Locations in Katana are different locations where you store stock, make products, and/or fulfill customer orders.

Locations are typically used if you have multiple warehouses, use any fulfillment centers, store stock at your own retail outlet or at resellers' shops or warehouses, or produce at multiple locations.

The multiple manufacturing sites feature is also valuable for companies using outsourced manufacturing partners. It enables you to generate independent production schedules for each Location, manage ingredient availabilities at each Location, and transfer stock from one location to another.

Locations are typically located at different geographical spots, although you can create Locations for different parts of the same warehouse if it makes sense for your business or processes.

However, don't confuse Locations in Katana with bin locations, which typically refer to the exact location of a certain item in your warehouse (shelf number and the exact spot on the shelf).

- Adding multiple Locations enables you to track stock quantities at different locations, not only see the total inventory list combining all your locations. For example, you can identify when the stock is getting low at fulfillment centers or resellers' shops, and send more if needed.

- For each Location, select whether you Sell, Make, and/or Buy items at that Location. Based on the selection, that specific Location is either displayed or not in the Location selector for Sales orders (SO), Manufacturing orders (MO), and Purchase orders (PO).

- Define the address for each Location, which will be displayed on a Purchase order print-out, indicating the Ship to address to your suppliers.

- Define the Storage bins for each Location, which can be linked to variants.

- Transfer stock between Locations with a Stock transfer in Katana. Read more about creating a Stock transfer.

- Store both products and materials at any location.

- Assign Sales orders to different Locations either for single SOs or in bulk (read more). In this case, the Sales items availability for items on the order will check the stock availability from the assigned Location, not from all Locations combined. You can define a Default Sales Location, which is the Location that is assigned to all your new Sales orders by default. Read more

- Assign Manufacturing orders to different Locations. Each Location has an independent production Schedule and Manufacturing orders. In this case, the Ingredients availability for the order will check the stock availability from the assigned Location, not from all Locations combined. You can define a Default Manufacturing Location, which is the Location that is assigned to new MOs by default (unless you are creating a Make to Order for a specific SO, see more in the next bullet).

- A Make-to-Order (MTO) MO always has the same Location as the underlying SO. The Location for such SO or MO cannot be changed without deleting the MO, changing the Location for the SO, and creating a new MTO at the other Location.

- Assign Purchase orders to different Locations. Each Location has an independent list of Purchase orders. When a PO is Received, items on the PO will be added to the assigned Location. You can define a Default Purchases Location, which is the Location that is assigned to new POs by default.

- Assign Outsourced purchase orders to different Locations. Each Location has an independent list of Outsourced purchase orders. When an OPO is Received, ingredients on the OPO will be processed from the assigned Track ingredients in location, and purchase items will be added to the assigned Ship to Location. The defined Default Purchases Location is also the Location that is assigned to new OPOs by default.

- Katana's Starter plan includes 1 Location. Each higher plan includes additional Locations: Standard (3), Professional (10), and Professional Plus (unlimited). Find out more on our Pricing and Plans page.