User Guides
Warehouse & Dispatch Operations
Warehouse topology, picking slip layout, and South African VAT rules.
This guide covers warehouse layout topology, bin velocity, picking workflows, and pick slip generation for warehouse managers, forklift drivers, and packing staff.
1. Warehouse Topology & Bin Management (/warehouse)
The Warehouse Topology Page (http://localhost:XXXX/warehouse) provides real-time visibility into physical storage bays, stock balances, and picking velocity across the facility:
Warehouse Topology (Main Depot)Live Bay Status
All ZonesZone A (Staples)Zone B (Beverages)Zone C (Soaps)
Total Bins48 Bins
Occupied42 Bins
Empty Bays6 Available
Fast Movers16 Bins (FAST)
Warehouse Zones & Standard FMCG Bin Assignments:
| Zone | Aisle & Bay | Category | Typical Products Stored |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone A | Aisle 1 (Bays A01–A08) | Heavy Staples & Grains | Maize meal (10kg, 12.5kg, 25kg), cake flour, rice pallets, sugar bags. |
| Zone B | Aisle 1 (Bays B01–B06) | Bakery & Fast Perishables | White and brown bread loaves, daily bakery crates. |
| Zone C | Aisle 2 (Bays C01–C05) | Cooking Oils & Condiments | 2L and 5L sunflower oil bottles, tomato sauce, vinegar. |
| Zone D & E | Aisle 3 (Bays D01–E04) | Beverages & Energy Drinks | 2L soft drink bottles, energy drink cans (cases of 24). |
| Zone F & G | Aisle 4 & 5 (Bays F01–G06) | Groceries & Canned Goods | Coffee tins, tea boxes, canned fish, baked beans. |
| Zone J | Aisle 6 (Bays J01–J06) | Soaps & Cleaning Agents | Laundry bar soap cartons, washing powder bags (2kg, 5kg). |
2. Standardized Pick Slip Anatomy
When an order is approved in the Control Centre, clicking "View Pick Slip" displays the standardized warehouse document:
KHOLO DISTRIBUTION CENTRE
Warehouse Picking Slip • Durban North Depot
SO-2026-8454
2026-09-30 09:35
CustomerClerk (KwaMashu Spaza)
Phone+27 00 000 0000
Sage IDCUST-8832
Staging BayBAY 04
| Check | Bin Location | SKU | Description | Pack | Qty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| [ ] | Aisle 1 - Bay A04 | WSTAR-12.5KG | White Star Maize Meal | 12.5kg | 10 |
| [ ] | Aisle 1 - Bay A08 | TASTIC-10KG | Tastic Parboiled Rice | 10kg | 4 |
| [ ] | Aisle 2 - Bay C01 | SUNF-OIL-2L | Sunfoil Cooking Oil | 2L | 6 |
| [ ] | Aisle 3 - Bay D05 | COKE-2L | Coca-Cola Original | Case 6 | 3 |
Why This Format Speeds Up Warehouse Operations:
- Sorted by Aisle & Bay: Items are ordered sequentially by location. The picker walks down the aisle once from front to back without crisscrossing the warehouse floor.
- Pack Size Clarity: Prevents pickers from confusing single units with shrink-wrapped cases (e.g., 2 cases of 24 cans vs 2 cans).
- Physical Verification Checkboxes: Staff physically tick each box as items are loaded onto the pallet or dispatch trolley.
3. South African Tax & VAT Rules in Pick Slips
KHOLO automatically identifies South African zero-rated basic foodstuffs to assist invoice checking:
- Zero-Rated Foodstuffs (0% VAT):
- Maize meal (
IWISA-10KG,ACE-10KG,WSTAR-12.5KG) - Brown bread (
ALB-BROWN-700G) - Rice (
TASTIC-10KG) - Cooking oil (
SUNF-OIL-2L)
- Maize meal (
- Standard-Rated Goods (15% VAT):
- White bread, white sugar, canned fish, carbonated soft drinks, energy drinks, and cleaning detergents.
4. Picking, Dispatch Staging & Fulfillment Protocol
1
Print Pick Slip
Order clerk prints pick slip directly from the Order Inbox or Dispatch Desk once credit is verified.
2
Warehouse Pick Run
Forklift and pallet picker collect items following the optimized serpentine aisle route. Each line is checked off.
3
Quality & Expiry Audit
Dispatch controller verifies SKU count, packaging integrity, and checks expiration dates on perishable staples.
4
Loading Bay Staging
Pallets are shrink-wrapped and staged at assigned loading dock bays according to delivery van drop sequence.
5
Driver Handover & WhatsApp Notification
Driver signs physical delivery manifest; Kholo automatically transmits automated WhatsApp dispatch tracking message to the customer.