Mobile Driven Production & Warehousing Shortcuts in D365 Finance & Supply Chain Management
Many warehouse and production teams have long since replaced clipboards with mobile devices, but that does not always eliminate inefficiency. You may still be moving between multiple screens, repeatedly scanning the same information, or relying on manual workarounds to complete inventory, receiving, picking, and production tasks.
In Dynamics 365 Finance and Supply Chain Management, mobile device detours within the Warehouse Management mobile app help simplify those workflows by allowing you to move directly between related tasks without unnecessary navigation or repeated data entry.
In this blog, we will look at how detours work, how they support warehouse and production processes, and where they can deliver the most operational value. Throughout the blog, short video clips are included to show how these detours work in real workflows within Dynamics 365 Finance and Supply Chain Management.
What Are Mobile Device Detours?
Mobile device detours allow you to move between related mobile workflows without restarting navigation or manually switching menu items. Simply put, detours function like shortcuts within the Warehouse Management mobile app, helping you complete tasks with fewer clicks and less repetitive data entry.
A detour can pass information from one workflow to another, including selected fields configured during setup. In some scenarios, data can also return back into the original workflow after the detour is completed.
Key advantages include:
- Reduced manual typing and rescanning
- Fewer navigation steps
- More connected warehouse workflows
- Better visibility within operational processes
By connecting related workflows together, detours help create a more efficient mobile experience across inventory management, receiving, picking, and production operations.
Configuring Mobile Device Detours in D365
Setting up mobile device detours in Dynamics 365 Finance and Supply Chain Management is relatively straightforward while still allowing significant flexibility.
At a high level, the process typically includes creating mobile device menu items, configuring step records, defining which fields send or return between workflows, and testing the process end to end.
You can also tailor the experience through customized instructions, promoted fields, auto submit functionality, and workflow-specific guidance for mobile users.
Because workflow behavior can vary based on configuration and field dependencies, testing real-world scenarios is especially important before broader rollout.
Real-World Mobile Detour Scenarios
The value of mobile device detours becomes much clearer when applied to everyday warehouse and production operations. The following examples demonstrate how you can simplify workflows, improve visibility, and reduce manual effort across mobile processes. The following examples demonstrate how you can simplify workflows, improve visibility, and reduce manual effort across a variety of operational scenarios.
We will start by looking at four inventory specific detours:
Inventory Detours
Example 1: Moving from Inventory Inquiry to Inventory Movement
One common use case is moving directly from an inventory inquiry into an inventory movement transaction.
Rather than exiting an inquiry screen and re-entering information elsewhere, you can launch the movement process directly from the inventory record they are already viewing. Key information such as item number, warehouse location, license plate information, and inventory status details can automatically transfer into the next workflow.
This reduces rescanning and repetitive typing while helping you move more quickly between inquiry and execution tasks.
Example 2: Flexible License Plate Lookup and Inventory Identification
Detours can also improve inventory identification through flexible license plate searches.
In many warehouses, labels may be damaged or partially visible. Instead of relying on exact values, workers can search using partial license plate information to narrow results quickly and identify inventory faster.
Once the correct license plate is identified, workers can immediately launch the next transaction directly from the inquiry results without navigating through additional menus. This helps reduce manual searching while improving both speed and accuracy on the warehouse floor.
Example 3: Batch Selection During Inventory Movements
In process manufacturing environments, workers may know the item and location but not the specific batch associated with the inventory.
Using a detour, you can launch a batch inquiry directly from the movement workflow to view available batches tied to the item and location. Once selected, the batch information returns directly into the original workflow.
This approach helps improve batch visibility, reduce manual lookup steps, and improve accuracy in batch-controlled environments where labels or batch information may not always be immediately visible.
Example 4: Cycle Counting Visibility and Work Prioritization
Mobile device detours can also improve how cycle counting work is coordinated across warehouse teams.
Using a detour from the cycle counting workflow, workers can access an inquiry showing open counting work by location directly within the mobile application. From there, you can immediately launch the counting process for a selected location without manually searching for work assignments.
This helps your organization improve visibility into active count work, better coordinate counting responsibilities across employees, and reduce confusion around which locations are currently being counted.
Now, let’s take a look at an effective example of an inbound product detour:
Inbound Product Detour
Example: Improving Visibility Before Product Hits the Floor
Detours can also simplify inbound receiving, especially when warehouse teams handle mixed loads tied to multiple purchase orders.
Using an inbound load inquiry connected to the receiving workflow, workers can review expected receipt details directly within the mobile application before beginning the receiving process. The inquiry can display purchase orders, vendor information, expected receipt dates, product details, and quantities, giving workers a clearer picture of what should be on the truck before product is received.
You can also configure warehouse-specific filtering so workers only see data relevant to their facility.
Once the correct load line is identified, you can launch the receiving process directly from the inquiry screen. Key information transfers automatically into the transaction, reducing the need for paper documents, manual entry, or repeated scanning.
Benefits of this approach include:
- Faster receiving transactions
- Reduced paper dependency
- Improved receiving accuracy
- More efficient pallet processing for mixed loads
The versatility of detours extends beyond inbound processes to outbound and work-related scenarios as well, so let’s explore a practical example of how they can be applied.
Outbound and Work-Related Detours
Example: Outbound Picking and Work Prioritization
As warehouse operations move into outbound execution, detours help improve responsiveness and work prioritization.
Using a generic inquiry tied to work lines or work headers, you can view open picking work directly within the mobile application and prioritize tasks based on operational needs such as work priority, customer importance, or inventory availability.
This becomes especially valuable when inventory constraints or damaged stock require teams to quickly adjust outbound priorities. You can filter work by item to identify affected orders, prioritize key customers, and launch picking workflows directly from the inquiry results.
This approach helps you:
- Reduce reliance on printed reports
- Improve response time to changing conditions
- Make faster picking and prioritization decisions
Detours can also play a valuable role within production operations, helping connect tasks, information, and actions directly within the flow of work. Let’s look at how production detours can improve efficiency and simplify common shop floor processes.
Production Detours
Example: Reducing the Gap Between Production and Warehouse Execution
The same mobile detour concepts can also extend directly into production order management.
Using production-focused mobile workflows, workers can start production orders, report production as finished, report scrap, and complete finished goods put away directly from the mobile device.
Using filtered production order inquiries, workers can view relevant production work and immediately launch actions from the same workflow. This reduces reliance on paper production lists, browser-based lookups, and disconnected production processes.
One important design consideration is workflow sequencing. Depending on configuration, inquiry results may not automatically refresh after a transaction is completed. Some organizations address this by adjusting the workflow sequence so you begin with the action workflow and detour into the inquiry as needed.
Even small workflow adjustments like this can significantly improve usability in high-volume production environments.
Where Mobile Detours Deliver the Most Value
Mobile device detours deliver the most value when they remove friction from everyday warehouse and production execution.
Across inventory management, receiving, outbound picking, and production reporting, detours help you reduce paper-based processes, simplify navigation, minimize manual entry, improve workflow accuracy, and accelerate execution on the warehouse floor.
The real value is not mobility alone, but designing connected workflows that allow you to move naturally between inquiry and execution without restarting processes or re-entering information.
Often the best place to start is with high-friction, high-volume workflows such as receiving, inventory movements, picking, or production reporting. From there, detours can be piloted in a focused operational area before expanding more broadly.
Turning Detours into Workflow Improvements
Every warehouse and production environment is different, which means the most effective detour configurations depend on your specific workflows, data structure, and operational priorities. For a closer look at how this works in practice, watch the full video.Â
If you are exploring how to apply mobile device detours or improve warehouse and production mobility in your Dynamics 365 Finance and Supply Chain Management environment, contact Stoneridge Software to start a conversation with our team.
This blog was co-authored by Mike Mathews
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