Create a new shipment

Creating a shipment is the most important use case in Kloudship ECS. Hence you can start creating the shipment right from the dashboard widget. This guide will walk you through the five key steps to create a shipment.

Note: If you have integrated your e-Commerce store and need to create a shipment for an existing order then you can take a faster workflow of Fulfill Orders. Within 2 clicks you'll be able to print a label. 

If you are already on the shipment list screen, then you can click on the Add Shipment button

Five steps to create a shipment

Step 01: Specify the items

When you click on the Add Shipment button, you will be directed to the New Shipment tab. Here’s how to add shipment items:

1. Frequently Shipped Items: On the left panel, you can quickly select from a list of frequently shipped items.
2. Add New Item: On the right panel, you can manually enter the details of the shipment items:
   1. Name: The name of the item.
   2. Weight: The weight of the item.
   3. Value: The monetary value of the item.
   4. Qty: The quantity of the item.
3. Add Item Button: Click the + button to add the item to the shipment.

After adding the shipment items, click Save & Continue to proceed to the next step where you will enter the recipient's information.

Step 02: Specify the Addresses

When creating a new shipment in Kloudship, it is crucial to accurately enter the recipient's details to ensure that the items are delivered to the correct address. In the recipient details section, you will need to fill out the following fields:

1. First Name: Enter the recipient's first name.
2. Last Name: Enter the recipient's last name.
3. Contact Number: Enter the recipient's contact number. This should be a valid phone number where the recipient can be reached.
4. Email ID: Enter the recipient's email address. This is optional but recommended for sending shipment notifications.
5. Address Line 1: Enter the primary address line (e.g., house number, street name).
6. Address Line 2: Enter any additional address information (e.g., apartment number, suite).
7. Pin Code: Enter the postal code for the recipient's address.
8. City: Enter the city where the recipient is located.
9. State: Select the recipient's state from the dropdown menu.
10. Country: Select the recipient's country from the dropdown menu.

Additional Options

• Create New Contact: Check this box if you want to save this recipient's details as a new contact in your Kloudship address book.
• Update Contact: Check this box if you want to update an existing contact's information with the details you have entered.

Saving Recipient Details

Once you have filled out all the required fields, click the Save & Continue button to proceed to the next step. If you need to go back to the previous step to review the shipment items, click the Back to items button.

Step 03: Packaging

In this step, select the appropriate packaging for the shipment. This may include options such as boxes, envelopes, or custom packaging. In the packaging details section, you will need to provide the following information:

1. Length (in inches): Enter the length of the package in inches.
2. Width (in inches): Enter the width of the package in inches.
3. Height (in inches): Enter the height of the package in inches.
4. Total Weight: Enter the total weight of the package. This is usually pre-filled based on the items added but can be adjusted if necessary.

Additional Packaging Options

On the right side of the form, you have additional options to customize your packaging:

1. Insurance: Check this box if you want to insure the package. Enter the insurance amount in the provided field.
2. Fragile: Check this box if the package contains fragile items.
3. Hazardous: Check this box if the package contains hazardous materials. You will need to provide a phone number for contact in case of emergencies.
4. Tags: Enter any tags that might be relevant to the shipment. Tags can help in categorizing and tracking special instructions for the package.

Frequently Used Packages

At the bottom of the packaging details section, you can select from frequently used packaging options. These pre-defined packages include common dimensions and special handling instructions:

1. Custom Package 1: 10 x 3 x 5, Insurance: Rs 1000
2. Custom Package 2: 10 x 3 x 5, Fragile
3. Custom Package 3: 10 x 3 x 5, Hazardous

Please note that the custom value may be based on the specific custom package created.

Saving Packaging Details

Once you have filled out all the required fields and selected any additional options, click the Save & Continue button to proceed to the next step, which is carrier selection. If you need to go back to the previous step to review the recipient details, click the Back to recipient button.

Step 04: Carrier Selection

Next, choose the carrier for the shipment from the available options. In the carrier selection section, you will be presented with a list of available carriers. Each carrier option will display the following information:

1. Carrier Name: The name of the carrier.
2. Cost: The cost of using the carrier for the shipment.
3. Labels: Indicators such as "Cheapest," "Fastest," and "Recommended" to help you make an informed decision.
   

Selecting a Carrier

1. View Carrier Options: Review the available carrier options and their respective costs and labels.
2. Choose a Carrier: Click on the carrier that best meets your needs based on cost, speed, or recommendation.
3. Confirm Pickup Location: Ensure the pickup location is correct. The pickup location is displayed above the carrier options.
4. Save & Continue: Once you have selected a carrier, click the "Save & Continue" button to proceed to the final review step.

Step 05: Review and Print Label

1. Review all the details of the shipment to ensure accuracy. 
2. Once confirmed, create on Create shipment.
3. This will generate your Label (it may go directly to your printer if you have configured your devices that way)

What's Next

• Track Shipment: Follow this article to see how you can track a shipment
• Reprint Label: In case you need a second copy of your label, follow this article
• Cancel Shipment: You can cancel a shipment if you do not want to ship this package
• Clone Shipment: You can clone a shipment if you want to ship another package to the same address.

Not Yet Signed Up?

• Review Kloudship Signup Document