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Use the address verification feature in Descartes ShipRush Web to help detect incorrect or incomplete shipping addresses before the Shipment is out the door. Please note:
To verify the address, display the Shipment form containing the address, and then press F8.
In Settings, address verification can be set to occur automatically. Address verification only applies to U.S. addresses.
Remember to use the Shipment reference line(s) to describe the Shipment (e.g., 'Order 1234' or 'QTY 3: SKU-RED-WIDGET' or 'sample kit of widgets').
Generate labels 'up front' in the workflow whenever possible. This keeps computer work at the front of the process (for example, before picking the order). It also smooths the workflow and reduces the need for a computer in the shipping area.
Use Presets and Automation Rules to accelerate repetitive tasks.
Use either a thermal label printer or peel-and-stick label stock in a laser printer. Plain paper labels cause more work downstream because of the difficulty of affixing the label to the parcel. Peel-and-stick labels save time. Almost everyone printing 25 or more labels a week will benefit from a Zebra label printer.
Each week, export the week's shipping history to a PDF or xls file, and save it to a directory for the bookkeeper. Don't wait for the bookkeeper to ask for the information; send it proactively (fewer questions means more productivity).
Use a scale. Reading the weight automatically from the scale makes shipping easy and accurate.
Use the shipping history kept by Descartes ShipRush Web.
As often as needed, refer to the shipping history maintained by Descartes ShipRush Web. If the customer calls with a question, or you need to know whether a Shipment was sent to a particular customer, look in the e-commerce system or search Descartes ShipRush Web. Because Descartes ShipRush is on the web, any team member can search for Shipments by recipient name, order number, SKU, or other search criteria. Descartes ShipRush Web saves shipping time for this reason. Only in exceptional cases should the shipping clerk be bothered with a 'what is going on with shipment X' kind of question.
Use keyboard shortcuts, bar code scanners, and the productivity tips in Descartes ShipRush Web.
Use Descartes ShipRush Web to print packing lists and send emails.
Note: The reference gives the label more meaning. Ideally, the reference includes the Order number, Invoice number, and/or description of the Shipment contents. Certain Carriers have multiple reference lines. The full text search function searches the reference(s), so Shipments are easier to find (if they have useful references). If useful references are entered, anyone who reads the label (or the label on the package) has additional clues about the Shipment.