About automatic packaging for non-integrated carriers

Once the automatic packaging functionality has been configured, you can use it when you prepare a sales order for shipping or create a consolidated shipment.

Because the calculation of packages is resource-intensive, the system calculates packages only when the user requests this calculation.
As you are preparing a sales order in the Sales orders (SO301000) window and adding items, the system calculates the weight and volume of the sales order.
Once you specify the delivery information on the Delivery settings tab, including the ship via code, the shipping terms, and the shipping zone, and save the order, the system determines the set of boxes, each package weight, the freight cost, and the freight charges.

The system uses a heuristic algorithm (an algorithm that quickly finds a satisfactory set of boxes, however it does not guarantee that this set is the best one) and the following information to make suggestions about the boxes required for the order:

• The lists of boxes assigned to each ship via code, with the maximum weight and volume each box can hold and the weight of the box (which must include the weight of any packaging material)
• The quantity of each stock item in base units, the weight and volume of the base unit of the item, and the option instructing the system about how to pack this item
• The quantity of each non-stock item in base units, and the weight and volume of the base unit of the item

You can view the particular packages in the Shop for rates dialog box, which opens when you click the Packages button on the Delivery settings tab.
You can review the calculated totals on the Totals tab of the Sales orders (SO301000) window.
If freight for a specific ship via code should be specified manually, you can enter the total freight amount in the Freight field on the Totals tab.

In some cases, you may need to edit the packages manually. If you select the Manual packaging check box, you can adjust information about the boxes and their contents to match the quantities and weights of actual packages.

Once a shipment is generated for a sales order, the system updates the packages calculated for the order (if needed), and information about particular boxes used for the shipment becomes available for review on the Packages tab.
If needed, you can adjust the packages manually: correct the gross weights of particular packages, or select another box (or other boxes) to match the quantities and weights of the actual packages.

You can create shipments for multiple orders by using the Process orders (SO501000) window.
If multiple orders are consolidated into one shipment, you can recalculate the packages initially determined for sales orders by clicking the Refresh packages button in the toolbar on the Packages tab of the Shipments (SO302000) window.
Once the set of boxes is determined for the consolidated shipment, you can review and edit this list if needed on the Packages tab.

You can specify that certain items should always be packed manually; for example, if the items are small and can fit into a box packed with other items.
To exclude such items from automatic packaging, you should select Manual in the Packaging option field in the Stock items (IN202500) window (on the Packaging tab).

Then when preparing a sales order with such items in the Sales orders (SO301000) window, you will need to select the boxes to be used to ship these items on the Shop for rates dialog box, specify their gross weights and the declared values in the Packages table.
Recalculation of these packages will not be performed automatically for this order and that these particular packages will be used for shipping (even if the order is a part of a consolidated shipment).