(Only if you offer storage)
Now that you have created your warehouses, you can add the individual storage units: the containers, crates, pallets or other units in which you store customers' belongings. You have two options: manually or via bulk import.
Step 1 - Choose your method
There are two ways to create storage:
A) Manually (for small numbers)
Use this if you: - Have fewer than 10 units - Want to add units one by one - Do not have or want to create an Excel file
B) Bulk import via Excel (recommended for large numbers)
Use this if you: - Have more than 10 units - Want to work faster - Already have an overview in Excel
Tip: Bulk import saves an enormous amount of time. Entering 50 containers takes 2 minutes with bulk import vs. 30 minutes manually. This is the recommended approach for most companies.
Step 2 - Creating manually
Go to WMS > Storage. Click New storage.
Enter the following details:
Field | What to enter | Example |
Number | Unique number of the unit | Container 001 |
Type | Type of storage | Container / Crate / Pallet / Racking / Distributed storage |
Volume (m3) | Cubic metres of the unit | 12 |
Owned | Own container or rented? | Yes |
Warehouse | In which warehouse this unit is located | Warehouse Industrieweg |
Storage location | In which section (only with a complex structure) | Hall A |
Click Save. Repeat this for each unit.
Step 3 - Preparing the bulk import
This is the recommended approach for most companies. Create an Excel file with the following columns:
Column | Required | Example |
Type | Yes | Container |
Number | Yes | 001 |
Volume (m3) | Recommended | 12 |
Warehouse | Yes | Warehouse Industrieweg |
Storage location | No (only with a complex structure) | Hall A |
Owned | No (blank = automatically Yes) | Yes |
Example Excel file:
Type | Number | Volume | Warehouse | Storage location | Owned |
Container | 001 | 12 | Warehouse Industrieweg | Yes | |
Container | 002 | 12 | Warehouse Industrieweg | Yes | |
Container | 003 | 12 | Warehouse Industrieweg | Yes | |
Crate | 301 | 4 | Warehouse Industrieweg | Yes | |
Crate | 302 | 4 | Warehouse Industrieweg | Yes |
Step 4 - Cleaning up your Excel
Before you import, check your data for:
Consistency in naming:
Good: Container 001, Container 002, Container 003
Wrong: container 1, Container 02, CONTAINER 3
Correct warehouse names:
Check that the warehouse exactly matches the name in Bas
Good: Warehouse Industrieweg (as in Bas)
Wrong: warehouse industrieweg, Industrieweg, Warehouse 1
Empty cells:
Fill in all required fields
Leave optional fields empty or fill them in
Note: The quality of your Excel determines the success of the import. Messy data (a mix of uppercase and lowercase, inconsistent numbering, empty cells) causes problems. Take the time to clean up your file before you import.
Step 5 - Importing
Go to WMS > Storage
Click Bulk add
Upload your Excel file
Map the columns:
Map "Type" to Type
Map "Container" to Number
Map "Warehouse" to the correct warehouse
Click Import
Check the result in the preview screen
Confirm the import
Column mapping examples:
Excel column | Map to Bas field |
Type | Type |
Number | Number |
Volume | Volume (m3) |
Warehouse | Warehouse (select the correct one) |
Tip: You do not need to fill in all columns. For a quick import, only the crate number (or container number) and the warehouse are required. The remaining columns are optional and you can add them later. In the import screen, match the columns from your Excel to the fields in Bas - the system automatically recognises the most common column names.
The system now creates all units at once.
Step 6 - Check the result
After the import (or manual entry):
Go to WMS > Storage
Filter by warehouse
Check that all units are there
Check that the numbering is correct
Check that the correct warehouse and location are linked
Something not right? You can edit units by clicking on them and using the pencil icon. You can also disable units if you no longer need them.
Step 7 - Special situations
Multiple customers in one container
Sometimes two customers share a container. The solution: split the container using a letter or number suffix.
Unit | Customer | Explanation |
Container 22A | Jansen | First half of container 22 |
Container 22B | De Vries | Second half of container 22 |
Each half is linked separately to the case file of the relevant customer and invoiced separately. You simply create two units with the same location but a different name.
If one of the two customers collects their belongings: - Delete the unit of the departing customer (e.g. Container 22A) - Renumber the remaining unit to the original number (Container 22B becomes Container 22)
Distributed storage
Distributed storage is for situations where a customer's belongings are not kept in a defined container or crate, but spread throughout your warehouse.
When do you use this?
Pallets on racking
Loose furniture standing somewhere in a corner
Items from a kitchen company: cabinets in row 1, appliances in row 5, worktops in row 3
How does it work?
In Bas you create a distributed storage case file for this. Instead of a container number, you record for each item: - What is stored - Where it is located (e.g. "Desk is in Row A, Bay 12, Pallet 3")
This gives you a detailed overview of all items and their locations.
Tip: Distributed storage is only needed for complex storage situations. Most companies work perfectly well with standard containers and crates. Start with those and only use distributed storage if it is really necessary.
Step 8 - Numbering and coding
Decide on a numbering system in advance. Here are a few common options:
System | Example | When to use |
Sequential | Container 001, 002, 003 | Simple, one warehouse |
By series | Crate 301-399, Crate 601-699 | Separating different types |
With location code | L3-A-1 (Warehouse 3, Row A, Spot 1) | Large, complex warehouses |
Examples:
Sequential: - Container 001, Container 002, Container 003 - Crate 001, Crate 002, Crate 003
By series: - Container 001-099 (Warehouse Eindhoven) - Container 100-199 (Warehouse Veldhoven) - Crate 301-399 (Small crates) - Crate 601-699 (Large crates)
With location code: - L1-A-1 (Warehouse 1, Row A, Spot 1) - L1-A-2 (Warehouse 1, Row A, Spot 2) - L2-B-5 (Warehouse 2, Row B, Spot 5)
Note: Be consistent in your numbering. If you write warehouse A with a capital letter, do so everywhere. If you number your containers with three digits (001, 002, 003), do so for all containers. Inconsistency (Container 1, container 02, CONTAINER 3) causes problems with searching and sorting.
Example: typical storage structure
Company with simple storage (1 warehouse, 30 containers)
Warehouse | Unit | Type | Volume | Status |
Warehouse Industrieweg | Container 001 | Container | 12 m3 | Occupied - Jansen family |
Warehouse Industrieweg | Container 002 | Container | 12 m3 | Occupied - Company X |
Warehouse Industrieweg | Container 003 | Container | 12 m3 | Available |
Warehouse Industrieweg | Crate 301 | Crate | 4 m3 | Occupied - De Vries family |
Warehouse Industrieweg | Crate 302 | Crate | 4 m3 | Available |
Company with complex storage (2 warehouses, storage locations)
Warehouse | Storage location | Unit | Type | Status |
Warehouse Eindhoven | Hall A | Container 001 | Container | Occupied |
Warehouse Eindhoven | Hall A | Container 002 | Container | Available |
Warehouse Eindhoven | Hall B | Crate 301 | Crate | Occupied |
Warehouse Veldhoven | Row 1 | Container 101 | Container | Occupied |
Warehouse Veldhoven | Row 2 | Pallet P-01 | Pallet | Available |
Tips
Use the bulk import for more than 10 units. It saves a lot of time and is less error-prone than entering them manually.
Clean up your Excel before the import. Check for consistent naming, correct numbering and empty cells. Messy data results in messy storage.
Never create a container per customer. Create containers per physical unit. You link them to customers later via case files.
Decide on your numbering system in advance. Agree how you number your containers before you start entering them.
Note
Do not blindly import a messy Excel. Clean up your data first. A mix of uppercase and lowercase, inconsistent numbering, and missing fields lead to problems that are difficult to fix.
Not deciding on numbering in advance. If three employees start creating units independently without agreements on numbering, you get chaos. Agree on this beforehand.
Creating units per customer. You create units per physical unit (Container 001, Container 002), not per customer (Container Jansen, Container De Vries). You link customers to units later via case files.
Next steps after setting up storage
Setting up warehouses and units is the foundation. There are a few follow-up steps that you will pick up later in the onboarding process (together with your guide):
Configuring storage packages - rate, VAT and revenue group per storage type
Setting the billing frequency - monthly, quarterly or annually
Creating a storage invoice template - what the invoice looks like
Transferring existing storage customers - if you already have customers (migration)
These steps are more complex and you do not do them on your own. Your onboarding guide will help you with this.
Want to know more?
Manage your storage holders - Creating units, manually and via bulk import
Entering storage - Step-by-step entry guide
Labelling your storage - Generating and printing QR codes
Next step: Understanding teams - learn why teams are essential and view the 8 standard teams.