To track item expirations in Business Central, you must configure an item tracking code that includes expiration settings. You can create a new tracking code or modify an existing one from the Item Tracking Codes page. To access this page:
- Search for Item Tracking Codes.
- Once the Item Tracking Code Card is open, proceed to the Misc. FastTab to define the Expiration Rules.
- Open the Item Card and use the lookup beside the Item Tracking Code field on the Item Tracking tab.
Expiration Rules
There are 3 Options available on Item Tracking Code Regarding Expiration.
- Use Expiration Dates – Enables the system to calculate expiration dates for tracked items based on the rules you define on Item Card.
- Require Expiration Date – Ensures that users must manually enter an expiration date on the item tracking line. When this option is enabled, any automatic expiration date calculations set up on the Item Card will be ignored.
- Strict Expiration Posting – Enforces that items cannot be consumed or sold after their assigned expiration date. The expiration date defined when the item enters inventory must still be valid when it leaves inventory, preventing the posting of any transactions involving expired stock.
First-Expired-First-Out
To ensure that items with the earliest expiration dates are consumed first, Business Central provides a First-Expired-First-Out (FEFO) picking method.
To use this functionality, specific warehouse requirements must be met.
- The inventory must be managed in a location that uses Bins and Warehouse Picks, and the Pick According to FEFO option must be enabled on the Location Card.
When these conditions are satisfied, the system ensures that warehouse staff always pick items in order of their earliest expiration dates, supporting efficient and accurate inventory usage.
The Minimum Requirement to Enable this Boolean is to Enable the Require Pick Boolean on Location Card.
Use Expiration Dates
This option enables Business Central to automatically calculate expiration dates for items based on the rules defined on the Item Card named as “Expiration Calculation”.
Now we create a Purchase Order of this Item and try to Calculate Expiration.
- Work Date – 30/11/2025
- Document Date – 15/12/2025
- Posting Date – 07/11/2025
- Expiration Calculation – 2M (Months)
- Assign Lot No. – Assign the Number
- Expiration Date – Should be Blank
After that do the Preview Posting and let’s check the Expiration Date.
Expiration Date is 15/02/2026. It means the Formula is Document Date + Expiration Calculation .
What if we remove the Expiration Calculation, then
it will pick document date as an expiration date.
What if we enter the Expiration date manually and we entered 2M as an Expiration Calculation Formula, then
Then it will pick the manual date rather than the Expiration Calculation Formula.
Require Expiration Date
In this one we are Going to Enable 2 Booleans.
- Use Expiration Dates
- Require Expiration Date Entry (When we enable this it will automatically enable the Use Expiration)
After using this Feature, on purchase order when you keep the Expiration Date Blank and remember we have enter the Expiration Calculation. So, system will restrict you posting this document.
Now we will enter the Expiration Manually.
So now system will let us Process.
Strict Expiration Posting
For this Option first will try to Process the Sales Order in which we specify the Date which is after Expiration Date. And this Boolean is not Enabled in Item Tracking Code.
Now we will enable this Boolean.
Now will try to Process this:
Hope so this Article is beneficial for you.
Best Regards,
Ahmad Subhani
D365 Business Central Functional Consultant
Email ahmadsubhani424@gmail.com
WhatsApp +923357687164