ROUTING SYSTEM

The Mark Information Systems software includes an Order Routing system that you might be interested in if you deliver product in your own trucks.

The Routing Menu is accessed from any menu by typing: ROUTE

PURPOSE OF ROUTING SYSTEM

1. As sales orders are placed they are routed and scheduled. Not all sales orders are included in the Routing system, only those with a Ship-Via Code that has been designated for inclusion. (Generally these will be those Ship-Via Codes that involve delivery in your own trucks.)

2. The Routing preparation process sequences orders within each route based on how far each delivery is from the warehouse. The sequence may be reversed for truck loading purposes.

3. Freight charges can be entered during the Route preparation process. These charges will automatically update the “shipping” records just as though you entered them during the Shipping Acknowledgment process.

4. Orders may be ship acknowledged during this process.

5. Packing slips may be printed during the route preparation process.

6. A truck manifest can be printed showing the deliveries in sequence.

7. Bills of Lading may be printed from this same menu.

8. For each order you may enter the date, time of delivery and name of the person who signed for the order.

9. Shipping labels are produced in this process. These labels show how many cartons, bags, pallets, etc. are to be delivered to the customer. This information is automatically posted to the “shipping” records.

10. A hazardous material report may be printed. This shows the total weight of hazardous material with a running total showing the remaining amount of weight as each delivery is made.

SET-UP OF ROUTING SYSTEM

The following information must be set-up in order to use the routing system:

1. Indicate which Ship-Via codes should be included in routing. Ship-via codes are set-up in OE/15/2. As an example, you might have a code OT (our truck) which you designate as a Ship-Via that should be included in the routing system. Only sales orders with these Ship-Via Codes will be included in the Route Process.

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SET-UP OF ROUTING SYSTEM (CONTINUED)

2. The Routing System must be “turned on” in the Installation menu (IM/5/52).

3. You must set-up City Codes for those cities that you deliver to in your own trucks. This is done in AR/8/10 where you will enter the city, state and number of miles from the warehouse. This is what will enable the Routing System to print manifests showing the best sequence for delivering the orders (and for loading them onto the trucks).

4. You must set-up Route Codes (OE/15/16). This will establish the various routes and the days of the week on which you deliver to these routes.

5. Each customer who you deliver to should be given a “default route code”. This is the route that would usually include this customer. This is set-up in the customer Master on line 18/X. Here you will enter one of the Routes that you set-up in OE/15/16. This “default route” may be overridden during order entry or during Route Processing. The customer is also given a “ship-via” code in this same section of the Customer Master.

THE ROUTING MENU

This menu may look time-consuming but it is not necessary to use every option in the menu on a daily basis. This is a brief description of each option:

OPTION 1: This option is used to indicate which route/date you are “preparing”.

OPTION 2: This option shows a list of the orders that are scheduled to be included in the specified

route/date.

OPTION 3: This option allows for the actual “sequencing” of orders. Normally this is sequenced by

distance from the warehouse. However, within this option you may do your own

sequencing. This option also allows for entering freight charges and printing packing

slips

.OPTION 4: This option allows you to print pick lists in sequence order. (The sequence has been

determined in option 3).

You also have the option of printing them in “reverse sequencing order”.

OPTION 5: This option allows you to move an order from one route to another, to add an order to a

route, to delete an order, etc.

OPTION 6: You can ship-acknowledge orders in this option.

OPTION 7: This option prints the truck manifest.

OPTION 8: Bills of Lading may be printed in this option.

OPTION 9: You may acknowledge delivery of each order in this option, the date, time of delivery

and name of the person who signed for the packages.

OPTION 10-17 Print shipping labels. These labels show not only the name and address of the customer but also the exact packages being delivered, the number of pallets, cartons, etc. This information is “posted” to the shipping records just as though you manually posted it in the “freight information screen” during the shipping acknowledgment process.

OPTION 18: This option prints Bills of Lading.

OPTION 19: This option allows for printing of the Hazardous Materials report.

OPTION 20: This menu is used for setting up the Vehicle & Truck Codes that may be used throughout this menu.