Understanding Items and Their Role in Cartonization [Information]

Items refer to the individual products that will be packed and shipped through techSHIP.

Each item has essential attributes which techSHIP uses for cartonization—the process of determining the most efficient way to pack items into shipping boxes reducing wasted space and optimizing shipping costs.

This article provides an overview of items in techSHIP and their role in cartonization. If you need step-by-step guidance on adding or managing items, refer to the related articles listed throughout this guide.

NOTE: Features related to items and cartonization may vary based on the supported capabilities of your Warehouse Management System (WMS).

HOW ITEMS ARE USED IN CARTONIZATION

To effectively use cartonization, techSHIP requires the following details for each item:

• Stock Keeping Unit (SKU)
  
• Weight
• Dimensions (Length, Width, Height)
• Special Handling Instructions (if applicable)

Based on this information, techSHIP will automatically place items into the most efficient box selection available.

PREREQUISITES AND SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS

As a prerequisite, in certain cases, you may need to manually define item details within techSHIP rather than relying on your WMS. To do this, you will need to override the WMS item weights and/or dimensions before adding items with the same SKU.

Optionally, you can exclude specific items from cartonization using the following options, which you can find in the guides listed in the "Methods to Add Items" section:

• Ship in own packaging: Ensures an item is packed separately instead of being included in cartonization.
• Exclude from cartonization: Prevents the Item from being automatically placed into a box.

METHODS TO ADD ITEMS

There are four main ways to add items to techSHIP:

1. Syncing from a WMS

If your WMS supports item synchronization, you can import SKUs directly into techSHIP. When syncing:

• Items will be created or updated with the most recent details from the WMS.
• An option is available to delete items that no longer exist in the WMS to maintain accurate records.

For a detailed guide, refer to: How to Sync Items for a Client from a WMS [Step-by-Step Guide].

2. Importing from an XLSX File

You can also upload a Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet (XLSX) file containing item details. This method is useful when importing multiple SKUs at once, especially if your WMS has limited support for direct syncing.

For instructions, refer to: How to Import Items for a Client from an XLSX File [Step-by-Step Guide].

3. Adding Items Manually

If you need to add items individually, techSHIP provides a manual entry option. This method is useful for:

• Quickly adding a small number of items.
• Defining unique attributes such as Dangerous Goods (DG) classifications.

For more details, refer to: How to Manually Set Up Items for a Client [Step-by-Step Guide].

4. Exporting Items to an XLSX File

If you need to review, use as a template, or back up your current item list, techSHIP allows exporting items to an XLSX file. 

For instructions, refer to: How to Export Items for a Client to an XLSX File [Step-by-Step Guide].