When new order data is received from the commercial system, the order information (header / item data) is posted to the database and checked for completeness and plausibility. As a rule, customer data (address, shipping types, etc.) are not kept as master data in the logistics system, but are delivered anew from the commercial system with each order.
Filter criteria in the logistics system allow specific order types to be held back, which are then only loaded after manual release by the user.
As a matter of principle, synchronous inventory management between the commercial IT system and the logistics system should ensure that orders are only loaded when the required goods are fully available. However, it must always be ensured by means of a further availability check and reservation in the logistics system that complete delivery is possible according to stock on hand. For articles with batch management, the oldest batch may be allocated in this step.
Depending on the target relation, the shipment weight/volume and the desired delivery date, the appropriate shipping method and the assignment to a specific (truck) tour may have to be determined in the course of freight cost optimization.
Derived from this (each tour has a defined departure time = cut-off time), the latest start time for picking may then be calculated, which then results in the sequence of processing of all loaded orders.
For information on a delivery form of were, see Consignment.
Image source: © Unpict – Fotolia.com