TalkAndPick Connector - Instructions

1. Overview

The TalkAndPick Connector is a Business Central extension developed by Fellowmind Finland that integrates Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central with the Devoca Talk and Pick voice picking solution. The extension enables warehouse personnel to perform picking and putaway operations using voice-guided instructions, replacing manual paper-based or scanner-based workflows.

What is Devoca Talk and Pick?

Devoca Talk and Pick is a voice-directed warehouse management solution. Warehouse workers wear a headset and receive spoken instructions that guide them through picking and putaway tasks — telling them where to go, what to pick, and how much to pick. Workers confirm actions by voice, keeping their hands and eyes free for the task at hand. This leads to faster, more accurate, and safer warehouse operations.

What does the Connector do?

The TalkAndPick Connector bridges Business Central and the Devoca system by:

Creating pick and putaway tasks from Business Central source documents (Sales Orders, Purchase Orders, Warehouse Activity documents) and sending them to Devoca for voice-guided execution.
Synchronizing item master data to Devoca so that product information is available during warehouse operations.
Receiving status updates and results from Devoca back into Business Central, including picked quantities, task statuses, and serial/lot number confirmations.
Managing item tracking by validating and reserving serial numbers reported during voice picking directly in Business Central's reservation system.

Key Capabilities

Capability	Description
Pick Task Creation	Create pick tasks from Sales Orders, grouped by location. Each task contains the items, quantities, bins, and item tracking details needed for the pick.
Putaway Task Creation	Create putaway tasks from Purchase Orders for voice-guided receiving and putaway operations.
Item Synchronization	Sync item master data (product code, description, weight, volume) to Devoca so products are recognized during warehouse operations.
Serial Number Tracking	Serial-tracked items are automatically split into individual lines. Serial numbers picked in the warehouse are validated and reserved in Business Central in real time.
Remaining Quantity Handling	The system tracks quantities already committed to active pick tasks, preventing duplicate picks and ensuring only the remaining quantity is sent to Devoca.
Status Tracking	Full lifecycle tracking of tasks from creation through sending, execution, and completion, with status updates flowing between both systems.
Location-Based Configuration	Voice picking is enabled per location, with each location mapped to a Devoca warehouse code. Validation ensures locations are correctly configured before tasks are created.

How It Works

The integration follows a straightforward flow:

Setup — Configure the connection to the Devoca API (URL and credentials) and enable voice picking on the relevant warehouse locations.
Item Sync — Synchronize items to Devoca so the system recognizes your products. This is done automatically during pick creation but can also be run manually.
Task Creation — Create pick or putaway tasks from source documents in Business Central. The connector validates locations, groups lines, handles item tracking, and builds the task structure.
Send to Devoca — Tasks are sent to the Devoca API as structured JSON payloads. Devoca distributes them to warehouse workers via voice instructions.
Execution — Warehouse workers execute tasks using voice commands. Devoca tracks progress and results.
Status & Results — Devoca sends status updates and picked quantities back to Business Central through inbound API endpoints, keeping the BC documents in sync with warehouse reality.

Supported Source Documents

Document	Task Type	Status
Sales Order	Pick Task	Supported (v1.0)
Purchase Order	Putaway Task	Supported (v1.0)
Warehouse Pick	Pick Task	Supported (v1.0)
Warehouse Put-away	Putaway Task	Supported (v1.0)
Transfer Order	Pick Task	Planned
Assembly Order	Pick Task	Planned

2. Setup

Before using the TalkAndPick Connector, you need to configure the connection to Devoca, set up number series, configure warehouse locations, and synchronize items.

2.1 Talk&Pick Setup Page

Open the Talk&Pick Setup page from the Business Central search bar. This is the central configuration page for the connector.

Connection Setup

Field	Description
Name	A descriptive name for the connection (e.g., "Production" or "Test").
Connection URL	The Devoca API endpoint URL. Example: `https://test2-api.devoca.fi:3001/api/`
Username	The username for authenticating with the Devoca API.
Password	The password for authenticating with the Devoca API. The value is masked for security.

You receive connection URL and credentials from Devoca.

All connection fields (URL, Username, Password) must be filled in before any operations can be performed. If the setup is incomplete, the system will display an error: "Connection setup is missing or incomplete. Please fill in the connection details in the Talk&Pick Setup page before proceeding."

Options

Field	Description
Register Picks on completion	When enabled, warehouse picks are automatically registered in Business Central when the warehouse pick is marked as completed.

Numbering

Field	Description
Pick Task Nos.	The number series used for generating pick task document numbers.
Putaway Task Nos.	The number series used for generating putaway task document numbers.

Both number series must be configured with available numbers before you can create pick or putaway tasks.

Test Connection

Use the Test connection action on the Setup page to verify that the connection to Devoca is working correctly with the configured URL and credentials.

2.2 Location Configuration

Each warehouse location that will use voice picking must be configured individually. Open the Location Card for the relevant location.

Talk & Pick Group

A new Talk & Pick group is added to the Location Card with the following fields:

Field	Description
Voice Pick Location	Enable this toggle to mark the location as a voice picking location. This must be turned on before pick or putaway tasks can be created for the location.
Warehouse Code	The warehouse code assigned in Devoca for this location. This field is only editable when Voice Pick Location is enabled. The code must match the warehouse code configured in the Devoca system.

To see the available warehouse codes from Devoca, use the Show possible warehouse codes action in the Talk & Pick action group on the Location Card. This requires a completed connection setup (previous section).

Location Requirements

The connector enforces the following rules for locations:

For Pick Tasks (Sales Orders): - The location must have Voice Pick Location enabled. - The location must have a Warehouse Code assigned. - The location must not have Require Shipment enabled. If warehouse shipment is required, use the standard Warehouse Pick integration instead.

For Putaway Tasks (Purchase Orders): - The location must have Voice Pick Location enabled. - The location must have a Warehouse Code assigned. - The location must not have Require Receive enabled. If warehouse receipt is required, use the standard Warehouse Put-away integration instead.

If any of these conditions are not met, the system will display a descriptive error message with a link to open the Location Card for correction.

2.3 Item Synchronization

Items must be synchronized to Devoca before they can be included in pick or putaway tasks. Synchronization sends the item's product code, description, weight, and volume to Devoca.

Note: Items are also synchronized automatically when a pick task is created, so manual synchronization is only needed if you want to pre-populate products in Devoca or update product data.

How to Sync an Item manually

Open the Item Card for the item you want to synchronize.
In the Warehouse section, find the TAP group. This group shows the current sync status.
Click the Sync item with Devoca action in the TAP action group.
The system will create or update the product in Devoca:
New item (no Devoca Product ID): Creates a new product in Devoca via the API and stores the returned Product ID on the item.
Existing item (has Devoca Product ID): Updates the existing product in Devoca with the current item data.
A confirmation message is displayed on success.

TAP Fields on the Item Card

The following read-only fields are displayed in the TAP group on the Item Card:

Field	Description
Synched with Devoca	Indicates whether the item has been successfully synchronized with Devoca.
Devoca Product ID	The product ID assigned by Devoca. This is filled automatically during synchronization.
Devoca Last Sync	The date and time of the last successful synchronization.

Data Sent to Devoca

Business Central Field	Devoca Field
No.	productCode
Description	name
Gross Weight	weight
Unit Volume	volume

2.4 Permission Set

The extension includes the TAPAdmin permission set that grants full access to all TalkAndPick Connector objects, including tables, pages, codeunits, and queries.

Assign this permission set to all users who need to: - Configure the Talk&Pick Setup - Create and manage pick and putaway tasks - Synchronize items with Devoca - View task statuses and results

2.5 Setup Checklist

Use the following checklist to ensure the connector is fully configured:

[ ] Open the Talk&Pick Setup page and enter the Devoca API Connection URL, Username, and Password.
[ ] Use Test connection to verify the connection is working.
[ ] Configure Pick Task Nos. and Putaway Task Nos. number series.
[ ] For each warehouse location that will use voice picking:
[ ] Enable Voice Pick Location on the Location Card.
[ ] Enter the Warehouse Code from Devoca.
[ ] Verify the location does not have Require Shipment (for picks) or Require Receive (for putaways) enabled.
[ ] Synchronize relevant items to Devoca using Sync item with Devoca on the Item Card (or let the system sync automatically during task creation).
[ ] Assign the TAPAdmin permission set to users who will work with the connector.

3. Pick Tasks

Pick tasks are used to send picking instructions from Business Central to the Devoca Talk and Pick system. The connector supports two approaches to pick tasks: creating them from Sales Orders (for locations without advanced warehouse management) and sending existing Warehouse Picks (for locations using standard BC warehouse pick functionality).

3.1 Pick Tasks from Sales Orders

This is method is designed for locations where Require Shipment is not enabled — the connector creates its own pick task documents that are independent of the standard warehouse management flow.

Creating a Pick Task

Open the Sales Order you want to pick.
Ensure the sales lines have items with Qty. to Ship greater than zero.
Click the Create Pick Task action in the Talk and Pick action group.
The system performs the following automatically:
Validates each location on the sales lines (voice picking enabled, warehouse code assigned, no warehouse shipment required).
Calculates remaining quantities by subtracting quantities already committed to active pick tasks.
Groups lines by location — one pick task is created per location.
For serial-tracked items, splits lines into individual lines with Qty = 1 each.
A confirmation message is displayed showing how many tasks were created and whether any locations were skipped.

Remaining Quantity Handling

The connector prevents duplicate picking by tracking quantities already committed to active pick tasks. When you create pick tasks, only the remaining quantity is included:

Remaining Qty = Qty. to Ship - Qty. on Active Pick Tasks

Active pick tasks are those with status Unsent, New, Started, Paused, or Suspended. Completed and cancelled tasks are excluded from this calculation.

Example: - Sales line: Qty. to Ship = 100 - Existing active pick task: Quantity = 60 - New pick task will be created with: Quantity = 40

If all quantities are already covered, the system displays: "All quantities on this order are already covered by existing pick tasks."

Viewing Pick Tasks

Click the View Pick Tasks action on the Sales Order to see all pick tasks created from that order.
The Qty. on Pick Tasks column on the Sales Order lines shows the total quantity committed to active pick tasks for each line. This field is read-only and updates automatically.

Serial-Tracked Items

When creating pick tasks for items with serial number tracking:

Each unit is split into a separate pick task line with Quantity = 1.
Example: An item with Qty. to Ship = 5 creates 5 individual pick task lines.
Serial numbers are assigned during the picking process in Devoca and reported back to Business Central.
When a serial number is reported, the system validates that it exists in inventory at the task location and is not already reserved, then creates a reservation entry in Business Central immediately.

3.2 Pick Task Card

The Pick Task Card page displays all details of a single pick task.

General Group

Field	Description
Pick Task No.	Unique identifier, auto-assigned from the number series.
Source Type	The type of source document (e.g., Sales Order).
Source No.	The source document number. Click to navigate to the source document.
Location Code	The warehouse location for this pick task.
Warehouse Code	The Devoca warehouse code (read-only, populated from the location).

Task Details Group

Field	Description
Task Type	The task type code, typically "PIC" for pick tasks.
Assignment Date	The date the task was created (defaults to work date).
Assignment Time	The time the task was created (defaults to current time).
Delivery Date	The expected completion date, derived from the source document's shipment date.

Talk and Pick System Group

Field	Description
Task ID	The ID assigned by the Devoca system. Empty until the task is sent.
Devoca Task Status	The current status of the task in Devoca (see Task Statuses).
Sent Date-Time	When the task was sent to Devoca.
Completed Date-Time	When the task was marked as completed.
Error Message	Displays error details if the task encountered an issue. Only visible when an error exists.

Pick Task Lines

The lines subform shows all items to be picked:

Column	Description
Item No.	The item to pick.
Description	Item description.
Quantity	The quantity requested for picking.
Quantity Picked	The actual quantity reported as picked by Devoca. Displayed in orange if it does not match the requested quantity (indicating a short pick).
Unit of Measure	The unit of measure code.
Bin Code	The storage bin location (if applicable).
Lot No.	The lot number (for lot-tracked items).
Serial No.	The serial number (for serial-tracked items).
Devoca Task Status	The status of this individual line.

Actions

Action	Description
Send to Pick System	Sends the task to Devoca. Only available when status is Unsent. On success, the status changes to New and the Task ID is populated.
Delete Task	Deletes the task from Devoca. Requires the task to have been sent (Task ID must exist). After deletion, the status reverts to Unsent and the Task ID is cleared. A confirmation dialog is shown before proceeding.
Post Shipment	Posts the shipment in Business Central. Only available when the task is Completed.
Show Source Document	Opens the source sales order.

3.3 Pick Task List

The TAP Pick Tasks list page shows all pick tasks with the following columns:

Column	Description
No.	Pick task number.
Source Type	Source document type.
Source No.	Source document number.
Location Code	Picking location.
Devoca Task Status	Current task status.
Task ID	Devoca task ID.
Assignment Date	Date the task was created.
Sent Date-Time	When sent to Devoca.
Completed Date-Time	When marked complete.

The list can be filtered by source document, location, status, or date to help manage active picks.

3.4 Pick Task Statuses

Status	Description	Counts as Active?
Unsent	Task created in Business Central but not yet sent to Devoca.	Yes
New	Task sent to Devoca and acknowledged.	Yes
Started	A warehouse worker has begun picking this task.	Yes
Paused	Picking has been temporarily paused.	Yes
Suspended	Task is suspended but expected to resume.	Yes
Completed	All items have been picked and the task is finished.	No
Cancelled	The task has been cancelled and will not be executed.	No

Status transitions flow as follows:

Unsent — Initial state after creation in Business Central.
Unsent → New — User clicks Send to Pick System.
New → Started — Warehouse worker begins picking in Devoca.
Started → Paused — Worker pauses the task (can resume to Started).
Started → Completed — Worker finishes all items.
Any → Cancelled — Task is cancelled by the user or the Devoca system.

Statuses are updated automatically when Devoca sends updates through the inbound API. No manual action is needed to receive status changes — they appear when you refresh or navigate to the pick task.

3.5 Sending and Deleting Pick Tasks

Sending a Pick Task to Devoca

Open the Pick Task Card.
Verify the lines are correct (items, quantities, serial numbers if applicable).
Click Send to Pick System.
The system sends the task to the Devoca API as a JSON payload containing the warehouse code, task details, and all line items.
Items that have not been synchronized with Devoca are automatically synchronized as part of the send process.
On success, the Task ID is populated and the status changes to New.

Deleting a Pick Task from Devoca

Open the Pick Task Card.
Click Delete Task.
Confirm the deletion in the dialog.
The system sends a DELETE request to the Devoca API.
On success, the Task ID is cleared and the status reverts to Unsent. The task remains in Business Central and can be re-sent if needed.

3.6 Warehouse Picks

For locations that use Require Shipment (advanced warehouse management), the connector integrates with standard Business Central Warehouse Pick documents instead of creating its own pick task documents.

How It Works

When a Warehouse Pick is created through the standard warehouse shipment process, you can send it to Devoca directly from the Warehouse Pick page. The system sends the existing warehouse activity lines to Devoca — no separate pick task document is created.

Actions on the Warehouse Pick Page

The connector adds a Talk'n'Pick action group to the Warehouse Pick page:

Action	Description
Send Devoca Pick json	Sends the warehouse pick to Devoca as a new task. If the task has already been sent, a confirmation is shown asking whether to create a new task.
Delete Devoca Pick json	Deletes the task from Devoca and clears the Task ID and status fields, allowing you to re-send the pick.
Register Pick	Registers the warehouse pick in Business Central using the standard warehouse registration process.
Test Devoca Pick json	Displays the JSON payload that would be sent to Devoca without actually sending it. Useful for troubleshooting.

Additional Fields on the Warehouse Pick Page

Field	Description
TAP Task ID	The Devoca task ID (read-only). Displayed on the header and line level.
TAP Devoca Task Status	The current Devoca status (read-only). Displayed on the header, line, and list views.

Sending a Warehouse Pick

Create a Warehouse Shipment and then a Warehouse Pick through the standard Business Central process.
Open the Warehouse Pick card.
Click Send Devoca Pick json in the Talk'n'Pick action group.
The system validates the location, generates the JSON payload from the warehouse activity lines (only "Take" action lines are included), and sends it to Devoca.
On success, the TAP Task ID and TAP Devoca Task Status fields are updated.

Automatic Registration on Completion

If the Register Picks on completion option is enabled in the Talk&Pick Setup, the warehouse pick is automatically registered in Business Central when Devoca reports the task as completed. This eliminates the need to manually click Register Pick.

Deletion Protection

The connector includes safety measures for warehouse picks at voice picking locations:

Manual registration warning: If you attempt to register a warehouse pick manually (using the standard BC registration) at a voice picking location, a confirmation dialog warns that the pick should be registered via the API instead.
Line deletion protection: Warehouse activity lines cannot be deleted while a Devoca task is actively in progress (status is not Unsent, New, or Cancelled). You must cancel the task first.
Header deletion sync: If a warehouse pick document is deleted in Business Central while a Devoca task exists, the system automatically notifies Devoca to delete the corresponding task.

Differences Between Pick Tasks and Warehouse Picks

Aspect	Pick Tasks (Sales Orders)	Warehouse Picks
Source	Sales Order lines	Warehouse Activity documents
Location requirement	Require Shipment must be OFF	Require Shipment is ON
Document	Dedicated TAP Pick Task Header/Lines	Standard BC Warehouse Activity Header/Lines
Grouping	One task per location per sales order	One task per warehouse pick
Bin codes	Not included (no bin assignment)	Included from warehouse bin setup
Registration	Posts shipment on completion	Registers warehouse pick on completion
Item sync	Automatic during send	Automatic during send

4. Putaway Tasks

Putaway tasks are used to send receiving and putaway instructions from Business Central to the Devoca Talk and Pick system. Similar to pick tasks, the connector supports creating putaway tasks from Purchase Orders (for locations without advanced warehouse management) and integrating with standard Warehouse Put-away documents.

4.1 Putaway Tasks from Purchase Orders

This method for creating putaway tasks is designed for locations where Require Receive is not enabled.

Creating a Putaway Task

Open the Purchase Order you want to receive.
Ensure the purchase lines have items with Qty. to Receive greater than zero.
Click the Create Putaway Task action in the Talk and Pick action group.
The system performs the following automatically:
Validates each location on the purchase lines (voice picking enabled, warehouse code assigned, no warehouse receipt required).
Calculates remaining quantities by subtracting quantities already committed to active putaway tasks.
Groups lines by location — one putaway task is created per location.
For serial-tracked items, splits lines into individual lines with Qty = 1 each.
A confirmation message is displayed showing how many tasks were created and whether any locations were skipped.

Remaining Quantity Handling

The connector prevents duplicate putaways by tracking quantities already committed to active putaway tasks:

Remaining Qty = Qty. to Receive - Qty. on Active Putaway Tasks

Active putaway tasks are those with a status other than Completed or Cancelled.

The Qty. on Putaway Tasks column on the Purchase Order lines shows the total quantity committed to active putaway tasks for each line. This field is read-only and updates automatically.

If all quantities are already covered, the system displays: "All quantities on this order are already covered by existing putaway tasks."

Viewing Putaway Tasks

Click the View Putaway Tasks action on the Purchase Order to see all putaway tasks created from that order.

Serial-Tracked Items

Serial-tracked items are handled identically to pick tasks — each unit is split into a separate putaway task line with Quantity = 1. Serial numbers are assigned during the putaway process in Devoca and reported back to Business Central, where they are validated and reserved.

4.2 Putaway Task Card

The Putaway Task Card page displays all details of a single putaway task.

General Group

Field	Description
No.	Unique identifier, auto-assigned from the putaway task number series.
Source Type	The type of source document (e.g., Purchase Order).
Source No.	The source document number. Click to navigate to the source document.
Location Code	The warehouse location for this putaway task.
Warehouse Code	The Devoca warehouse code (read-only, populated from the location).

Task Details Group

Field	Description
Task Type	The task type code, always "PUT" for putaway tasks.
Assignment Date	The date the task was created.
Assignment Time	The time the task was created.
Expected Receipt Date	The expected receipt date, derived from the purchase order.

Talk and Pick System Group

Field	Description
Task ID	The ID assigned by the Devoca system. Empty until the task is sent.
Devoca Task Status	The current status of the task. Color-coded: green for Completed, yellow for Started, red for Cancelled.
Sent Date-Time	When the task was sent to Devoca.
Completed Date-Time	When the task was marked as completed.
Error Message	Displays error details if the task encountered an issue. Only visible when an error exists.

Putaway Task Lines

The lines subform shows all items to be put away:

Column	Description
Item No.	The item to put away.
Description	Item description.
Quantity	The quantity requested for putaway.
Quantity Put Away	The actual quantity reported as put away by Devoca. Displayed in orange if it does not match the requested quantity.
Unit of Measure	The unit of measure code.
Bin Code	The destination bin location (if applicable).
Lot No.	The lot number (for lot-tracked items).
Serial No.	The serial number (for serial-tracked items).
Devoca Task Status	The status of this individual line.

Actions

Action	Description
Send to Putaway System	Sends the task to Devoca. Only available when status is Unsent.
Delete Task	Deletes the task from Devoca. Requires the task to have been sent (Task ID must exist).
Post Receipt	Posts the receipt in Business Central. Only available when the task is Completed.
Test Payload	Displays the JSON payload that would be sent to Devoca without actually sending it. Useful for troubleshooting.
Show Source Document	Opens the source purchase order.

4.3 Putaway Task List

The TAP Putaway Tasks list page shows all putaway tasks with the following columns:

Column	Description
No.	Putaway task number.
Source Type	Source document type.
Source No.	Source document number.
Location Code	Putaway location.
Devoca Task Status	Current task status.
Task ID	Devoca task ID.
Assignment Date	Date the task was created.
Sent Date-Time	When sent to Devoca.
Completed Date-Time	When marked complete.

4.4 Putaway Task Statuses

Putaway tasks use the same status values as pick tasks (see section 3.4). The lifecycle is identical:

Unsent — Task created in Business Central.
New — Task sent to Devoca.
Started — Warehouse worker begins putaway.
Paused / Suspended — Task temporarily halted.
Completed — All items put away.
Cancelled — Task cancelled.

When the header status changes, all lines are automatically updated to match.

4.5 Warehouse Put-aways

For locations that use Require Receive (advanced warehouse management), the connector integrates with standard Business Central Warehouse Put-away documents.

Actions on the Warehouse Put-away Page

The connector adds a Talk'n'Pick action group to the Warehouse Put-away page:

Action	Description
Send Devoca Put-away json	Sends the warehouse put-away to Devoca as a new task. If already sent, a confirmation is shown.
Delete Devoca Put-away json	Deletes the task from Devoca and clears the status fields.
Test Devoca Put-away json	Displays the JSON payload without sending it.

Additional Fields

The TAP Task ID and TAP Devoca Task Status fields are displayed on the Warehouse Put-away card, subform lines, and list page for status tracking.

Sending a Warehouse Put-away

Create a Warehouse Receipt and then a Warehouse Put-away through the standard Business Central process.
Open the Warehouse Put-away card.
Click Send Devoca Put-away json in the Talk'n'Pick action group.
The system validates the location, generates the JSON payload, and sends it to Devoca.
On success, the TAP Task ID and TAP Devoca Task Status fields are updated.

4.6 Purchase Order Posting Restrictions

The connector enforces posting restrictions to prevent conflicts between putaway tasks and purchase order posting:

Posting is blocked while active putaway tasks exist. If you attempt to post a purchase order receipt while putaway tasks are still in progress (status is not Completed or Cancelled), the system displays: "There are ongoing TAP put-away tasks that have not been completed or cancelled."
Posting is allowed once all putaway tasks for the order are either Completed or Cancelled.
Task cleanup: When a purchase order is fully posted (received and invoiced) and deleted from the system, all associated putaway tasks are automatically cleaned up.

4.7 Differences from Pick Tasks

Aspect	Pick Tasks	Putaway Tasks
Source document	Sales Order	Purchase Order
Direction	Outbound (shipping)	Inbound (receiving)
Location requirement	Require Shipment must be OFF	Require Receive must be OFF
Task type code	PIC	PUT
Date field	Delivery Date	Expected Receipt Date
Posting action	Post Shipment	Post Receipt
Posting restriction	None	Purchase order posting blocked while tasks are active
Serial handling	Split into Qty = 1 lines	Split into Qty = 1 lines
Location grouping	One task per location	One task per location