If you track batch numbers for your items (products and materials) and have batch tracking information available outside of Katana (on a spreadsheet or another system), you can use our import template to bulk add your batches to Katana.
This is an efficient way of setting up your batches if you are implementing Katana or you need to add new batch tracking info.
To use the Batch tracking feature in Katana, you do need be on an Advanced or higher plan. You can upgrade from the Subscription page in Katana or by enabling an Advanced feature (e.g. enabling batch tracking for an item in Katana).
Importing batch numbers
Go to Settings > Data import in Katana.
Find the section "Add new batch / lot numbers" and click Download data. This will download the list of items that have the batch tracking function enabled. You can use the same template for importing batches for products and materials. The file includes:
Existing batches with stock levels for product and material variants in Katana (per Location) if you already inserted batch numbers into Katana.
Items in which the batch tracking function is enabled but the stock level is zero or the existing stock doesn't have batch numbers assigned ("Unbatched" batch). In this case, the Batch number field for those items will be empty in the downloaded file.
Adding batch number data to the template:
*Katana ID — Imported batches are matched to existing materials in Katana by the Katana ID column values in the spreadsheet. These IDs are not visible to users in Katana. It is a value used solely for matching materials. If the Katana ID field is empty or doesn't match an existing item in Katana, the row will be skipped during the import.
Item name, Variant code / SKU, and Item variant are the fields that define the item for the batch. You cannot create new products or materials in Katana with this template. You can only add batches and stock quantities for existing items (read more about creating new products and materials).
*Batch number is a field that defines the batch number for the batch. Each row in the file is a specific batch for an item variant. If you have multiple batches of the same item variant, add each batch to a separate row while duplicating the Variant code / SKU.
For example:
If the Batch number is empty, the row will be skipped during import.
In Katana, each batch number for an item variant has to be unique. Therefore, if the same Batch number for a specific variant already exists in Katana, the row will be skipped during import. If you enter multiple rows for the same item variant with a matching Batch number to the template, only the last row for this batch will be imported to Katana.
Batch barcode allows you to assign a unique batch barcode to identify your batches with barcode. The barcode number has to be between 3-40 digits.
Batch barcode is imported only when the batch barcode is switched on in the barcode settings.
If the internal barcodes are generated automatically, the batch barcodes are not imported.Note: if you need to import batch barcodes and still want to generate barcodes automatically, you can switch off automatic barcode generation, import batch barcodes, and switch it back on.
Expiration date enables you to assign an expiry date to each batch. Use a date format for this value.
Created date enables you to assign a creation date to each batch. Use a date format for this value. If left empty, the import date will be assigned as a Created date for the batch at import.
*Initial stock quantity is a field that defines the quantity of the item variant in the specific batch.
The quantity of a batch will be added to your stock levels in Katana.
If you have stock in the "Unbatched" batch in Katana for the item variant, importing a new batch to Katana will distribute the quantity from the "Unbatched" batch to the newly imported batch. The quantity for the "Unbatched" batched will be decreased as a result and the total stock level for the item will not change (until the "Unbatched batch" reaches 0).
If the Initial stock quantity is empty or is not inserted as a number, the row will be skipped during import.
Initial stock cost per unit is the Average Cost of the item variant in the batch. If you have existing batches or an unbatched quantity for an item variant in stock, then the existing Average Cost will be indicated. You can edit the Cost Per Unit for each batch.
Average Cost in Katana is not batch-specific. After importing the batches with varying Average Costs for the same item variant, Katana will calculate the Average Cost for the total quantity of the item variant and this cost is assigned to the entire stock for that item variant.
Location indicates the stock Location for the batch. Batches quantities are Location-specific in Katana.
If the Location field is empty, the batch is assigned to your Main Location.
If the Location is unknown (doesn't exist in Katana), the row is skipped at import.
* = Required Field
Import the filled template into Katana from Settings > Data import by clicking "Upload data" under Add new batch / lot numbers.
Katana will check if the file format matches the import requirements (the required columns exist in the file) and will notify you if the file is not compatible.
If the import is successful, Katana will indicate how many rows were imported.
As a result of the import, a Stock Adjustment will be created in Katana to register the stock movements with batch numbers. A separate Stock Adjustment is created for each Location. You can find the Stock Adjustments in the Stock screen > Stock Adjustments tab. You can edit the Stock Adjustments if needed.
