Shipment Management
Efficient shipment management ensures timely delivery and customer satisfaction. This guide covers the complete shipping process in Angage ERP.
Understanding Shipments
Shipment Types
Standard Shipment
- Single delivery address
- One or multiple packages
- Standard carrier service
- Regular tracking
Split Shipment
- Multiple delivery locations
- Partial order fulfillment
- Phased delivery
- Complex routing
Drop Shipment
- Direct from supplier
- Bypass warehouse
- Special tracking
- Vendor coordination
Express Shipment
- Priority handling
- Expedited service
- Premium tracking
- Guaranteed delivery
Creating Shipments
From Sales Order
Standard process:
- Open confirmed sales order
- Click Create Shipment
- System checks:
- Stock availability
- Packing completion
- Address validation
- Carrier availability
- Select items to ship
- Generate shipment
From Delivery Order
After warehouse processing:
- Open validated delivery order
- Review picked items
- Click Ship Now
- Select carrier service
- Print shipping documents
- Confirm dispatch
Batch Shipments
For multiple orders:
- Go to Warehouse → Batch Shipping
- Filter ready orders:
- By route
- By carrier
- By priority
- By destination
- Create consolidated shipment
- Generate manifests
Shipment Workflow
1. Pre-Shipment
Address Validation
- Verify delivery address
- Check service availability
- Validate postal codes
- Confirm recipient details
Package Configuration
- Select box sizes
- Calculate dimensions
- Determine weight
- Apply packing rules
Carrier Selection
- Compare rates
- Check service levels
- Review transit times
- Apply customer preferences
2. Documentation
Shipping Labels
- Generate carrier labels
- Include barcodes
- Add handling instructions
- Print in correct format
Packing Lists
- List all items
- Include quantities
- Show order references
- Add special notes
Commercial Documents
- Commercial invoice
- Certificate of origin
- Dangerous goods declaration
- Customs forms
3. Tracking & Updates
Real-Time Tracking
- Carrier integration
- Status updates
- Location tracking
- Delivery confirmation
Customer Notifications
- Shipment confirmation
- Tracking link
- Delivery updates
- Exception alerts
How-To Guides
How to Configure Carriers
- Navigate to Settings → Shipping → Carriers
- Add new carrier:
- Name and code
- API credentials
- Service types
- Zone definitions
- Configure services:
- Standard ground
- Express/overnight
- International
- Special handling
- Set up rate tables
- Test integration
How to Handle Multi-Package Shipments
- Open shipment record
- Click Add Package
- For each package:
- Select box type
- Add items
- Enter weight
- Apply insurance
- Generate labels for all
- Create master tracking
How to Manage International Shipments
Customs Documentation
- Verify HS codes
- Calculate duties/taxes
- Generate commercial invoice
- Complete customs forms
- Attach certificates
Compliance Checks
- Export controls
- Restricted items
- License requirements
- Country restrictions
- Documentation requirements
How to Process Returns
Return Merchandise Authorization (RMA)
- Customer requests return
- Create RMA:
- Return reason
- Items to return
- Condition expected
- Action (refund/exchange)
- Generate return label
- Track return shipment
Receiving Returns
- Scan return label
- Inspect items
- Update inventory
- Process refund/exchange
- Notify customer
How to Optimize Shipping Costs
Rate Shopping
- Compare carrier rates
- Consider service levels
- Evaluate transit times
- Factor in surcharges
Consolidation Strategies
- Combine orders same destination
- Use zone skipping
- Leverage regional carriers
- Optimize package sizes
Cost Allocation
- Apply shipping rules
- Calculate customer charges
- Track actual vs. billed
- Analyze profitability
Advanced Features
Route Optimization
Delivery Planning
- Group orders by zone
- Optimize delivery sequence
- Consider vehicle capacity
- Plan time windows
- Generate route maps
Fleet Management
- Vehicle assignment
- Driver allocation
- Route tracking
- Performance monitoring
- Cost analysis
Warehouse Integration
Pick-Pack-Ship
- Integrated workflows
- Barcode scanning
- Quality checks
- Packing optimization
- Label printing
Cross-Docking
- Bypass storage
- Direct transfer
- Reduced handling
- Faster delivery
- Lower costs
Carrier Integrations
Supported Carriers
- FedEx
- UPS
- DHL
- USPS
- Regional carriers
- White glove services
Integration Features
- Rate calculation
- Label generation
- Tracking updates
- Proof of delivery
- Invoice reconciliation
Best Practices
Accuracy & Efficiency
- Validate addresses early
- Use standard box sizes
- Automate carrier selection
- Batch similar shipments
- Monitor performance
Customer Experience
- Provide tracking immediately
- Send proactive updates
- Offer delivery options
- Handle exceptions quickly
- Follow up post-delivery
Cost Management
- Negotiate carrier rates
- Monitor accessorial charges
- Optimize packaging
- Reduce damages
- Audit carrier invoices
Compliance
- Maintain documentation
- Follow carrier requirements
- Update restricted lists
- Train staff regularly
- Audit processes
Configuration
Shipping Settings
Navigate to Settings → Shipping:
- Default Carrier: Primary service
- Label Format: 4x6, 8.5x11
- Insurance Rules: Automatic thresholds
- Packaging Types: Available boxes
- Service Levels: Enabled options
Automation Rules
Configure automatic actions:
- Carrier assignment
- Service selection
- Insurance application
- Document generation
- Status updates
Integration Setup
For each carrier:
- API credentials
- Account numbers
- Pickup locations
- Service mappings
- Error handling
Performance Metrics
Key Indicators
- On-time delivery rate
- Shipping cost per order
- Damage/loss rate
- First attempt delivery
- Customer satisfaction
Reports
- Shipping analysis
- Carrier performance
- Cost breakdown
- Zone distribution
- Exception tracking
Troubleshooting
Common Issues
Cannot generate label
- Verify carrier credentials
- Check address format
- Confirm service availability
- Review weight/dimensions
Tracking not updating
- Check carrier integration
- Verify tracking number
- Review update frequency
- Contact carrier support
Rate calculation errors
- Update rate tables
- Check zone definitions
- Verify dimensions
- Review surcharges
International shipping blocked
- Verify customs info
- Check restrictions
- Complete documentation
- Review compliance
Next Steps
Learn about Returns & Credits to handle the complete post-sales process.