Packing and Checkout
PACKING AND CHECKOUT STRATEGIES
The Packing and Checkout module includes all functionality related to checking picked orders before they are invoiced or dispatched. The module includes a broad range of pack station solutions. Increasingly warehouses are fine picking smaller customers’ orders and shipping them directly to the customer (Think Amazon).
All pack station systems are designed to operate on a PC or tablet mounted on purposed built checkout stations with carton labeling printers and invoice or dispatch note printing equipment. These solutions perform a detailed order check as the packing takes place.
For environments wanting a simple checkout the DATASCOPE WMS solution includes a range of scanner based checkouts.
A set of mass checkouts are included where the picked order is simply weighed before releasing the invoice.
SIMPLE CHECKOUT OPTIONS
- Scanner checkouts
In this checkout mode orders would be scanned into a checkout station/staging area. On arrival, a dispatch checker would use a mobile devise to perform the required order checks.
If the order was split across warehouse or areas the program will request the checker to fist confirm that all linked picking slips are available to be checked. Once confirmed the checkout would take place as follows:
Options:
- The software steps through each product giving the checker the picked quantity and the checker simply confirms that product is there.
- The picked order is repacked over a short conveyor and each carton UPC or EAN number is scanned to confirm the order
- A blind count is performed where a user simply enters the quantity of each product and the software confirms or fails the checkout.
Once the checkout is completed, the order can be scanned to a dispatch staging bin/cage.
- Consolidated checkout
This module has been developed to consolidate linked orders together. An example of this is the management of no-backorder clients. The warehouse may release the order in parts as inventory becomes available. Each part is picked and staged. Once the last picking slip has been completed the consolidated checkout is used to confirm that all picking slips are ready. The checkout then checks the entire order.
- Mass checkout
The PC based Final Mass check module has been designed to perform a simple mass check before invoicing. In this module, the picking slip/s are delivered to a mass station where each pallet of product is simply placed on a load cell which is integrated to the DATASCOPE software. Provided each pallet passes the mass check the order is released and invoiced.
PACK STATION CHECKOUT OPTIONS
- SKU Level Mass Check
In this mode of checkout, orders are delivered to a set of packing stations with an inbuilt scale linked to a PC running DATASCOPE WMS. The picking slip is scanned to load all picked lines. The packer then builds a carton and places it on the scale and tares it. Now products are scanned or selected from eth screen and placed into the carton. Once the carton is full the packer selects to move to a new carton. The software prints the required carton label and the process starts over with the next carton. The labeling can be configured dynamically to include customer logos etc. Once the entire picking slip has been packed the software prompts the user to invoice or dispatch note the order. The invoice or dispatch note is printed at the station together with a full packing slip with carton content details. The order is then scanned into a dispatch bin location.
This mass check can be set to check eth mass of each item individually or cumulatively. If the setting is selected to mass check cumulatively the packer simply adds each item to the carton on the weigh scale and the software manages the net weigh calculations of each SKU.
- Consolidated Order Checkout
This mode works in the same way as the line mass check above, but allows several separate orders to be checked and packed as a group provided that the customer is the same. Here a range of picking slips are delivered to a checkout station. The checker/packer opens several cartons and labels each one. All order lines are presented to the user for all orders in the group. The user selects products to pack into the range of cartons. Once complete each carton is mass checked and the user is prompted to invoice the order/s or generate dispatch notes for the order/s. The software generates a consolidated packing list showing the product per carton and to which customer order they belong.
- Carton Checkout
This checkout station is used for high volume warehouses that pick many single SKU cartons but also fine pick products that must be packed in a carton before invoicing. The interface allows the checker/packer to select product to checkout. If the product is already cartonized the required shipping labels are printed, applied and the cartons moved into the dispatch area. Packers will typically process all cartons and then at the end the loose units will be selected and packed into a multi SKU carton. On confirmation of the checkout a detailed packing list with print and the required Invoice or dispatch note will print at the station.
- Mass Checkout by Carton
This checkout mode is used mainly when the warehouse is running the pick to carton picking strategy. Orders will arrive at the checkout station already boxed. This mode of checkout allows the checker to mass check each carton and label it. On processing the last carton for the order, the software prompts for an invoice or dispatch note and prints a detailed picking slip at carton level together with the required invoice of dispatch note.
- Mass Checkout by Tote
This checkout mode is essentially the same as the one above but it manages the process with a reusable tote.
CHECKOUT ADMIN TOOLS
A full suite of administration tools is available for the packing and checkout module. This includes unpacking cartons, removing cartons from a shipment, unpicking an incorrectly picked order etc. The module also has reprinting tools for reprinting packing slips and carton labels.
An unship function allows any invoice failure in SYSPRO to be reversed and reprocessed easily.
