It is often the case that a range of shipping methods will be used that can potentially include both own logistics and a number of third-party shipping agents. The choice of the most appropriate shipping service will normally depend on a number of factors. For example, it is unlikely the same shipping service would be used for an shipping a packet as would be used for a pallet.
The Shipping Agent Usage and Charges Page provides the ability to set the rules to determine which Shipping Agent and Shipping Agent Service should be used on Source Documents and also, optionally create an additional line to create a Shipping Charge.
Shipment Management Setup:
In order to use this feature, first there are two settings on the Shipment Management Setup Page that should be considered:
| Select Shipping Agent/Service on Release |
This Field determines if the Shipping Agent and Shipping Agent Service Fields should be automatically determined on the release of the source document. If this is not set the user will have to use the Calculate Shipping Function in order to update the values. |
| Calculate Shipping Charges |
Enabling this Field will calculate any shipping charges and add a new line to the sales document. In order for these lines to be processed as part of the warehouse process new options should also be enabled on the Warehouse Setup page. |
Shipment Agent Service:
In order to use Shipping Charges, some setup will need to be completed on the is the Shipping Agents Services Page.
On this page the following fields should be populated:
| Shipping Charge Type |
Select the line type for the resultant shipping charge line. This can be a G/L Account, Item Charge or an Item (of Type Non-Inventory). |
| Shipping Charge No. |
Select the G/L Account No., Item Charge No. or Item (Non-Inventory) to use depending on the Shipping Charge Type selected. |
| Shipping Charge Assignment |
If the Shipping Charge Type is Item Charge then select how the shipping charge is apportioned across the lines. Choose from Equally, Amount, Weight or Volume. |
| Shipping Charge Description |
Enter the description for the shipping charge line that should be displayed on the source document when it is created. |
| Hint: It can be useful to use different G/L Account, Item Charge numbers or Non-Inventory Item Numbers against different shipping agent services as this can allow the ability to reconcile the costs charged by shipping agents with the revenue received. |
Postcode Regions:
If you want to group together a selection of Post Codes, then you can create entries in the Postcode Regions Page. On this list enter a unique Code to identify the Postcode Region, an optional Description, and the Country/Region Code it applies to.
Then select the Postcodes Action from the Ribbon to open the Postcode Region Entries Page. Here you can define all of the Postcode Areas that make up the region using the Post Code To and Post Code From fields.
Shipping Agent Usage and Charges:
The Shipping Agent Usage and Charges Page can be found by using the search function available in Business Central. You can also view the entries relating to a particular Shipping Agent from the Shipping Agent Service Page.
The Page has the following fields:
| Country/Region Code |
Select the Country/Region code the entry is applicable to |
| Post Code Region |
If a specific Post Code can determine different Shipping Agents or Rates you can define a Post Code Region. Select from a pre-defined Post Code Region or create a new one from here. See below for more details on Post Code Regions |
| Starting Date |
Set the date the entry is valid from (if applicable) |
| Ending Date |
Set the date the entry is valid to (if applicable) |
| Maximum Order Value |
Enter the maximum order value the entry is applicable to |
| Maximum Weight |
Enter the maximum order volume the entry is applicable to |
| Shipping Agent Code |
Select Shipping Agent that should be used on the documents fitting the defined criteria |
| Shipping Agent Service Code |
Select the Shipping Agent Service that should be used on the documents fitting the defined criteria |
| Currency Code |
If you are defining a Shipping Charge, then you can select the Currency Code you want to use if required. Leaving this Field blank will use your systems Local Currency. When creating shipping charges the system will use a currency charge if it exists otherwise it will convert from the local currency value |
| Shipping Charge Amount |
if you are defining a Shipping Charge, then this Field should be used to define the value charged to the customer for shipping. If no value is entered the entry will purely be used to determine the Shipping Agent/Shipping Agent Service |
| Note: For Maximum Order Value, Maximum Weight and Maximum Volume only order lines of Type Item are considered on the Source Documents. |