Method 1: Using a Purchase Order (PO)
When receiving returned inventory into Elevated Signals via a Purchase Order (PO), you have two options depending on whether or not you'd like to distinguish this return in your CTS reporting (For an unpackaged product only. For packaged product, use Option 2):
✅ Option 1: Treat It as a Standard Receival (No Need to Distinguish as a Return)
Create a Purchase Order as you normally would.
Set the Vendor to the entity returning the product (e.g., Pistol and Paris).
Mark the Vendor as a Customer in Elevated Signals. This allows you to receive inventory from them even if they don’t have a product list set up in the system.
Receive the Inventory using the same inventory ID, lot, and batch as the original shipment.
No special labelling is required, as this return will simply be treated as a standard receival in the system and in CTS reporting.
✅ Option 2: Clearly Distinguish the Return for CTS Reporting
Create a New Vendor Profile, such as “Pistol and Paris RTV” (Return To Vendor) to indicate it’s for returns.
Mark This Vendor as a Customer in Elevated Signals.
Create a Purchase Order under this return-specific vendor.
Receive the Inventory using the same inventory ID, lot, and batch as the original shipment.
Label the PO Clearly as a “Return” for internal visibility and reporting.
This method is especially helpful if you'd like to clearly separate returns from standard receivals when analyzing metrics like “Quantity Received – Returned” versus “Quantity Received – Imported” in CTS.
💡 Important Notes:
Any product type (packaged or unpackaged) can be returned through a Purchase Order.
For unpackaged products, CTS typically does not differentiate between a return and a standard receival—so it’s up to your team whether you'd like to distinguish returns for reporting purposes.
Regardless of which method you choose, the vendor used for the return must be marked as a customer in order to bypass product list requirements during receiving.
Method 2: Using a Work Order
Create a Work Order for Returns: If you prefer, create or use an existing work order type labelled "Returns/Receiving" (or a similar name that fits your needs).
Generate the Inventory via Output: Set the work order to generate inventory without any "input."
Skip the Input: Since you’re not consuming new material, ignore the "input" field.
Select "Use Existing Lot": When adding the output, select "Use Existing Lot" to locate the original lot for the returned inventory. This step allows the returned units to be added back to the original lot in your inventory.
Note: Using a Work Order will not track the Vendor of the returned inventory. If the Vendor information is vital please use a Purchase Order.
Scenario: You have shipped a product to a customer, and they return a portion of that shipment (e.g., 20 units out of 100), or you get a return of sample product from a Vendor. Here’s how to receive that inventory back into the system.