Procedures

Product Classes (also called “Procedures” in the interface) let you group SKUs together and apply special handling rules during order processing. You can use procedures to control how orders are packed, add special services, apply weight limits, and more.

Why Use Procedures?

Automated Processing

Apply special handling rules automatically when orders move from Pending to Processing.

Group Products

Organize related SKUs into logical groups for easier management and special handling.

Custom Rules

Set up packaging rules, weight limits, label requirements, and no-mix policies per procedure.

Service Tracking

Track which products require special services and bill accordingly.

Accessing Procedures

1. Navigate to Catalog

   Go to Inventory from the main menu.

2. Click Procedure Button

   In the Catalog toolbar, click the Procedure button. This opens the procedures interface in a new tab.

3. View your procedures

   You’ll see a list of all procedures with their ID, Name, Description, Enable status, Date and Information.

Quick Access

You can also access a simplified list view by clicking Simple List at the top of the Procedure List page, which shows only enabled procedures with additional information like # SKUs, Company Name, and Price.

Creating a Procedure

1. Click Add

   Click the Add button at the top of the Procedure List page.

2. Enter procedure details

   • Name Procedure: Enter a descriptive name for the procedure (e.g., “Fragile Items”, “Heavy Products”)
   • Description: Add details about what this procedure is for
   • Enable: Status is set to “true” by default (hidden field)

3. Choose SKU assignment method

   • Manual: Leave “All SKUs by Default” unchecked to manually add SKUs later
   • Automatic: Check “All SKUs by Default” to automatically include all SKUs in your account

4. Click Add

   Click the Add button to create the procedure.

All SKUs by Default Warning

When you enable “All SKUs by Default”, the system automatically includes all current SKUs and any new SKUs you create in the future. This is useful for default procedures that apply to everything, but use carefully.

Viewing Procedure Details

1. Click the procedure ID

   From the Procedure List, click the ID number of any procedure.

2. Review information

   The procedure view shows:

   • Procedure name and description
   • Enable status
   • Creation date
   • List of characteristics and rules configured
   • Information about SKUs included (if “Default All SKUs” is enabled)

3. Access related functions

   From this view, you can:

   • Duplicate the procedure (copy to create a similar one)
   • Add a new procedure
   • Back to Procedure List

Duplicating a Procedure

To create a new procedure based on an existing one:

1. Open the source procedure

   Click the ID number of the procedure you want to copy.

2. Click Duplicate Procedure

   This creates a copy of the procedure with all its settings.

3. Modify the copy

   Update the name, description, and any other settings as needed for the new procedure.

How Procedures Work in Order Processing

When orders move from Pending to Processing, the system checks if any items belong to enabled Procedures:

Common Procedure Rules

Label Ready & No Mix

Prevents mixing Label Ready items with other items in the same box.

No Mix

Ensures items from this procedure are not mixed with items from other procedures.

No Mix by Package Type

Separates items based on their package type during packing.

Weight Limit

Applies maximum weight restrictions for boxes containing these items.

Procedure Characteristics (Caracteristicas)

Procedures can have characteristics assigned to them:

• Category: Type of product
• Storage Requirements: Special storage needs
• Export Information: Details for international shipping
• Service Charges: Additional costs for handling these items
• Pricing: Cost and price information for services

These characteristics are evaluated during order processing to apply appropriate rules and charges.

Best Practices

Use Descriptive Names

Name classes clearly to indicate their purpose (e.g., “Hazmat Items”, “Oversized Products”).

Enable Only Active Procedures

Set Enable = false for procedures you’re not currently using to avoid processing delays.

Test Before Enabling

Create and configure a procedure with Enable = false, test thoroughly, then enable it.

Document Special Rules

Use the Description field to explain what rules this procedure applies and why.

Review Regularly

Periodically review your procedures to ensure they’re still needed and configured correctly.

Searching and Filtering

The Procedure List page provides search capabilities:

• Basic Search: Enter keywords to search by Name, Description, or Enable status
• Search Options:
  • Exact phrase: Finds the exact text you enter
  • All words: Finds records containing all the words (in any order)
  • Any word: Finds records containing any of the words
• Filter by Status: Use the Enable radio buttons to show only enabled or disabled procedures
• Show All: Click Show all to clear filters and see everything

Troubleshooting

Procedure Not Applied to Orders

Problem: Orders are not following the rules set in a Procedures.

Solutions:

1. Check Enable status

   Make sure the procedure has Enable = true. Disabled procedures are not evaluated during order processing.

2. Verify SKU membership

   Confirm the SKU is actually part of the procedure. Click the procedure ID and review the SKU list.

3. Check for conflicts

   If a SKU belongs to multiple procedures, the system may prioritize one over another based on processing rules.

4. Review procedure characteristics

   Ensure the characteristics (features) are properly configured for the desired behavior.

Can’t Add SKUs to Procedure

Problem: Unable to add SKUs to a Procedure.

Solutions:

1. Check if Default is enabled

   If “All SKUs by Default” is enabled, you cannot manually add/remove SKUs - the procedure automatically includes everything.

2. Verify permissions

   Make sure you have permission to edit the procedure and manage SKUs.

3. Check SKU existence

   Confirm the SKU exists in the system before trying to add it to a procedure.

Orders Processing Slowly

Problem: Orders are taking longer to move from Pending to Processing after adding procedures.

Solutions:

1. Review active procedures

   Too many enabled procedures can slow processing. Disable procedures you’re not actively using.

2. Simplify characteristics

   Complex characteristic configurations take longer to evaluate. Simplify where possible.

Procedure Deleted by Mistake

Problem: Accidentally deleted a Procedure.

Solution: Unfortunately, deleted procedures cannot be recovered. You’ll need to recreate the procedure and its configuration manually. This is why it’s important to document your procedure settings.

Related Features

Next Steps:

• Product Management - Manage individual SKUs
• Catalog Overview - View and edit product inventory
• Creating Products - Add new SKUs to your catalog

See Also:

• Order processing uses classes to apply rules during Pending to Processing
• Distribution Centers can be linked to procedures for routing decisions