> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.tetherdata.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Transactions Overview

> Understanding and managing transactions in Tether

# Transactions Overview

Transactions are the orders that flow through your supply chain—purchase orders from suppliers, transfers between warehouses, and production orders. Tether helps you create, track, and manage these transactions from creation to completion.

<Note>
  Transaction management is available to Admin users.
</Note>

## What is a Transaction?

A transaction represents an order or movement in your supply chain:

| Transaction Type     | Description                 |
| -------------------- | --------------------------- |
| **Purchase Order**   | Order sent to a supplier    |
| **Transfer Order**   | Movement between warehouses |
| **Production Order** | Internal manufacturing      |

## The Transactions Dashboard

Navigate to **Transactions** in the sidebar to access the transactions dashboard.

### Dashboard Layout

| Component            | Description                                              |
| -------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Transaction List** | All transactions with status and details                 |
| **Filters**          | Narrow by status, type, date range                       |
| **Type Tabs**        | Switch between purchase, transfer, and production orders |
| **Create Button**    | Start new transactions                                   |

### Transaction List Columns

| Column          | Description                       |
| --------------- | --------------------------------- |
| **Name**        | Transaction identifier            |
| **Type**        | Purchase, Transfer, or Production |
| **Status**      | Current state in workflow         |
| **Source**      | Supplier or source warehouse      |
| **Destination** | Destination warehouse             |
| **Order Date**  | When order was/should be placed   |
| **Line Items**  | Number of SKUs                    |
| **Total**       | Order value                       |

## Transaction Status

Transactions move through a lifecycle:

| Status          | Description                                            |
| --------------- | ------------------------------------------------------ |
| **Draft**       | Created but not submitted—no steps exist yet           |
| **In Progress** | Submitted and being processed—at least one step exists |
| **Completed**   | All steps completed, inventory fully updated           |
| **Archived**    | Terminal state for historical records                  |

### Status Flow

```
Draft → In Progress → Completed → Archived
```

## Transaction Sources

### Creation Source

| Source                 | Meaning                                                                                                                |
| ---------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **System Recommended** | Generated by the supply planning solver based on inventory needs. Replaced automatically when a new plan is generated. |
| **User Created**       | Manually created by a user, or converted from a system recommendation. These are never overwritten by the system.      |

## Transaction Components

### Line Items

Each transaction contains line items specifying:

* SKU being ordered
* Quantity
* Unit cost (for purchase orders)
* Expected delivery date

### Steps

Each transaction contains steps that track workflow progress. Steps are typed based on the activity they represent:

| Step Type      | Used For                                     | Inventory States                     |
| -------------- | -------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------ |
| **Purchase**   | Tracking supplier purchase progress          | In Process → Completed Purchase      |
| **Production** | Tracking manufacturing progress              | In Production → Completed Production |
| **Shipment**   | Tracking movement from source to destination | In Transit → Completed Shipment      |

Steps have their own statuses: **Draft**, **In Progress**, **Completed**, or **Cancelled**.

### Artifacts

Transactions use an artifact system for business documents. Each transaction has a **root artifact** that defines its type, plus additional artifacts created during the workflow:

| Artifact Type              | Purpose                                    |
| -------------------------- | ------------------------------------------ |
| **Purchase Order**         | Root artifact for purchase transactions    |
| **Production Order**       | Root artifact for production transactions  |
| **Transaction Initiation** | Root artifact that initiates a transaction |
| **Sales Order**            | Root artifact for sales transactions       |
| **Shipping Plan**          | Defines a shipment—creates a shipment step |
| **Production Report**      | Updates production step progress           |
| **Purchase Report**        | Updates purchase step progress             |
| **Shipment Receipt**       | Updates shipment step progress             |
| **Receipt**                | General receipt documentation              |
| **Inventory Adjustment**   | Records inventory adjustments              |
| **Stock Take Form**        | Documents physical inventory counts        |
| **Packing List**           | Shipping documentation                     |
| **Quality Certificate**    | Inspection documentation                   |

## Working with Transactions

### Creating Transactions

<Steps>
  <Step title="Click Create Transaction">
    From the transactions dashboard, click **Create**
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select Type">
    Choose Purchase, Transfer, or Production
  </Step>

  <Step title="Enter Details">
    Fill in required information:

    * Supplier (for purchase) or source warehouse (for transfer)
    * Destination warehouse
    * Expected dates
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add Line Items">
    Add SKUs and quantities
  </Step>

  <Step title="Save">
    Save as draft or submit immediately
  </Step>
</Steps>

### Viewing Transaction Details

Click on any transaction to see:

* **Overview**: Basic transaction information and line items
* **Steps & Inventory**: Workflow step progress and inventory state tracking (hidden for drafts)
* **Documents**: Artifacts attached to the transaction
* **Inventory Impact**: How the transaction affects warehouse inventory levels
* **Analysis**: Cost variance and quantity analysis—planned vs. reported (hidden for drafts)

### Editing Transactions

| Status          | Editable?                  |
| --------------- | -------------------------- |
| **Draft**       | Yes—full editing           |
| **In Progress** | Limited—some fields locked |
| **Completed**   | No—read only               |
| **Archived**    | No—read only               |

## Filtering Transactions

### By Status

Filter to see transactions in specific states:

* Drafts needing attention
* In-progress orders to track
* Completed for reference
* Archived for historical records

### By Type

Focus on specific transaction types:

* Only purchase orders
* Only transfers
* Only production

### By Date Range

View transactions within time periods:

* This week's orders
* This month
* Custom date range

### By Warehouse

See transactions for specific locations:

* Orders coming to a warehouse
* Transfers from a warehouse

## Transaction Alerts

Tether highlights transactions needing attention:

| Alert         | Meaning                |
| ------------- | ---------------------- |
| **Urgent**    | Needs immediate action |
| **Important** | Action needed soon     |
| **Overdue**   | Past expected date     |
| **At Risk**   | May miss expected date |

## Integration with Supply Planning

Transactions connect to supply planning:

1. **Recommendations** appear on the [Transfer](/supply-planning/transfers), [Production](/supply-planning/production), and [Purchase](/supply-planning/purchases) planning pages
2. **Accepting** a recommendation adds it to the [execution plan](/supply-planning/execution-plan) and converts it to a transaction
3. **Submit** starts the transaction workflow
4. **Complete** updates inventory

See [Working with recommendations](/supply-planning/recommendations) for more on recommendations.

## Best Practices

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Review Drafts Regularly">
    Check draft transactions:

    * Submit or delete old drafts
    * Update drafts with new information
    * Don't let drafts accumulate
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Track In-Progress Orders">
    Monitor active transactions:

    * Update step status as orders progress
    * Note delays or issues
    * Communicate with suppliers
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Complete Promptly">
    When orders arrive:

    * Complete transactions promptly
    * Verify quantities match
    * Update inventory accurately
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Document Everything">
    Maintain good records:

    * Attach relevant documents
    * Note issues or variances
    * Keep contact records
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Next Steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Transaction Types" icon="list" href="/transactions/types">
    Learn about purchase, transfer, and production orders
  </Card>

  <Card title="Creating Transactions" icon="plus" href="/transactions/creating">
    Create new transactions
  </Card>

  <Card title="Transaction Details" icon="file-lines" href="/transactions/detail-view">
    Navigate transaction detail pages
  </Card>

  <Card title="Workflow" icon="timeline" href="/transactions/workflow">
    Understand transaction lifecycle
  </Card>
</CardGroup>