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Order Management

Order Management in Dispatch handles the complete order lifecycle from creation through fulfillment. This includes importing orders, assigning carriers, generating shipments, and tracking progress.

Order Overview​

What is an Order?​

An order in Dispatch represents:

  • A customer's request for delivery
  • One or more items to be shipped
  • Delivery destination and requirements
  • Associated carrier and service level

Order vs Shipment​

Understanding the relationship:

  • Order - The business request (what the customer wants)
  • Shipment - The physical fulfillment (how it's being delivered)

One order can result in multiple shipments (split fulfillment).

Viewing Orders​

Order List​

Access all orders from the main Orders page:

  • View orders in a list or grid
  • See status, customer, and key details at a glance
  • Click any order for full details

Filtering and Sorting​

Find orders quickly:

Filter Options​

  • Status (pending, processing, shipped, delivered)
  • Date range
  • Customer
  • Carrier

Sort Options​

  • Order date
  • Status
  • Customer name
  • Due date

Search orders by:

  • Order number
  • Customer name
  • Reference number
  • Tracking number

Pagination​

Navigate large order lists:

  • Set page size (up to 100)
  • Move between pages
  • Jump to specific pages

Creating Orders​

Manual Order Creation​

Create orders directly in Dispatch:

  1. Click "Create Order"
  2. Select or create customer
  3. Add order items
  4. Set delivery details
  5. Choose carrier and service level
  6. Submit the order

Order Details​

When creating an order, specify:

Customer Information​

  • Select existing customer or create new
  • Confirm delivery address
  • Add special instructions

Order Items​

  • Products or descriptions
  • Quantities
  • Dimensions and weight
  • Value (for insurance)

Delivery Requirements​

  • Required delivery date
  • Service level
  • Special handling needs

Dimension Presets​

Speed up order creation:

  1. Select a dimension preset
  2. Dimensions auto-populate
  3. Adjust if needed

Order Status​

Status Flow​

Orders progress through statuses:

  1. Draft - Created but not submitted
  2. Pending - Awaiting processing
  3. Processing - Being prepared
  4. Ready - Ready for pickup/shipping
  5. Shipped - In transit
  6. Delivered - Successfully delivered
  7. Cancelled - Order cancelled

Updating Status​

To change order status:

  1. Open the order
  2. Click "Update Status"
  3. Select new status
  4. Add notes if needed
  5. Confirm

Status History​

View the complete status history:

  • When each status was set
  • Who made the change
  • Any associated notes

Carrier Assignment​

Assigning a Carrier​

Assign carriers to orders:

  1. Open the order
  2. Go to Carrier section
  3. Select available carrier
  4. Confirm assignment

Bulk Assignment​

Assign carriers to multiple orders:

  1. Select orders from the list
  2. Click "Assign Carrier"
  3. Choose carrier
  4. Confirm for all selected

Carrier Selection​

When choosing a carrier, consider:

  • Service level requirements
  • Delivery destination
  • Package characteristics
  • Cost

Generating Shipments​

Creating Shipments from Orders​

Generate shipments when ready:

  1. Open the order
  2. Click "Create Shipment"
  3. Configure shipment details
  4. Generate labels

Split Fulfillment​

For orders requiring multiple shipments:

  1. Enable split fulfillment on the order
  2. Create separate shipments for portions
  3. Track each shipment independently

Label Generation​

Generate shipping labels:

  1. Ensure carrier is assigned
  2. Click "Generate Labels"
  3. Download or print labels
  4. Labels include tracking numbers

Collection Scheduling​

Setting Collection Date​

Schedule when orders will be collected:

  1. Open the order
  2. Go to Collection section
  3. Set collection date and time window
  4. Save

Collection Confirmation​

Confirm when collection occurs:

  • Update status to reflect pickup
  • Tracking begins after collection

Invoice Generation​

Generating Invoices​

Create invoices for orders:

  1. Open the order
  2. Click "Generate Invoice"
  3. Invoice is created with order details
  4. Download or send to customer

Invoice Information​

Invoices include:

  • Order details and items
  • Customer information
  • Pricing and totals
  • Payment instructions

Order Editing​

Updating Orders​

Modify order details:

  1. Open the order
  2. Click "Edit"
  3. Update fields as needed
  4. Save changes

What Can Be Edited​

Depending on status:

  • Customer information
  • Delivery address
  • Order items
  • Special instructions

Edit Restrictions​

Some changes may be limited:

  • Orders with generated shipments
  • Orders in transit
  • Delivered orders

Deleting Orders​

Single Order Deletion​

Delete an individual order:

  1. Open the order
  2. Click "Delete"
  3. Confirm deletion

Bulk Deletion​

Delete multiple orders:

  1. Select orders from the list
  2. Click "Delete Selected"
  3. Confirm deletion

Deletion Considerations​

Before deleting:

  • Shipments may also be removed
  • Historical data may be lost
  • Consider cancelling instead for audit trail

Order Analytics​

Customer Sales Analytics​

View sales data per customer:

  • Order volume
  • Shipment frequency
  • Revenue tracking

Order Metrics​

Track order performance:

  • Orders created over time
  • Fulfillment rates
  • Delivery success rates
  • Exception rates

Best Practices​

Efficient Order Processing​

  1. Use templates - Save time with dimension presets
  2. Batch process - Handle similar orders together
  3. Early assignment - Assign carriers promptly
  4. Track exceptions - Address issues quickly

Data Accuracy​

  1. Verify addresses - Ensure delivery addresses are correct
  2. Complete details - Fill in all relevant information
  3. Update promptly - Keep status current
  4. Document issues - Add notes for problems

Volume Management​

  1. Use filters - Focus on relevant orders
  2. Set priorities - Process urgent orders first
  3. Monitor backlogs - Don't let orders pile up
  4. Automate - Use workflows for repetitive tasks