In this chapter, you will learn how to individually control the sequence of bin locations during the picking process in COBI.wms.
By using the “Alternative Sorting Code” field in the SAP Business One master data, the walking route for the picker can be optimized without being bound to the rigid alphanumeric logic of the bin location codes.

By default, COBI.wms sorts the pick list according to the technical bin location code.
This often leads to inefficient walking routes (e.g., zig-zagging through the aisles) if the naming of the bins does not exactly correspond to the physical walking direction.

By using the Alternative Sorting Code, you override this default sorting.
COBI.wms recognizes the stored value and sorts the positions within a picking document in ascending order based on this field.

Data maintenance is performed directly in the master data of your SAP system:

1. Navigate to: Inventory → Bin Locations → Bin Location Master Data.
2. Call up the desired bin location.
3. In the Bin Location Properties section, you will find the field Alternative Sorting Code.
4. Enter the desired value here (alphanumeric input is possible).

Tip: Ensure consistent numbering (e.g., 001, 002, 003) to maintain the correct sequence even with more than ten bins (keyword: sorting logic with leading zeros).

By default, COBI.wms automatically takes alternative sorting codes into account, provided they are maintained in SAP Business One.
However, if you prefer the standard sorting by bin location codes, you can deactivate the use of the alternative codes as follows:

1. Open the COBI.wms app.
2. Navigate to the App Options (Settings).
3. In the “Picking” section, enable the option “Ignore sort code of bin locations”.

Important: If this box is checked, the sorting sequence stored in SAP B1 is ignored and the app sorts purely alphanumerically according to the technical bin location codes.

Suppose you have a shelf aisle where you want to pick the left side first (odd numbers) and then the right side (even numbers) on the way back.

Without the alternative code, the app would sort strictly by the end number (001, 002, 003…), which would force a constant, time-consuming side change in the aisle.

No dynamic optimization: This is a static sorting method.
The app does not calculate the route live based on the current position, but strictly follows the logic stored in the master data.

Maintenance effort: Sorting only works as well as the data maintained in SAP B1.
Missing entries in this field are generally handled according to the standard logic.

Alphanumeric logic: Since the field is alphanumeric, the system sorts “1, 10, 2”.
Therefore, it is best to use a numerical scheme with leading zeros (e.g., 00010, 00020) so that you can flexibly insert locations in between later.