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Many software options are
available for the SCI PARCEL SHIPPING SYSTEM (PSS) to allow you to
configure your System to your company's needs. These options may be
purchased with the initial PSS system or added anytime thereafter, so PSS
can change as your company changes. Overviews of some of the options
follow:
Level II
Interface
PSS uses this interface, which includes a user-modifiable program, to
allow direct access to and from your data files. Shipping information such
as the consignee’s name, address, and method of shipment can be retrieved
from your main system (ex. customer or order files). The same interface is
used to allow you to update your main system with the PSS shipping
information (ex. update your invoice with the freight charge and date
shipped). There are various times throughout the processing of shipments
that PSS will turn control over to the interface program. These “hooks”
allow you to customize and automate the way PSS interacts with your users.
Notes: SCI can customize the interface to interact with your
application programs
Bill
of Lading Print
You can have PSS print Bills of Lading instead of having them typed
manually. The user modifiable print program is set to print on a standard
Rapid Forms Bill of Lading, and can easily be modified to print on any
custom designed form. The print program will also create a Consolidated
Bill of Lading if the Box Consolidation Option is licensed.
Bar
Code Reading Module
For increased speed and accuracy, PSS can interpret one scanned bar code
from your document (ex. picking ticket, order form) to obtain information
that would otherwise have to be entered in four different places (company
#, invoice / order / pick-slip #, shipment #, and box #). This provides
PSS with the information it needs to identify the shipment and proceed
directly into the box processing stage. The user-modifiable program
reduces the likelihood that you will need to make any changes to your bar
code.
COD
Tag Print
The COD tag option prints approved UPS and FedEx Ground tags. A user can
modify the source program provided to print for any other carrier as
needed. You are required to print tags if you are not uploading to UPS or
if you are shipping via FedEx Ground. This option is not needed for FedEx
Express or Airborne. The COD Tags are printed as the box is processed,
which allows the tag to be applied to the appropriate box.
Handling Charge Option
The handling charge option gives you the ability to automatically include
a handling charge in your shipping charges. The handling charge can be set
up by parcel or by order and can be overridden by the operator if needed
(and if you allow it). This user-modifiable program enables you to make
even more handling charge decisions automatically when the shipment is
actually being processed. For example, you can base the handling charge on
the customer or order total.
Hazardous Materials
In order to identify boxes with hazardous materials, this option allows
you to maintain a library of hazardous codes and then assign the codes to
the necessary boxes. An approved UPS hazardous label can be printed. A
user can modify the source program provided to print a custom hazardous
label as needed.
Notes:
This option may be used for shipments by FedEx, Airborne and UPS.
Zone
Skip Option
Zone skipping is a technique used to reduce shipping costs for large
volume shippers. Centralized shipping points across the country are set up
as warehouses. PSS will then choose as an origin point for your shipment
the warehouse from which it costs the least to ship a package to its
destination. Typically, an LTL carrier is used to move your packages in
bulk to the selected shipping point, from which a small parcel carrier
delivers the packages to your customers. The idea behind Zone Skip is that
it is less expensive to deliver your packages to one or more centrally
located shipping points and have a small parcel carrier complete the
delivery process rather than utilizing a small parcel carrier alone for
the entire process. The Zone Skip Option is available for ground shipments
only.
Notes:
Least Cost calculation is disabled for each package designated as zone
skip.
PSS will not compare zone skip packages between different carriers.
Each warehouse designated as a zone-skip warehouse must be commissioned
with UPS and will require a separate PLD to be uploaded at the end of the
day.
Picker Identification
You can monitor the employees involved with the shipping process by
assigning them identifying codes. PSS will then prompt for the employee
code to associate with the boxes for tracking the picker of the boxes. A
library to enter and maintain the codes is provided as well as reports to
show what boxes each employee picked.
Packer Identification
You can monitor the employees involved with the shipping process by
assigning them identifying codes. PSS will then prompt for the employee
code to associate with the boxes for tracking the packer of the boxes. A
library to enter and maintain the codes is provided as well as reports to
show what boxes each employee packed.
Shipper Identification
You can monitor the employees involved with the shipping process by
assigning them identifying codes. PSS will then prompt for the employee
code to associate with the boxes for tracking the shipper of the boxes. A
library to enter and maintain the codes is provided as well as reports to
show what boxes each employee shipped.
SWOG
- Shipped With Other Goods
There are instances where you may be shipping multiple invoices (orders)
as one shipment. To accommodate this, this option allows you to enter the
associated invoices (orders) into the main shipment. PSS then maintains a
cross-reference so that historical information can be called up by
entering either the main invoice number (order number) or the SWOG’ed
invoices (orders). A user-modifiable program allows the SWOG’ed invoices
(orders) to be verified as they are entered.
Box
Consolidation Program for LTL Shipments
(Packing Station(s) Required)
After a box has been packed and sealed at the packing station and the
contents have been identified, a bar-coded box label will be generated
containing the packing list number and a box number. The box will then be
moved to an area where this box will be consolidated with others going to
the same destination. When the box consolidation program is executed, the
operator will open a new consolidating manifest record, scan all of the
boxes into a larger box until that larger box is full. This process is
repeated until all boxes are scanned into the consolidation manifest
record. PSS will know that the resulting boxes are the result of
consolidation. PSS will verify that all of the boxes being consolidated
have the same ship-to and ship-via. A box label will be printed for each
consolidated box. After the consolidated boxes are weighed and rated, PSS
will apportion the weight and freight charges to the individual boxes
equally based on the number of consolidated boxes.
Serial, Lot, or Batch Number Capture
Allows packer to capture and/or verify serial numbers, lot numbers, or
batch numbers during the packing process, and pass back to host.
Autocalc
Autocalc allows thousands, of shipments to be processed in just minutes.
If you have a group of packages with predetermined weights that need to be
shipped on the same day, there is no need to pass each box over the scale
for processing. Using the known weights, PSS can rate shipments in a batch
mode without tying up warehouse personnel or any weighing stations.
Insurance, COD’s, and any other accessorial services can also be included
in the rating of these packages. The end result of this procedure is the
same as if each package had been passed over the scale. The packages will
appear on the day’s manifests/reports and any interface into your own data
files will be updated. The use of the Autocalc feature can be inserted
into your own menuing system or run from TCL.
RF
Picking Interface
PSS uses this interface, which includes a user-modifiable program, to
allow direct access to and from your data files. Picking information such
as the bin location, part description and quantity to pick can be
retrieved from your main system (ex. SKU or order files). A file of
picked, verified and counted SKUs is written upon completion, which can
control the packing process. License plate labels can be generated for
pallet picking.
Notes: SCI can customize the interface to interact with your application
programs.
Third
Party Insurance
This option is useful for customers that either use a third party to
insure their shipments or that self-insure. Based on the details of the
contract signed with the third-party insurer, or your own in-house
insurance parameters, insurance charges will not be included on the UPS
Manifests. Thus you will not be billed for them by UPS. At any time, you
can run the included report to see your savings in insurance costs. This
report has been approved by some third-party insurers to be used as their
invoice to you; therefore you can simply print the report and mail it to
them with a check.
Least-Cost-Carrier
By setting parameters within PSS, you can have the Rating Station
automatically select the least costly shipping method from amongst a group
of services pre-defined by you. PSS can constantly update the least cost
carrier as boxes are added, or the user can have PSS do the comparison on
demand. This feature can easily be enabled and disabled programmatically
via the Level II Interface.
External Rating Screen Access
External Rating Screen Access allows the PSS Shipment Rating Station
screen to be called by any user-written application. For example, this
option can be integrated into your release confirmation program so
shipping can follow picking adjustments or it can be integrated into
customer service software to allow the operators to check on the shipping
information for a particular invoice. This option relieves the user of the
necessity of writing a shipping inquiry screen and prevents operators from
having to log off and onto PSS to check the shipping data. Included with
this option are the parameters for calling a subroutine that will call the
PSS rating screen and then return control to the calling program.
User
Rating Routine
The User Rating Routine provides you with the ability to calculate the
complete shipping charges for a particular shipment from any user-written
application. For example, you can use this routine with your order entry
process to estimate freight charges for quoting customers. Insurance,
COD’s, and any other accessorial services can also be included in the
rating of these packages. You simply call the rating routine by using the
included parameters and the rating results are returned for you to use or
display. There is also a rate quoting screen provided that allows you to
quote freight charges without having to implement any subroutine calling.
(No Rating Station License Required)
Manual Entry – Ship to
Database
This option allows for the entry and maintenance of a stand-alone ship-to
database that is integrated with the PSS rating & packing screens. When
shipping a parcel that does not have a customer order associated with it
(manual entry), this option will save time and eliminate errors. By using
“S” as an order number, PSS will bring the user into the ship-to database
program. The ship-to can be cross-referenced by entering part of the name
or filed as a new ship-to for future re-use.
Zip
Code Verification
This option will verify that the zip code used in a shipment is valid and
that it matches the city and state entered. If PSS senses a mismatch or
invalid zip code, the user will be warned and allowed to easily correct
the data. Included with this option is a data base which can be used by
your other software applications and which contains the cities, preferred
city (if more then one) and state for more then 42,000 zip codes in the
continental US, Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico.
This database
is available to any other application on your system. You may use the
database to verify name and address information in order entry.
Invoice Freight Charge Option
This option will allow a user to override the calculated freight charge
for billing purposes. The entered data is stored in a separate data field
for future comparison. A password is required.
Packing List Print
This option will print a packing list at the packing station reflecting
the items packed. The Level II interface must be modified to accommodate
this ability. The print program is user modifiable. Must have packing
station license(s)
Internet Access Module
The E-mail
Shipment Notification Option will E-mail an HTML formatted shipment
notification similar to the one pictured below. E-mail will be sent if a
recipient email address was provided through the Level II Interface. The
E-mail shipment notification processor may be initiated either manually by
menu selection or automatically by the end-of-day process. Upon receipt of
the E-mail notification, your customer need only open the email and click
on the hyper linked tracking number to display the internet tracking Web
site of the delivering carrier.
This is a screen shot of the
contents of my browser after I clicked on the hyper link
above. Your customer will be able to track all of the shipments made by
PSS.
Delivery Confirmation Option
This option will give you the ability to obtain delivery information from
the internet for packages delivered by FedEx (Express & Ground), Airborne
and UPS. Each PSS Rating Station using PSS Telnet will provide immediate
delivery status on an individual shipment. The batch process, which can be
run on demand, will submit every undelivered shipment and return the time
and date of delivery and who signed for it. The batch process also
includes a call to the Level II Interface program so that information
retrieved from the internet can be written back to your database. As an
added convenience, the batch process may be called by the end-of-day
update process for each supported carrier.
Auditing Option
This option includes three tracking and auditing reports, each of which is
run for a range of shipping dates. The first is a performance report that
will identify all shipments, their tracking numbers, and if delivered the
date and time they were delivered. Where carrier performance guarantees
exist, the report will also include the number of days a shipment was late
and the credit due for freight charges. The second report will generate
the same information but only those shipments that have been delivered.
The third audit report will print information only for those shipments
that were delivered late based on the carrier performance guarantees. If
the start and end date of the audit report matches the service start and
end date on your carrier's bill, the report can be used as a credit memo
for late shipments to offset the carrier's invoice. The credit report will
print the tracking number, ship-to address, service (next day, ground,
etc.) date and time delivered, the number of days a shipment was late and
the credit due for freight charges.
Note: There is no guarantee that you
will obtain credit from any carrier based upon information provided by
this option
Time in Transit Option - Available October 2002
This option will obtain time-in-transit information and build a database
of shipment performance by carrier based upon your actual delivery
experience. The PSS rating engine will not only compare carriers for best
rates but will also compare performance data. This performance information
will also be passed to the external rating routine so the same decision
making data is available at order entry.
File Transfer Option - Available October 2002
This option will direct the end-of-day manifest file from your host
computer to a network file and then FTP the file to Airborne, USPS or
FedEx Ground (RPS) without additional scripts or intervention.
The station processing the Accounting Package requires a PSS Telnet
License and an internet connection.
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