The Cartonization feature will allow you to automatically optimize and rearrange SKUs to improve your carton usage.


Please review this quick introduction to the feature and follow the instructions below:


NOTE: This feature is available for techShip Plus (as a paid add-on) and techShip MultiSite (included) setups only.


Cartonization requires more than one element in place than just the step-by-step procedure to use it. This article focuses on how it works rather than how every involved element in the process is set up.

Separate articles and links will be provided for that below.


For Cartonization to work, techSHIP will need to know:

  1. If your Carton Import mode will be Cartonization or not (setup described below)
  2. Assign the Cartonization Packing Slip, in order to print a packing slip that details the Packaging type to use and the SKUs that should be packed in it
  3. Which Predefined Boxes are available, their dimensions, weight and cartonization utilization parameters
  4. Which Items are to be Cartonized as well as their dimensions and weights

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Cartonization will try to find the most adequate fit for your SKUs within your available Predefined Boxes.

The critical elements taken into account are:

  • Dimensions: That all the SKUs can fit properly in the box
  • Max Weight: That the box can hold the weight of all the SKUs included
  • Min Allocation: That the box space is used at least as much as indicated


In this case, these SKUs would fit in 3 of the 4 available boxes, but only one meets all the requirements.

  • The XL Carton is too big, and there would be too much unused space 
  • The M Carton is too small
  • The L Carton is a good fit, meets the allocation requirement, but the box cannot hold that weight
  • The L Plus Carton, rougher and able to hold more weight, meets all the requirements



ASSIGN THE CARTONIZATION PACKING SLIP

For packers to know which SKUs should be packed in which boxes, and which box type these are, you need to configure the Cartonization Packing Slip.


To do so, you will have to:

1. Access Clients under the Maintenance dropdown and choose the Client.


2. Edit the billing/carrier account to which you wish to enable packing slips.


3. Check the Include packing slips option. This will let you use packing slips for this account, and the Packing Slip type dropdown will appear.


4. Select the General - Packing w/Carton option from the Packing Slip type dropdown 



5. Press Save to apply the setup


SINGLE IMPORT CARTONIZATION

These additional steps will trigger techSHIP to rearrange cartons when importing.

This will apply to the order/batch you're importing only.


1. Access Import orders under the Orders dropdown



2. Click expand to display the additional import fields


3. Open Carton Import and select Cartonization



4. Keep processing the order as usual, or as described here, skipping Step 1.


DEFAULT CARTONIZATION FOR ALL IMPORTS UNDER A CLIENT

These additional steps will set techSHIP to rearrange cartons for every order which is imported under the Client that has had the feature turned on.


1. Access Clients under the Maintenance menu


2. Click on the client for which you wish to set up Cartonization

3. Select Cartonization from the Carton Import Mode dropdown; as you do, the Cartonization algorithm dropdown will be displayed, from where you'll have to choose between the following options:

  • Basic: Verifies how by basic dimensions and weight, orders should be repacked 
  • Basic with Rotation: Verifies how by basic dimensions and weight, as well as rotating the items, orders should be repacked  
  • EB-AFIT: Verifies how by the military grade EB-AFIT algorithm supporting full rotation and 3D packing preview, orders should be repacked

4. Press Save to confirm the changes




NOTE: After doing so, as orders imported through the Client profile that has Cartonization and the other elements (Predefined Boxes and Items) configured will be cartonized, with the import process as a regular one.