Despatch Method¶

This system table holds dispatch methods used to deliver orders.

The fields in the grid are un-editable. Each dispatch method may be added/edited through a separate form which appears by clicking
‘Add’/’Amend’ button.

In the ‘Customers’ form the dispatch method may be set for a particular customer. The ‘Despatch Method’ field looks up this table
(Sales Files > Customers > Defaults > Despatch Method). The selected dispatch method will be used for this customers’ orders unless
a user selects the other dispatch method manually (Order Processing > Orders > Add/Amend > Despatch Method) or certain dispatch method
is set up for today in ‘Despatch Method Days’ system table.

Scheduling
For certain despatch methods, it is now possible to disable ‘Update Required Date with Scheduled Date’ and actually make the required date the next available delivery day in customer record after the scheduled date.
To activate this, there is a new flag in System Tables > Despatch Method, called ‘Disable Update Required Date From Scheduled Date’.
For example, if the scheduled date was Wed 08/02/12 but the only delivery day for a customer was a Tuesday, then the required date would become Tue 14/02/12.

Order Processing > Create Invoices
It is now possible to invoice the order before the order is delivered because payment is taken by the driver.
Example: a customer delivers all their orders by van, and they take invoices with them.
The despatch method will be set up with ‘Fitting/Delivery Before Invoice’ = true.
Previously we could not create an invoice before ‘Fitting/Delivered’ has been done on the order. The order of events is:

Order manufactured
Order despatched
Order delivered
Invoice created
Invoice printed
Invoice posted

It is now possible to do the following:

Order manufactured
Order despatched, invoice created and printed
Order delivered
Invoice posted

There is a new flag held against the ‘Despatch Method’ record called ‘Despatch and Invoice’ which will allow a user to process the order in the second method described.

Alternative Long Length Despatch + Carriage Type¶

A change was made recently so that ‘long lengths’ default to a courier of our choice; this works very well but we have made a slight change because if the customer’s default courier is ‘Collection’ then this must remain as ‘Collection’ on the order.
We now hold a flag against the despatch method system table called ‘Ignored by Long Length’.
Also, please check the Alternative Long Length section.

Carriage Calculation
In Administration > System Tables > Despatch Method, there is a new field called ‘Carriage Chargeable’ which defaults to True.
The carriage calculation routine in Financials > Create Invoices now looks at the despatch method for the order and then check whether the carriage is chargeable for that order.
This is in addition to all the existing rules about charging carriage.

Order Processing > Orders > Despatch
When a specific user uses their own delivery vehicle they need both a Packing Slip (Delivery Docket – Bespoke 67) (to attach to the packages) and a Delivery Sheet (Delivery Docket – Bespoke 67 (Delivery Sheet)).
Whenever a Customer 'Dispatch Method' = 'Delivery' both documents need to print.
Any other 'Dispatch Method' only requires a Packing Slip printed.
There is now a flag in the despatch method called ‘Also Print Extra Delivery Docket’, which will default to false.
If true, it will also print this report.
This applies to ‘Despatch’ in ‘Order Amend Enquiry’ and in ‘Order Enquiry’ and in ‘Production Documentation’ if ‘Print Del Docket With Works Order’ is also switched on.

Purchase Order Enquiry > Regular / Bought In PO
'Purchase Order' flag determines that it is now possible to hold a dispatch method against a PO.
This is taken from a default held against the supplier, so the ‘Despatch Method’ is now held against the supplier.
There is also another lookup field in the supplier record called ‘F.O.B’.
This is held in a new table called ‘Freight On Board’ in System Tables.

Order Processing > Orders
There is a new flag in System Tables > Despatch Method called ‘On Credit Hold’ .
If this flag is set to true, and the despatch method in order is set to a relevant record, then the order goes on credit hold.
Similarly, in the ‘Account Category’ table there is also a new flag called ‘On Credit Hold’. If this flag is set to true, and the account category for an order is set to a relevant record, then the order goes on credit hold.

'Send Carrier File' flag means that you can send the carrier file from the 'Carrier File Layout' system table to the 'Despatch CSV File Location' path.
But please note that you need to specify the 'Carrier Name' in the despatch record.

Order Enquiry > Carrier CSV File Export
There is a new flag in System Tables > Despatch Method, called 'Batch CSV File'.
The ‘Carrier CSV File Export’ function in Order Processing > Orders now only exports records if this flag is set to true for the orders in this form.
This means that multiple carriers can be used but only certain carriers will have CSV records exported here.

Order Processing > Orders > Despatch Method
We have a customer who wants to make sure the ‘Despatch Method’ is filled in each time.
Therefore we have introduced an ‘Is Null’ column in System Tables > Despatch Method’.
If this is ticked and an order is entered with a despatch method where ‘Is Null’ = true, a message appears saying ‘Please enter a despatch method’ and the despatch method has to be changed.

Order Processing > Orders > Drop Ship
If ‘Drop Ship’ is true in the despatch method (in System Tables > Despatch Method), the ‘Direct Delivery By Supplier’ flag in the order is set to true by default.

Despatch Method
Previously when an order was despatched, it sometimes brought up an entry for the ‘Number Of Boxes’(Parcels) and Weight.
This was dependent on the despatch method or the carrier file that was used.
There are new flags in the System Tables > Despatch Method called ‘Number Of Boxes Required’ and ‘Weight Required’ which default to false, and these now determine whether the weight or the number of boxes appears in the ‘Despatch Method’ form.

In addition, in order to add a ‘Number Of Boxes Required’ field for 'Despatch Order', please enable the ‘Enable CSV Despatch Output’ flag in the Parameters.
And add a 'Carrier Name' value to the 'Despatch Method' record.

HD Web Import
1. When a quote is imported, it should Set Proforma to No, regardless.
2. Required date: this is no longer mapped into the quotation, and can be edited by the user when converted to an order.
3. The Delivery Address Email is now set to the Customer email in their profile
4. It is now possible to set a default Dispatch Method when a quotation is imported. This can be set up in System Tables > Despatch Method.
5. We now map Alta’s Quote # to Blindata’s Quote Notes… “Alta Quote #: xxxxxx”.

System Tables > Despatch Method
There is a new flag in this form called 'Dimensions Required', which defaults to false.
If true, when the order is dispatched, it displays a new field called 'Dimensions'. The user is then able to key in dimensions in a text format up to 100 characters.
See dev 10207 - this should also apply to this item.

There is a new flag here called 'Tracking Number Required' which defaults to false.
If true, then the tracking number (consignment note no) can be entered in the form that is displayed at dispatch.
This does not apply to 'Order Made' (see 10207).

Email customer when the order reaches Despatched
There is a new flag in the 'Dispatch Method' form called 'Email At Despatch' which defaults to false.
If set to true, an email with the dispatch docket attached will be sent to the customer.