Create a New Shipment (Sales Trx)

With StarShip, you can ship against MS Dynamics GP Sales Trx or Customers. These are the basic steps to process a new shipment from a Sales Trx in StarShip. You can switch between Parcel and Freight shipments on the toolbar.

Import the Sales Trx from Dynamics GP

You can select a sales transaction by scanning the number or by typing it directly into the Dynamics GP Sales Trx field. You can also click the magnifying glass to use the Search/Batch Processing functionality to search for and process one or multiple Sales Trx.

Use the available filters to narrow down and sort your search results. Click Add Filter and then provide specific criteria. For certain filters, like Batch ID, Document Type, and Shipping Method, you can select from a list of existing values :

Other available filters are Customer ID, Document Amount, Document Number, Order Date, PO Number, Request Ship Date, and Ship To Address fields.

After selecting the Sales Trx(s), you can then process one or multiple Sales Trx automatically OR you can load a Sales Trx and enter or modify shipment detail.

Process the order(s) without intervention

Process Selected : If you are processing one or multiple orders, StarShip will process the shipment(s) according to the batch settings you select. For more information about batch settings, click here.

Note that you can select the GP Batch ID to be assigned on write-back. Imported batches can be viewed using Tools > Imported Batches.

Load the Sales Trx and enter more shipment detail

To select a single Sales Trx double-click the line (or check the box and click the Load Document button) to load the order into the Ship screen. If any line items have previously been shipped, StarShip retrieves related freight information (if applicable). If items have not been shipped before, or line item detail is not mapped to Dynamics GP, you may need to enter additional information, such as freight class. The following sections describe aspects of common shipment details you may enter. For example, packing the line items in the shipment into packages.

About packing line items

You can pack the shipment manually, by clicking the Packaging View button. In the Packaging View, drag and drop the items into first level packaging (for example, Box). See example
Line items can be packed using learned or created packaging scenarios (added or modified in Maintain Inventory). If you've shipped any of the items before, StarShip retrieves packaging scenarios and automatically packs those items into first level packaging (boxes, cartons, etc). By default, auto-packing based on packaging scenarios is not enabled. You can enable this setting in Setup > Preferences under Shipment Processing (for Freight or Parcel); check the option, "Automatically pack items based on packaging scenarios." Control how items are packed using the related Auto Pack Preference setting below it.
Note: StarShip supports mixed items in one box. However, Starship can only learn packaging scenarios for future shipments when you have one type of item in one package. The auto-learning of packaging scenarios is optional and can be disabled.
Loose items imported from the MS Dynamics GP Sales Trx can be packed automatically into a default box. StarShip will pack loose items into default packaging based on the Preferences setting, "When importing orders, pack all loose items into a default package." This is the default setting; if you want to change this default, uncheck this setting in Parcel or Freight Preferences setup under Shipment Processing. Note that this setting is worded differently for Freight Preferences because it takes pallets into account.
If you add items from StarShip inventory, these can be automatically packed into the first, currently selected, or a new default box. They can also be left loose. This is based on the Preferences setting, "When adding items from StarShip inventory, place loose items in ..." The default setting is first package.
Items can be packed using the Shipping Assistant, if it is enabled in Preferences setup, either manually or automatically (based on learned packaging scenarios).

More Information : Line Items

Enter Package Weight

In the Packaging View, enter the weight of the first box or use an electronic scale to read the weight. Click Next to navigate to the next package and repeat the weighing process. If you have the Print on Next feature enabled in Parcel Preferences setup, shipping labels will print for each package as you click the Next button or press Enter. Note : Though the label prints, the shipment is not processed until you press Ship/Process (F5).

Enter Packaging Details

Packaging

For Parcel shipments, you would enter package detail for existing packages. Remain in the Packaging View and navigate through the packages to weigh them or add package level details on the Packaging tab.

BOL (Freight Shipments)

For Freight shipments, StarShip populates the bill of lading using line item and packing information. Bill of Lading settings in Freight Setup allow you some flexibility regarding how StarShip converts item packaging information into the bill of lading body. Typically, similar items with the same class are grouped under one general description. The commodity description may be edited on the BOL tab.
You can also manually enter the BOL.

Freight Billing Info

Enter or modify the freight billing information of the shipment, if necessary.

Shipping Method (Ship Via)

Select the shipping method - Carrier and Service - on the Shipment tab, and enter shipment detail that was not populated. You can also Rate Shop to select a carrier and service.

Rate the Shipment

Rate the shipment with the currently selected carrier by clicking Rate from the File menu or by pressing Ctrl + Alt + R. To rate shop, click the Rate Shop button in the toolbar or press Ctrl + Alt + S. Select a carrier from the Rate Shop tab. For more information, see Shipping Process > Rating in the StarShip Help.

Batch Processing

If Batch Processing is enabled, StarShip can assign a Batch ID on the Sales Transaction when the shipment is saved. On the Dynamics GP tab, select a Batch ID from the drop-down list, or you can choose not to assign a Batch ID. You must have previously created the Batch ID in Dynamics GP in order for it to appear in the drop-down list.

Your future shipments will use this batch until you change it, or the batch is deleted in Dynamics GP. If you delete the shipment, the batch selected in Financial System Interface Setup > Batch ID Write-Back is used.

Ready Date and Time

Enter the shipment's Ready Date (and Pickup Time, for Freight) on the Shipment tab.

Save the shipment

There are two options for saving shipments.

Save: To save a shipment without processing it, select Shipment > Save, press Ctrl + S, or click the Save button on the toolbar. This action saves the shipment as a draft, but does not process the shipment, request pickup from the carrier, automatically print shipping documentation, or write back any information to Dynamics GP. The shipment is essentially saved as a draft so you may open it and make changes.
Ship/Process: To process a shipment, select Shipment > Ship/Process or select the Ship/Process button from the toolbar. The shipment is tendered to the carrier. If you set up the bill of lading and/or labels to print automatically, they are now generated.

Shipment Status

Once a shipment is processed, the Shipment Status changes from Open to Processed on the Shipment tab. If needed, the status can be changed back to Open; doing so will reverse write-back to Dynamics GP, void tracking numbers (for Parcel), and pickup is cancelled for the carrier (if supported).

Updates and Write-Back to Dynamics GP

After you Ship/Process a shipment, StarShip updates Dynamics GP Sales Trx with the freight amount, notes, and batch IDs, as you configured in Write-Back Setup.

If enabled in Write-Back setup, StarShip writes the freight (including the freight tax calculation) back to the Freight field on the Sales Trx.
Notes write back to the Note associated with the Sales Trx.
StarShip writes the tracking numbers to the table of tracking numbers associated with the Sales Trx.
The Batch ID is updated for deleted shipments.
The Shipped Date is written back to the Actual Ship Date field on the Sales Trx.