Consumables are a new material type in Ply that help you manage non-stock inventory, items that get used in the field, but don’t need to be tracked at the job level. Think of stuff like:
Wasp spray
Shop towels
Booties
Primers
Pipe thread compound
They're small, often cheap, and used all the time, but you still want to track how much you’ve got, where they are, and when to restock. That’s where Consumables come in.
What Exactly Are Consumables?
Consumables are materials that are:
Ordered to the warehouse
Transferred to trucks
Consumed in the field (not billed to jobs)
Tracked only at the warehouse level
They don’t clutter your job invoicing or materials list, but you still get visibility and control over usage, transfers, and replenishment.
Key Differences: Consumables vs Materials
Feature | Materials | Consumables |
Tracked on jobs? | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
Show up on invoices? | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
Require consumption tracking? | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
Used frequently in the field? | ⚠️ Sometimes | ✅ Absolutely |
Auto-replenishment support? | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes
|
Where to Manage Consumables
You'll find dedicated Consumables tabs in these places:
Catalog > Consumables → View all consumables in your system.
Stock > Warehouse > Consumables → Track consumables in your warehouse.
Stock > Fleet > Consumables → See what’s been transferred to trucks.
We’ve kept them separate from materials so your workflows stay clean and organized.
How to Create a Consumable
Go to Catalog > Consumables
Click “Add Consumable”
Fill in the details: Name, item number, description, unit of measurement, cost, tags
Assign it to a location: Add it to a warehouse.
Set min/max quantities for auto-replenishment.
Generate a barcode.
Click Save to warehouse .
💡 Setting min/max quantities allows Ply to automatically add the item to your replenishment list when it’s running low.
Transfer Consumables to Trucks
Once created, you can transfer consumables from a warehouse to a truck, and once they’re on a truck, they’re considered consumed (no need to track individual usage).
How to Transfer:
Go to Stock > Warehouse > Consumables
Select the consumable(s)
Click Transfer
Choose the truck and enter quantity
Hit Confirm.
Once transferred, check Stock > Fleet > Truck > Consumables Tab to see what’s onboard.
Replenishment & Purchase Orders
You can keep consumables stocked just like materials.
Replenishment:
Set Min/Max values per warehouse
When stock falls below min, Ply adds the item to your Replenishment List
Replenishment happens at the warehouse level only, not from trucks
Creating a PO with Consumables:
Go to Catalog > Consumables
Select item(s) → click Create Purchase Order
Choose a supplier, required date, and ship-to warehouse
Confirm quantities (based on min/max logic)
Click Create PO
Your PO will now include both materials and consumables in separate sections ✅
📋 Other Key Features
Barcodes: Print or generate new ones for easy tracking
Bulk actions: Edit, delete, or transfer multiple items at once
Mobile support: Field techs can view + transfer consumables if permissions allow
Permissions: Admins can control who sees or moves consumables
Reporting: You can Export your consumables from Consumables > Export Catalog.
Video Walkthrough
Prefer to watch it in action? Here’s a complete demo covering:
What consumables are
How to create one
How to transfer to a truck
How to create purchase orders
Tips for managing stock and replenishment
Still Have Questions?