Need to stop an item from being automatically allocated? Maybe it’s faulty, non-pristine, or just being returned? That’s where Allocation Hold comes in.
Your guide to holding stock items so they’re not auto-assigned to Sales Orders.
What Does “Allocation Hold” Mean?
When an item is placed on hold, it’s excluded from being automatically allocated to a Sales Order. It also disappears from the available stock count in sales order grids.
This is perfect for:
Faulty returns that shouldn't be re-shipped
Loan or demo units
Items in specific warehouses
Stock awaiting inspection
How Do I Place Returned Items On Hold?
Returned items are processed through the Delivery Manager, which can be accessed from the related Sales Order.
Open the Sales Order and go to the Delivery Manager
Register the return for the relevant item
Then head to the Stock module ➡️ Returns
When confirming that the returned item has been received, simply tick the box to place it on hold
ℹ️ Handy for stopping faulty goods from being accidentally sent out again.
🤔Need a refresher on how to register the return itself?
Check out the complete guide: How to Return a Stock Item
How Do I Place New Stock On Hold When Booking In?
During a Stock Movement Delivery Session, you’ll see a box labelled Allocation Hold.
Tick it to place the item on hold as it’s booked into stock.
You can inspect the item later and update the hold status if needed.
How Do I Place Existing Stock On Hold/ Allocation Hold?
There are two main ways:
From Stock Movements:
Head to the Stock Movements Manager
Locate the item and open it
Update the On Hold status directly
From a Stock Work Stack:
Select the items you want to put on hold
Click Manage On-Hold Status
In the Bulk Action Confirmation pop-up, confirm your selection
Choose Set on Hold in the Manage On-Hold Status pop-up
Click OK to complete the action
How do I remove an item from Hold?
If a stock item is no longer faulty, needed for loan, or otherwise restricted, you can remove the Allocation Hold and return it to available stock.
You can do this from a Stock Work Stack:
From a Stock Work Stack:
Select the item(s) you want to update
Click Manage On-Hold Status
In the pop-up, choose Remove On Hold
Confirm your choice by clicking OK
Once removed from hold, the item will be counted as available for auto-allocation to Sales Orders.
How Can I See If an Item Is On Hold?
You can check the status in several places:
The On Hold column in your Work Stack
The Stock Item Record – open the item to view or change its status
Can I Allocate Held Stock Manually?
Yes, if you have the right Role and Permissions.
Users with the Allocate On-Hold Stock permission can still manually assign held items to Sales Orders.
To do this in the respective Sales Order:
In the Menu on the top, go to Stock ➡️ Reservations & Allocations (by Sales Order number, for example: ORD-0000-XX)
Click the + symbol under the Stock Item column
A list of available items appears, including held stock (clearly marked as ON HOLD)
Select the item you want to allocate
FAQs
Q: Why would I place a stock item on hold?
To prevent it from being sent to customers automatically, especially useful for returns, inspections, or non-saleable items.
Q: Can I release a stock item from Allocation Hold?
Yes, from a Stock stack, use the Manage On-Hold Status feature to select the item and remove it from hold.
Q: Who can allocate held stock to a Sales Order?
Only users with the Allocate On-Hold Stock role.
Q: Does placing an item on hold remove it from stock levels?
It removes it from available-to-sell stock, so it won’t be auto-assigned, but it still exists in your overall stock count.