Technician van stock¶
Every technician in FSM Navigator has a virtual van — a mobile inventory location tied to their user account. Van stock represents the parts and supplies a technician carries in their service vehicle. When a technician uses a part on a job, the system deducts it from their van stock automatically.
Enterprise feature
Van stock management is available exclusively on the Enterprise plan. Compare plans to learn more.
Why van stock matters¶
Technicians need the right parts on every call. Without van stock tracking, you face:
- Repeat visits — technicians arrive without the correct parts and must return later.
- Untracked usage — parts are consumed without documentation, leading to invoicing gaps.
- Overstocking — technicians hoard parts "just in case," tying up inventory.
Van stock management solves these problems by giving dispatchers real-time visibility into what every technician carries.
How van stock works¶
Each technician's van functions like a small, mobile warehouse. The system tracks:
- What parts are in the van — every part and its current quantity.
- What was used — parts consumed on jobs are automatically deducted.
- What needs restocking — low quantities are flagged so you can schedule replenishment.
Viewing a technician's van stock¶
- Go to Inventory and open the User Inventory tab.
- You see a list of all technicians with their van inventory summary.
- Click a technician's name to view their full van stock details.
User Inventory = van stock dashboard
The User Inventory tab is the dispatcher view of every technician's van stock. This is where you monitor what each technician carries and manage replenishment transfers.
The detail view shows:
| Column | Description |
|---|---|
| Part name | The name of the part in the van |
| SKU | The part's stock-keeping unit code |
| Quantity | How many units are currently in the van |
| Min level | The recommended minimum quantity for this part |
| Status | Whether stock is adequate or below the minimum level |
Check van stock before assigning jobs
Before dispatching a technician to a job that requires specific parts, check their van stock to confirm they have the materials on hand.
Assigning parts to a van¶
To add parts to a technician's van, you create a stock transfer from a warehouse to the technician's van location.
- Go to Inventory → Transfers.
- Click New Transfer.
- Select a warehouse as the source.
- Select the technician's van as the destination.
- Add the parts and quantities to transfer.
- Submit the transfer.
When the transfer is completed, the parts appear in the technician's van stock.
Van stock vs. warehouse stock¶
| Feature | Warehouse stock | Van stock |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Fixed physical location | Mobile — travels with the technician |
| Managed by | Warehouse staff, dispatchers | Dispatchers, technicians |
| Replenished via | Purchase orders, incoming transfers | Transfers from warehouses |
| Parts used on jobs | Rarely — parts are typically transferred to vans first | Yes — technicians use parts directly from van stock |
| Stock adjustments | Manual adjustments available | Manual adjustments available |
Replenishing van stock¶
When a technician's van runs low on parts, you replenish it by transferring stock from a warehouse.
Replenishment workflow¶
- Identify low stock — review the van stock list or wait for a low stock alert.
- Create a transfer — transfer the needed parts from the nearest warehouse to the technician's van.
- Coordinate pickup or delivery — the technician picks up the parts or receives a delivery.
- Complete the transfer — mark the transfer as completed once parts are in the van.
Schedule regular replenishment runs
Many companies set a weekly replenishment schedule where technicians visit a warehouse to restock. This reduces emergency runs and keeps vans consistently stocked.
Real-time visibility¶
Dispatchers and owners can view all technician van stock from a single dashboard. This enables:
- Smarter dispatching — assign jobs to technicians who already carry the needed parts.
- Proactive restocking — spot low vans before they run out.
- Balanced inventory — prevent one technician from hoarding parts while others go without.
Frequently asked questions¶
Can a technician see their own van stock?
Yes. Technicians view their assigned inventory through the mobile app. See technician inventory for the mobile perspective.
What happens when a technician uses a part on a job?
The part quantity is automatically deducted from their van stock and recorded against the job. The usage appears in inventory reports and can flow into the job's invoice.
Can I set minimum stock levels per van?
Yes. You can configure minimum stock thresholds for each part on each technician's van. When the quantity drops below the threshold, the system flags it.
What if a technician leaves the company?
Deactivating a technician's account does not delete their van stock records. You should create a transfer to move remaining parts back to a warehouse before deactivating.
Related guides¶
- Stock transfers — create transfers to replenish technician vans.
- Technician inventory — the technician's mobile view of their van stock.
- Low stock alerts — automatic notifications for low van stock.
- Warehouses & stock — source locations for van replenishment.