Warehouse & logistics
Putaway
By the Supply Chain Manager team · Updated October 16, 2026
Putaway is the warehouse step of moving received goods from the dock to their storage location and recording where they were put.
Until putaway is complete, stock is in the building but often cannot be picked. Directed putaway, where the system tells the operator which location to use, keeps fast movers near the pick face and stops stock being scattered across random bins.
Putaway strategies vary. Fixed locations give each SKU a permanent home, which is simple and easy to learn. Random or dynamic locations put stock wherever there is space, which uses space better but depends on the system recording every location accurately.
Putaway example
Illustrative: a pallet of 480 units arrives at 9 am. If it sits on the dock until the afternoon, morning orders for that SKU show as short even though the stock is ten metres away.
Why putaway matters for distributors
Fast putaway shortens dock-to-stock time and keeps available stock accurate. Recording the exact location saves pickers from searching later.
Common putaway mistakes
- Putting stock away without scanning the location, so the system cannot find it.
- Letting received goods queue on the dock at busy times.
Examples on this page use made-up round numbers to show the calculation. They are not benchmarks or results from real businesses.