The Multi Pack Boxes Support for B2C Shipment feature from an end-user perspective includes the following key points in more detail:
Efficient Tracking and Management: The system handles both pack box and shipment AWBs, ensuring proper tracking and management of multi-pack box orders. This includes support for child AWBs used by some couriers to track multi-piece shipments, as well as the main AWB for the entire shipment.
Seamless Integration: The feature integrates with RMS and OMS systems, ensuring smooth handling of multi-pack box orders and AWB management.
Invoicing and Shipping Labels: For multi-pack box orders, there will be one invoice for the entire shipment. Shipping labels will have multiple pages for each box, with markings like "1/2" and "2/2" to indicate the box number within the shipment.
Manifest and Handover Management: The multi-piece shipments need to be treated as a unit, so if some packets are not scanned and added to the manifest, manifest close is not be allowed. This ensures that all child boxes are accounted for and scanned during the handover process.
At present, the system will be relying on the operator to decide whether shipment being processed is multi-box or not.
There will be the following types of parent & child AWB combinations:
Child AWB is a unique number just like parent AWB.
Derived: Child AWB will be derived from the parent AWB. If parent AWB is 1234 then child AWBs will be 1234-1 and 1234-2 for two-piece shipment.
Child AWBs Coming from Logistics aggregator: Child AWB on a box level will be given by Logistics Aggregators like Clickpost.
Child AWB is the same as parent AWB.
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Allow multi-pack box value is applicable only for B2C orders because it will always remain TRUE for B2B orders irrespective of the value set in this flag.
The same values of these properties will flow against orders to OMS and WMS. These values would be set by the Increff team while configuring a channel for a client on the basis of the use case shared by the client.
If Allow box label is not enabled, only one shipping label per shipment will get generated even if there are multiple pack boxes present for the shipment. But, when it’s enabled, labels get generated for each box.
These configurations can be enabled/ disabled for a client and channel pair on raising a request to the Omni Success team.
Below B2C processes/flows will have changes on enabling the B2C Multi Pack Box feature.
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There will be no changes in the process/ flow if the configurations are disabled to allow multiple-pack boxes.
Packing Flow
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Packing Screen Configuration to allow Multiple Packboxes
Increff WMS now provides flexible Packing Options for B2C shipments.
Users can pack orders in multiple boxes or a single packet, depending on the order requirements. Users can enable/ disable the toggle Allow Multiple Packboxes configuration in the Piece Packing screen’s Configuration. The toggle is provided for users to generate multiple Pack boxes for an order, allowing for easy management of multi-pack box orders
This allows for better handling of orders with large or bulky items, as well as orders containing items from multiple categories.
Allow Multiple Packboxes configuration in Packing screen will only be functional to enable/ disable multiple pack box support when Allow Multiple Packboxes configuration is Enabled at backend channel configurations. Otherwise, by default the multiple Packboxes support will remain disabled.
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Packing process for Block Complete Orders when Allow Multiple Packboxes configuration is turned On
Please follow the below steps when the Multiple Packboxes configuration is turned On.
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Please note that an additional printer is required to print Box ID when Multiple Packboxes are required. Warehouse team can use normal barcode printer with less DPI, as box ID stickers won't be reused after dispatch. But it has to be ensured by warehouse team that they should not use those printers for printing other barcode stickers as it can cause problem if stickers fade out.
Warehouse team should test on 1 printer and accordingly procure for other packing desks.
Packing process for Single Shipment Partial Orders(When Allow Multiple Packboxes config is OFF)
SINGLE_SHIPMENT_PARTIAL orders refer to a specific order fulfillment type in which not all items of a BLOCK_COMPLETE order can be fulfilled. In such cases, the fulfillment type is updated to SINGLE_SHIPMENT_PARTIAL. For these orders, all unscanned items will be automatically canceled in WMS during the Complete Packing process.
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Scan the Item Codes as usual in the Piece Packing screen.
Once all Item Codes which the user wants to pack are scanned, please click the Partially Pack in Box button. This will allow the user to only pack the scanned line items even when the number of line items in order were more than scanned.
Users can complete the packing by clicking the Complete Packing button.
Users can print invoices and shipping labels by clicking Print Invoice & Shipping Label button.
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Packing process for Single Shipment Partial Orders(When Allow Multiple Packboxes config is ON)
For Single Shipment Partial, if the Allow Multi Packbox is TRUE, then the user can close the box anytime (similar to Block Complete orders). But once the box is closed, even if there are pending line items, the option to Complete shipment will be enabled on the packing screen. Whereas in the block Complete case, only when pending line items are 0, the complete shipment button gets Enabled.
This way, user would be able to pack multiple boxes and fulfilling the shipment partially.
Manifest Flow with Allow Multiple Packboxes Configuration On
Steps to create and close manifest for Multiple Pack Box shipments
A manifest is created in the Manifest screen as usual.
For shipments without multiple boxes, AWB numbers can be scanned as usual and there is no change in the user interface. The same manifest can have both types of shipments(single packet or multi-box shipment).
For shipments with multiple boxes, when any AWB for shipment(either parent AWB or any Child AWB) is scanned, the pop-up as shown below will be displayed. We display the count of scanned Box AWBs for the shipment AWB.
Please note, if the user refreshes the screen while scanning Box Ids against an AWB, the user will have to scan all child AWBs once again for the particular AWB to add shipment to the manifest.
User will have to scan all the box Ids that belong to that specific shipment.
Post that, please click on Add Shipment button to continue scanning other AWBs
Generate Manifest Document
Please find the sample manifest document where multiple boxes for the same shipment are present.
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Please find the Manifest sample document as shown below.
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Handover Flow with Allow Multiple Packboxes Configuration On
Steps to Handover by AWBs for Multiple Pack Box Shipments
For shipments without multiple boxes, AWB numbers can be scanned as usual and there is no change in the user interface.
For shipments with multiple boxes, when any of the AWB for shipment(either parent AWB or any Child AWB) is scanned, the pop-up as shown below will be displayed. We display the count of scanned Box AWBs for the shipment AWB.
Please note, if the user refreshes the screen while scanning Box Ids against an AWB, the user will have to scan all child AWBs once again for the particular AWB to add shipment to the manifest.
The user will have to scan all the box Ids that belong to that specific shipment. If some packets are not scanned and added to the manifest, manifest close is not allowed.
Post that, please click on Confirm button to continue scanning other AWBs for handover.
Handover By Manifest
No changes in this flow.
Generate Handover Document
Please find the sample handover document where multiple boxes for the same shipment are present.
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Please find the Handover sample document as shown below.
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Error Handling with Allow Multiple Packboxes Configuration On
The system will display errors in the user interface, guiding users to remove items from the Pack Box if needed. This helps prevent issues such as extra boxes being added after shipment closure or unclosed boxes with items.
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Error scenario where the Pack Box gets closed but adding box to shipment is not successful.
After the boxes are added to the shipment some qty gets canceled in OMS
The error will be displayed to remove items from the Pack Box. The user would have physically added the items to the box, hence those items which are canceled should be removed from the box.
The user will navigate to the Remove Items from Outward Box screen in WMS
The discrepancy will be displayed here. Currently, the user can refer to the report to know the box where the items of the discrepancy SKUs are present. The canceled items can be removed from the box by scanning those items.
User can sync the order to ensure that all the discrepancy is corrected.
After the boxes are added to the shipment all the items in the box are removed
While closing the shipment if there are any empty CLOSE boxes associated with it (resulting from removing items from the box), then an error will be displayed.
The empty box IDs will be displayed in the error message and the user is prompted to physically remove them from shipment.
The user has to remove the box from the shipment by clicking the Remove button.
Dimension Capturing misses
In cases where dimension capturing is mandatory, but for all the closed boxes dimensions are not captured. In such a case, the user has to capture the dimensions for all the closed boxes (with some items) and then proceed with the closed shipment.
The Pack Box not closed
The user has added items to the box but has not closed the box. This box will not get added to the shipment, hence error will be thrown since the order is BLOCK_COMPLETE. We display the Box ID - Status - Count of Items on the packing screen. Here the user scan and close the box first.
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