Handle differences in return control

Logistics for Drink-IT  •  Article  •  10/21/2026  • 

The return control process tracks differences between expected and actual return quantities and assigns discrepancies to either the driver or the company. When the return control is concessed, the system automatically processes the assigned differences based on the assignment differences configuration.

Prerequisites

Before handling differences in return control:

  • Assignment differences codes must be configured. For more information, see Set up assignment differences.
  • The Route Settlement FastTab on the Logistics Setup page must have the reason codes and item journal template and batch configured.
  • For driver differences processed as sales invoices, a Bill-to Customer No. must be set on the Drivers page or the Shipping Agents page.

Track differences in return control

  1. On the Route Planning Worksheet page, select a route planning entry and select the Return Control action.
    The Return Control page opens with lines per item.

  2. In the Counted Quantity field, enter the actual quantity received for each item.
    The Difference field value is calculated automatically as the Counted Quantity field value minus the Calculated Quantity field value.

  3. Review the Difference For Driver and Difference For Company field values. The system automatically assigns differences based on the assignment differences configuration:

    • If driver differences are configured but company differences are not, the difference is assigned to the driver.
    • Otherwise, the difference is assigned to the company.

  4. Adjust the Difference For Driver and Difference For Company field values as needed. Changing one field value automatically recalculates the other to ensure the total equals the Difference field value.

  • The Difference For Driver and Difference For Company fields are only editable when the Difference field value is not zero and the Return Control Status field value is Open or Pending.
  • Lines with a non-zero Difference field value are highlighted with attention styling.

Concess the return control

After all differences are assigned, the return control can be concessed to trigger automatic postings.

  1. On the Return Control page, select the Concess action.
    A confirmation message is displayed indicating that item journals or sales invoices will be created or posted, and the fields will no longer be editable.

  2. Confirm the action to proceed. The system processes the differences based on the assignment differences configuration:

    • Item Journal (driver or company): An item journal line is created and posted for each return control line with a non-zero difference. The quantity is posted with the opposite sign. The reason code, route, route number, route date, shipping agent, and driver fields are stamped on the item journal line and copied to the resulting item ledger entry.
    • Sales Invoice (driver): A released sales invoice is created for the bill-to customer associated with the driver. One sales line is created per return control line with a non-zero driver difference. The invoice is not posted automatically.
    • Sales Invoice & Post (driver): A released sales invoice is created and posted automatically. The route fields are copied to the posted sales invoice and item ledger entries.

  3. After successful concession, the Driver Diff. Settled and Company Diff. Settled fields are marked as settled, and the Return Control Status field value changes to Concessed.

  • If an error occurs during item journal posting or sales invoice creation, all changes are rolled back and the return control status remains unchanged.
  • If the Assignment Differences field on the Route Planning Worksheet page is blank, the return control is concessed without any automatic postings.
  • For driver differences processed as sales invoices, the bill-to customer is resolved from the driver first. If blank, the system falls back to the shipping agent. If both are blank, the concess is blocked with an error message offering navigation to the Drivers page or the Shipping Agents page.

For example, a route planning entry has an assignment differences code configured with the Driver Differences field set to Sales Invoice and the Company Differences field set to Item Journal. After counting, a return control line shows a difference of -5 units, with -3 assigned to the driver and -2 to the company. When the return control is concessed, the system posts an item journal entry for the 2 units of company difference and creates a released sales invoice for the 3 units of driver difference, addressed to the bill-to customer configured on the driver.