> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://learn.withessential.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://learn.withessential.com/customers-and-work/jobs/job-inventory-reserved-vs-used-parts-transfers-and-shortages.md).

# Job inventory: reserved vs used parts, transfers, and shortages

When your business uses the Inventory feature, the job page includes an Inventory panel that tracks the parts and items for that job. Each item shows two quantities: Reserved, the amount set aside from stock for this job, and Used, the amount the technician actually consumed.

A status reflects the difference: Reserved when nothing has been used yet, Partial when some but not all of the reserved quantity is used, and Used when used matches reserved. Click Edit to make changes.

In edit mode you can add an item, change the reserved or used quantities, remove an item, and switch the job's inventory location. The Use Remaining button sets used equal to reserved for every item that still has a remainder, which is a quick way to close out a job.

When you reduce used below reserved, you choose what happens to the leftover: release it back to inventory or keep it reserved for this job. If the chosen location does not have enough stock, the panel flags the shortage.

Where another location can cover it, you can auto-transfer the needed amount from that location; otherwise it points you to where stock is available or warns that you need to reorder, and it notes any quantity incoming on open purchase orders. Click Save to apply your changes.

This panel only appears when the Inventory feature is turned on for your business.

If Inventory is off but Job Costing is on, the job page still lets you add items for costing purposes — quantity and unit cost only, with no reserved quantity, location, or transfer tracking. Those items feed straight into the Job Costing card's material cost.

> **Where to find it:** Open a job from Scheduling > Jobs; the Inventory panel appears on the job page when the Inventory feature is enabled

## Related guides

* [Clock in and clock out records on a job](/customers-and-work/jobs/clock-in-and-clock-out-records-on-a-job.md)
* [Job Costing on a job: revenue, costs, and margin](/customers-and-work/jobs/job-costing-on-a-job.md)
* [Link quotes and invoices to a job](/customers-and-work/jobs/link-quotes-and-invoices-to-a-job.md)
* [Recurring service completions on a job](/customers-and-work/jobs/recurring-service-completions-on-a-job.md)
* [The job detail page: what it shows](/customers-and-work/jobs/the-job-detail-page-what-it-shows.md)
* [What is a job, and how does the Jobs list work?](/customers-and-work/jobs/what-is-a-job-and-how-does-the-jobs-list-work.md)


---

# Agent Instructions
This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com.

## Querying This Documentation
If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter, and the optional `goal` query parameter:

```
GET https://learn.withessential.com/customers-and-work/jobs/job-inventory-reserved-vs-used-parts-transfers-and-shortages.md?ask=<question>&goal=<endgoal>
```

`ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
`goal` is optional and describes the broader end goal you are ultimately trying to accomplish on behalf of the user. GitBook uses it to tailor the answer towards what is most useful for that goal.

The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.