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What is an "unbatched" batch?

Learn about "unbatched" batches in Katana and how they function within inventory management.

Dayvid Lorbiecke avatar
Written by Dayvid Lorbiecke
Updated this week

In Katana, an “unbatched” batch refers to stock for a batch-trackable item that has no assigned batch number, even though batch tracking is enabled. These items are automatically grouped into a batch labeled "unbatched".

Despite the name, the "unbatched" batch behaves just like any other batch:

  • You can increase or decrease stock

  • You can select it in manufacturing, sales, and stock movements

  • It appears in your Batches tab with quantities (even negative)


When items are assigned to the "unbatched" batch

Your stock gets assigned to the “unbatched” batch in these common scenarios:

1. Batch tracking is enabled after stock exists

  • If an item already has a positive stock quantity in Katana and you enable batch tracking, all current stock is automatically moved to the "unbatched" batch.

2. Sales order completed with batch-trackable ingredients

  • If a sales order (SO) is fulfilled via a Make-to-Order manufacturing order (MO) and includes batch-trackable ingredients, but no batch is assigned, Katana will pull those ingredients from the "unbatched" batch.

  • This includes automatic fulfillment syncs from integrations like:

    • Shopify

    • WooCommerce

    • Other e-commerce platforms

3. Negative quantities can occur

  • The “unbatched” batch can show a negative quantity if stock is consumed from it before a matching stock increase occurs.


Assigning batch numbers to unbatched items

You can manually reassign quantities from the "unbatched" batch to named batches using:

  • Stock adjustments, or

  • Editing completed manufacturing orders


Summary

The "unbatched" batch ensures that all inventory movements for batch-trackable items are recorded, even if a batch number hasn't yet been assigned. It provides a fallback batch to maintain traceability while you finalize batch details.

Keep your batch records clean by reassigning "unbatched" quantities to proper batch numbers when needed.


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