Multi-package shipments

In some cases, a delivery order with multiple items may need to be shipped in multiple packages. This may be necessary if the items are too large to ship in a single package, or if certain items cannot be packaged together. Shipping a single delivery order in multiple packages allows each item to be packaged differently, without creating multiple delivery orders.

Configuration

To split a delivery order across multiple packages, the Packages setting must be enabled. To do so, navigate to Inventory app ‣ Configuration ‣ Settings, then in the Operations section, select the Packages checkbox. Click Save to confirm the change.

Ship items in multiple packages

To split items in the same delivery order across multiple packages, navigate to the Inventory app. On the Inventory Overview page, click the # to Process button on the Delivery Orders card. On the Delivery Orders page, select a delivery order that has multiple items, multiple quantities of the same item, or both.

On the Operations tab, select the (Open Move) icon for the product that will be shipped in the first package.

This opens the Open: Stock move pop-up window. In the table in the pop-up window, the Quantity column shows the total quantity of the product included in the delivery order.

If the full quantity will be shipped in the first package, enter the Demand value in the Quantity column. If less than the full quantity will be shipped in the first package, enter a smaller number than the Demand quantity. Then, specify a Destination Package for the product.

If the product is to be split into multiple packages, click the Add a line link and split the Quantity between the different Destination Package options that are created.

Click Save to confirm the packages and close the pop-up.

If packaging multiple products into the same package, repeat the steps for each product. Be sure to specify the same Destination Package in the Open: Stock move window.

For the next package, follow the same steps outlined above, marking the Quantity and Destination Package for each item to be included. Continue doing so until the full quantity of all products has been added to packages.

Finally, after all packages have been shipped, click Validate to confirm that the delivery order is complete.

Tip

After one or more packages are created, a Packages smart button appears above the delivery order. Click the Packages smart button to open the Packages page for the delivery order, where each package can be selected to view all of its items.

Create a back order for items to be shipped later

If some items will be shipped later than others, there is no need to package them until they are ready to ship. Instead, create a back order for the items being shipped later.

Begin by shipping the items that will be shipped immediately. If they will be shipped in multiple packages, follow the steps in Ship items in multiple packages to package them as required. If they will be shipped in a single package, mark the Quantity and Destination Package for all of the products in that shipment.

After all quantities being shipped immediately are packaged, return to the delivery order form. Change the Quantity for the back ordered items to 0 or to the partial quantity being shipped. Then, click the Validate button, and a Create Backorder? pop-up window appears. Click the Create Backorder button. Doing so immediately confirms the items being shipped and creates a new delivery order for the items that will be shipped later.

The back order delivery order will be listed in the chatter of the original delivery order, with a message that reads The backorder WH/OUT/XXXXX has been created. Click on WH/OUT/XXXXX in the message to view the back order delivery order.

The back order delivery order can also be accessed by navigating to Inventory, clicking the # Back Orders link on the Delivery Orders card, and selecting the delivery order.

When the remaining items are ready to be shipped, navigate to the back order delivery order. The items can be shipped in a single package by clicking Validate, or shipped in multiple packages by following the steps outlined in Ship items in multiple packages.

It is also possible to ship some of the items while creating a new back order for the rest. To do so, follow the same steps used to create the first back order.