---
title: "Use containers in a receipt process"
slug: "bc-use-containers-in-a-receipt-process"
description: "Streamline your receipt process with advance shipping notices and container management linked to purchase orders and warehouse receipts for efficient inventory handling."
tags: ["BC", "Business Central", "Food", "Task"]
updated: 2026-06-25T09:59:14Z
published: 2026-06-25T09:59:14Z
canonical: "docs.staedean.com/bc-use-containers-in-a-receipt-process"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.staedean.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Use containers in a receipt process

If a company uses advance shipping notices or receives information on containers and their contents before the actual receipt, you can enter this information in advance. This can simplify the receipt process because containers and their contents are already in the system. The only check needed is whether the actual receipt matches the containers already recorded.

You can create inbound containers from and link them to a purchase order or a warehouse receipt.

## Adding containers to a purchase order

### Steps

1. In the search box, enter **Purchase Order**, and then choose the related link.
2. From the list, select the correct order.
3. On the **Navigate** tab, in the **Order** group, choose **Containers**.
4. On the **Container Assignment** page that opens, fill in the **Container Type Code**.
5. Use the lookup in the **License Plate** field and select the correct container from the list if you want to use an existing empty container.
6. Use the **New** button to create a new container that is automatically assigned to the inbound process.
7. Once the line on the container assignment page is complete, use the **Edit** button to open the **Container** page and add the items to the container.

## Adding existing containers to a warehouse receipt

### Steps

1. In the search box, enter **Warehouse Receipt**, and then choose the related link.
2. From the list, select the correct line.
3. On the **Home** tab, in the **Process** group, choose **Containers**.
4. On the **Container Assignment** page that opens, fill in the **Container Type Code**.
5. Use the lookup in the **License Plate** field and select the correct container from the list if you want to use an existing empty container.
6. Use the **New** button to create a new container that is automatically assigned to the inbound process.
7. Once the line on the container assignment page is complete, use the **Edit** button to open the **Container** page and add the items to the container.

Once a container is received into inventory, it can still contain several items. Remove these before the container becomes a warehouse container that can be moved into the warehouse or used in other processes. For more information on how to split containers, see [Move multiple items from an inbound container](/business-central/docs/bc-move-multiple-items-from-an-inbound-container).

For more information on using and setting up containers, see [About Containers](/business-central/docs/bc-about-containers).

## Related

- [Move multiple items from an inbound container](/bc-move-multiple-items-from-an-inbound-container.md)
- [About containers](/bc-about-containers.md)
- [Handle multi-item containers](/bc-handle-multi-item-containers.md)
- [Create container records](/bc-create-container-records.md)