Shipping Manager Overview

Calculate the shipping charges from within a sales order and then easily communicate the customer and order details to the shipping software.

Also known as: Freight and Shipping

Overview

Estimate Shipping Rates

Shipping rates can be calculated within an EBMS sales order to quickly provide estimated shipping costs. These calculations can include using standard formulas setup within the shipping methods, rate formulas within the customer record, a custom rate table for specific shippers, and directly from the online UPS rate table. The freight cost can be determined by adding a markup to the standard shipper rates and adding optional handling fees.

Detailed Shipping Values

Setup various shipping values on each inventory item including dimensional weights, shipping codes, and handling fees per unit of measure

Choose from a variety of ways to estimate shipping method rates including rates using standard formulas within the shipping methods:

Rates based on rate formulas within the customer record
Rates from a custom rate table for specific shippers
Rates from the online UPS rate table

Interface with Shipping Software

This module can integrate with any shipping management software that can communicate using ODBC. This includes UPS WorldShip, FedEx Shipping Manager,and Endicia. These integrations allow third-party software to pull customer and package information from EBMS eliminating double entry. The integration also allows for final package and pricing information to be written back to EBMS after it has been shipped. EBMS can also communicate with UPS & FedEx to display current shipping rates on an eCommerce website.

Getting Started

EBMS includes the ability to calculate Freight charges within a sales order or proposal based on the shipping method, shipping destination, and weight or dimensions of the items shipped. EBMS will estimate shipping costs within the sales order window giving the user the ability to quote the entire sales order including shipping costs. The freight and shipping tools within a sales order or quote are linked to the Ship Via setting which contains user defined Shipping Methods. EBMS seamlessly interfaces with ShipEngine, UPS WordShip, Shipping Manager, and other shipping tools.

Common Use Cases

Scenario: A truck upfitter sells replacement truck parts within North America as well as overseas. These special-order parts are shipped directly to the customer using USPS, FedEx, or common carrier based on the size and weight of the package. The salesperson can conveniently determine the most cost-effective shipping option within the sales order based on the distance, time restraints, and size. Company management has configured EBMS with the preferred shipping methods allowing the customer service staff to conveniently chose from a list of primary options. The label is printed from EBMS by shipping department without requiring 3rd party software integrations. This convenient shipping tool gives the staff of the company the tools to offer timely and efficient options to meet the needs of their customers.

Scenario: A specialty food manufacturer sells product both wholesale and retail using a variety of sales platforms. The EBMS freight tools records the standard delivery rate by the company trucks or various carriers. Shipments from their retail sales platforms including their ecommerce site can be processed and shipped quickly using the ShipEngine tool within EBMS. The shipping department reviews the order list to be delivered by LTL shipment and other express carriers while the dispatcher reviews the orders scheduled to be delivered by company truck. Packing lists and bill of lading forms are printed from EBMS. The flexible shipping process gives the company the ability to integrate delivery logistics within the EBMS order entry system.

Scenario: An equipment manufacturer builds made-to-order product that is shipped directly to the consumer or retailer. Orders are staged to package multiple units on the same shipment without compromising prompt delivery. The manufacturing schedule is planed with the shipping process to get the product to the customer as quickly and cost-effectively as possible. Order status and shipping methods including tracking information are conveniently displayed within the sales order. The tight integration of the inventory, order processing, shipping, and financial tools gives this company a competitive edge in the marketplace.

Purpose of Shipping methods

Determine if the items on a sales document are being shipped or if the items are picked up at the store location (FOB). This setting effects the following items in EBMS:

The Ship To account is printed on the sales document if the item is shipped
Determine the type of shipper that is being used
May effect the sales tax calculation If shipping rates apply

Calculate shipping costs
Direct information to shipping software

Shipping rates can be calculated using the following methods:

Calculate rates using standard formulas within the shipping methods: Review the Creating Shipping Methods section for more details.
Calculate and compare rates using ShipEngine. Review Integrating ShipEngine for setup instructions.
Calculate rates based on rate formulas within the customer record: Review the Entering a Shipping Rate for a Customer section for more details.
Calculate rates from the online UPS rate table: Review Interfacing UPS WorldShip with EBMS for instructions to communicate directly with UPS WorldShip.

The optional ShipEngine service facilitates the interface between shipping software such as UPS, FedEx, USPS and EBMS as well as ecommrece platforms such as Shopify, Woo commerce, and Amazon. The interface is able to calculate and compare shipping rates, print labels from EBMS, and communicate directly to various shippers. The freight cost can be determined by adding a markup to the standard shipper rates and adding optional handling fees.

Complete the following steps to interface EBMS Shipping Manager with UPS WorldShip, FedEx Shipping Manager, USPS, and other shipping software:

Create Shipping Methods for each available shipping option. For example, create a separate shipping method for UPS Ground, UPS Next Day Air, UPS Next Day Air Saver, UPS 2nd Day Air, etc. Review Creating Shipping Methods for steps to create these shipping methods.
Enter Weight and other package settings within the inventory item. Rates are based on the package weight or the dimensional weight within the inventory item. Review Calculating Total Weight for more details on the standard weight calculation within a sales order. The more advanced method of determining shipping costs is using dimensional weight. Review Shipping Settings within an Inventory Item for more details on setting dimensional weights, handling fees, or other shipping settings set per inventory item.
Select the desired shipping method within the sales order to calculate the estimated shipping charges on the sales order. Review Calculating and Comparing Freight Charges for instruction to configure freight costs.
Connect shipping options to EBMS Shipping Manager:

ShipEngine to interface multiple shipping options: Review Integrating ShipEngine for setup instructions.
Alternative direct UPS WorldShip configuration: Review Interfacing UPS WorldShip with EBMS instructions.
Manually enter shipping options: Review Setup Shippers to record shipper interface information.

Compare rates: Review Calculating and Comparing Freight Charges for rate comparison options within a sales document. The freight and shipping settings effect the sales tax calculations. Review Sales Tax > Sales Tax Overview for more details.
Review the shipping details within the EBMS sales order. See Calculating and Comparing Freight Charges for more information on the Shipping tab within the sales order.
Review Shipping and Tracking Packages for steps to process a shipment, generate labels, and track packages.

EBMS can also display current shipping rates on an eCommerce website. Review the Configuring the Shopping Cart > Shipping Options within the eCommerce documentation for the shipping options within the integrated eCommerce system.

Features Included

Select the desired shipping method within the EBMS Sales Order to estimate UPS LTL/Freight costs
Enter standard handling fees and a percentage markup on UPS freight to automatically calculate freight costs
Setup various shipping values on each inventory item
Communicate customer name, address, weights, and desired shipping method directly into UPS WorldShip or FedEx Ship Manager, Endicia, or any other software that can communicate with EBMS through an ODBC connection.
Send the verification email from the shipping software to the customer's email address stored in EBMS.
The package's tracking information and actual weight can be accessed from the EBMS Sales Order screen
Conveniently verify the location of packages using the UPS tracking system directly from EBMS
Enter default shipping rate for a customer
Calculate total weight of an item by using gross weight or dimensional weights
Enter appropriate item shipping details including Import/Export, MSDS, NMFC, and Hazardous Materials for reference purposes.
Integrates with ShipEngine