[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” width=”auto” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text ul_item_indent=”30px” admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.22.2″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n
Shipment rule automation: three words that together can have a huge business impact. If you\u2019re planning to introduce shipment automation software into your warehouse, this article is for you.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Contents<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s dive in.<\/p>\n
First, let\u2019s define shipping. Shipping is the process of preparing, packaging, and loading products for placement onto an outbound truck for delivery to a customer.<\/p>\n
The shipping process<\/a> includes everything from choosing which carrier to use to preparing the correct documentation to printing the shipping label<\/a>.<\/p>\n As you can see, there are a lot of steps involved in shipping. More specifically, there are a lot of decisions <\/i>involved in the shipping process. And whenever decisions come into play there is the potential for all sorts of complications.<\/p>\n Workers have to make judgement calls and strike a balance between efficiency (following a predetermined system) and protecting business value (inspecting products or adding elements like insurance).<\/p>\n Even if workers are trained on when to deviate from the standard procedure (e.g., purchase insurance if the value of a product exceeds $200 or call a shipping manager for a pre-shipment inspection for items over $2,000 in value), it still takes time to assess each situation.<\/p>\n And in the ecommerce<\/a> fulfillment business, where every delay can impact customer satisfaction<\/a> and labor costs<\/a>, these extra steps and decisions add up.<\/p>\n Shipment rule automation assigns the lion\u2019s share of these tasks to your shipping software. For instance, if you\u2019ve decided that all items valued over $200 require insurance, the software will automatically execute this task in the system. A worker does not need to scan the order, find the order value, and purchase the insurance. It\u2019s completed automatically.<\/p>\n The logic of shipment rule automation is \u201cif\/then\u201d statements.<\/p>\n If <\/i><\/strong>the value of a product exceeds $200, then <\/i><\/strong>purchase insurance from the carrier.<\/p>\n The \u201cif\u201d statement serves as the condition (the evaluation and decision-making process an employee would need to make) while the \u201cthen\u201d statement serves as the action the worker would have taken.<\/p>\n Fortunately, warehouse managers don\u2019t need to code these systems and logic statements into their warehouse management systems (WMS)<\/a> themselves. Instead, their shipping automation software presents a user-friendly settings page where they can use checklists, drop down menus, and fields to select the conditions and actions for their shipment rules.<\/p>\n In most shipping automation tools, rules are executed based on a hierarchy. If there are multiple rules, the rules are executed in sequence. When applicable, rules higher up on the list override rules lower on the list.<\/p>\n Warehouse managers use several shipping rules to streamline their operations. The following are some of the actions (the \u201cthen\u201d portion of the \u201cif\/then\u201d statement) that warehouse operators assign to their shipping automation rules.<\/p>\nHow Does Shipment Rule Automation Work?<\/h2>\n
What Are the Most Popular Types of Shipping Automation Rules?<\/h2>\n