Shipping

Directions integrates with UPS, FedEx, and USPS systems.  That means that at the end of the day, shipping and tracking information is automatically transmitted to carriers and will be available for customer look up. 

Those customer with eMail addresses can be sent shipment notification with the tracking number.  Customers only need to click on the tracking number to open an order status  window. 

Directions allows a requested shipping date to be entered for each line of an order. The system works backward from that date, using the shipping zone file, to determine the date that the product should be shipped. Future shipment reports give the schedule of shipments to be made in the future. Before the peak shipment time arrives, picking tickets for future dates can be generated by Directions. These orders are then assembled, labeled, and stored in designated areas in the warehouse. When the actual ship date arrives, it is simply a matter of loading the truck with the predated packages.

During peak seasons, with very large volumes moving across the country to distant shipping zones, there are thousands of dollars to be saved by using the Directions method of alternate zone shipping. In this instance, shipping documents are printed and shipping charges are calculated as though the packages were being shipped from a local terminal in that distant zone. These packages are loaded in bulk and moved by common carrier to that terminal. With shipping costs constantly escalating for remote zones, these savings will increase your profitability.

The shipping manifest streamlines the time consuming process of weighing and taping each package. For this, separate ship items have shipping weights in the item database  which are used to calculate actual shipping charges. 

When several items are packed together with shipping materials, the shipping weight will not be available until after the package has been sealed. A scale and a bar code scanner  are then used to weigh and scan the package for final verification.