules, and missing SKU master data. Each of these errors leads to inventory discrepancies and blocks order release.
Checklist: Setting Up and Optimizing the Put-Away Process
Use this checklist to set up or review your storage process:
Preparation and Master Data
- All SKUs recorded in WMS with dimensions, weight, and storage conditions
- Storage locations uniquely labeled (barcode or label)
- ABC classes and turnover frequencies defined
- Zones for goods receipt, quarantine, and main warehouse clearly separated
Process and Technology
- Put-Away rules configured in WMS (FIFO, fixed locations, or random storage)
- Scanner or RF device available for goods receipt and storage
- Pallet trucks and transport equipment available for pallets and cartons
- Training: mandatory scan sequence storage location + SKU
Quality and Monitoring
- KPIs Put-Away time and accuracy captured in reporting
- Escalation for storage backlog (e.g. more than 24 hours in receiving area)
Put-Away and the Entire Warehouse Chain
Put-Away connects goods receipt with order picking and pick and pack: delivery → inspection → Put-Away → order release → pick → pack → ship. Correctly placed A items significantly reduce pick paths compared to unstructured storage.
Warehouse Processes from Goods Receipt to Shipping
Conclusion: Put-Away as the Foundation of Efficient Fulfillment
Put-Away is the foundation for accurate inventory, short pick paths, and reliable delivery times. Those who combine storage location logic, WMS control, and consistent scanning reduce errors and scale goods receipt with order growth – one of the most profitable optimizations in the warehouse.
FAQ on Put-Away
What is the difference between Put-Away and goods receipt?
Goods receipt encompasses the entire receiving, inspection, and documentation of incoming deliveries. Put-Away is the specific step afterward: transport and booking of goods from goods receipt to the final storage location.
Do I need a WMS for Put-Away?
In a small warehouse with few SKUs, manual Put-Away is possible. From medium volume onward and with random storage, a WMS is practically essential for storage location suggestions, inventory management, and error prevention.
What is random storage?
In random storage, free storage locations are dynamically assigned. The WMS manages the mapping between SKU and physical location. Maximum space utilization with high SKU variety – scanner and WMS are mandatory.
How long can goods remain in the receiving area?
Ideally only a few hours. Goods without completed Put-Away are often not visible for sale in the system. Many operations escalate after more than 24 hours in the receiving area.
How do I measure Put-Away quality?
Through KPIs such as Put-Away time per unit, time from goods receipt to available, and Put-Away accuracy (share of correctly booked storage locations). With a scanner, accuracy should be nearly 100% achievable.