Outbound Workflow: Order → Wave → Pick → Pack → Ship

The outbound workflow manages the fulfillment of client orders — from the moment a client submits an order through picking, packing, and shipping. The process is designed for multi-order batch efficiency using Wave picking.

Warehouse Job Record

All outbound documents (Client Order, Wave, Pick Task, Pack Task, Delivery Note) can be linked to a Warehouse Job Record. Create a Client Order from the Job Record using Create → Create Client Order to auto-link everything.

Flow Diagram

---

Step 1: Create a Client Order

A Client Order is the 3PL's equivalent of a sales order — it represents a client's request to ship specific items to a specific destination.

How to Create

1. Go to Warehouse 3PL → Client Order → New
2. Set Client (the 3PL customer fulfilling the order)
3. Set Order Date and Required Delivery Date
4. Set Ship To address (or select from client's address book)
5. Set Carrier and Service Level (Standard / Express / Overnight)
6. Add items in the Order Items table:
   • Item (or Client SKU)
   • Ordered Qty
   • UOM
   • Lot / Batch (if client specifies a specific batch)
7. Save the Client Order

Key Fields

Field	Required	Description
Client	Yes	Which 3PL client owns this order
Order Date	Yes	When the order was received
Required Delivery Date	Yes	Latest ship date
Ship To	Yes	Destination address
Carrier	No	Shipping carrier (FedEx, UPS, etc.)
Service Level	No	Shipping speed
Client Reference	No	Client's own order ID / PO number
Priority	No	Normal / Rush / Critical
Items	Yes	Line items with qty

On Submit: Inventory Allocation

When the Client Order is submitted, the system automatically allocates inventory:

1. The Inventory Policy is resolved for the client (see Policy Engine)
2. Available stock is selected using the configured method (FIFO, FEFO, etc.)
3. Specific batches and bin locations are reserved against this order
4. Order status changes to Allocated

WARNING

If there is insufficient stock to fulfill the order, submission will fail with an "Insufficient Stock" error. You can submit a partial order by reducing the quantity, or wait for inbound stock to arrive.

Order Status Lifecycle

Status	Meaning	Trigger
Draft	Order received, not yet confirmed	Save
Confirmed	Under review, not yet allocated	Manual
Allocated	Stock reserved for this order	Submit
Picking	Pick Tasks created and in progress	Wave Release
Packing	All picks done, Pack Task created	Pick complete
Shipped	Delivery Note created	Pack complete
Closed	Billing done, order complete	Manual / Auto
Cancelled	Order cancelled, allocation released	Cancel

---

Step 2: Create a Wave

A Wave groups multiple Client Orders together for efficient batch picking. Instead of picking one order at a time (which wastes travel time), a wave lets one picker collect items for many orders in a single sweep of the warehouse.

How to Create

1. Go to Warehouse 3PL → Wave → New
2. Set Wave Date and Shift (Morning / Afternoon / Evening)
3. Use the Add Orders button to select Allocated Client Orders
4. Review the wave summary — total lines, total units, total orders
5. Save the Wave

TIP

Group orders by zone (all Zone A orders in one wave) or by carrier cutoff (all FedEx 3pm orders together). This minimizes picker travel and ensures orders ship on time.

Wave Strategies

Strategy	Best For
Zone-based	Large warehouses — reduce picker travel
Carrier cutoff	Ensure same-day ship by carrier cutoff time
Client-based	Dedicated clients with SLA agreements
Single order	Rush/priority orders that can't wait for batch

---

Step 3: Release Wave

Releasing the Wave generates Pick Tasks and starts the picking process.

1. Open the Wave
2. Click Release Wave
3. The system creates one Pick Task per order-line per bin location
   • If an order line spans multiple bins (due to allocation), separate Pick Tasks are created per bin
4. Wave status changes to Picking In Progress
5. Pick Tasks are now visible to operators

INFO

The Release action is irreversible. Once released, the wave's order list is locked. To add more orders, create a new wave.

---

Step 4: Complete Pick Tasks

Pick Tasks are the instructions operators use to physically collect items from bins. Each task specifies exactly where to go and how much to pick.

Operator Workflow

1. Go to Warehouse 3PL → Pick Task (or use mobile scanner)
2. Filter by Status = "Open" and sort by Location (for efficient travel)
3. Open a Pick Task and review:
   • Bin address (Zone / Aisle / Rack / Level / Bin)
   • Item and quantity to pick
   • Batch / lot to pick from (if specified)
4. Physically pick the items from the bin
5. Confirm the picked quantity (may be less if bin is short)
6. If using a scanner, scan the bin barcode to confirm location
7. Click Mark Complete

Short Picks

If a bin has fewer items than expected:

1. Enter the actual Picked Qty (less than requested)
2. The system flags the order line as short-picked
3. The system checks other bins for the remaining quantity
4. A new Pick Task is created for the remaining quantity if stock exists elsewhere
5. If no more stock, the order is partially fulfillable — escalate to client

When All Picks Are Done

Once all Pick Tasks for an order are completed:

1. The Client Order status changes to Packing
2. A Pack Task is automatically created for the order

---

Step 5: Complete Pack Task

A Pack Task instructs the packer to verify, consolidate, and package the picked goods for shipment.

Packer Workflow

1. Go to Warehouse 3PL → Pack Task (or use workstation screen)
2. Open the Pack Task for the order
3. Verify all picked items are present (match to pick list)
4. Pack into boxes/cartons — record:
   • Number of Packages
   • Package Weight (each)
   • Package Dimensions (for carrier rate shopping)
   • Tracking Numbers (entered after label generation)
5. Click Complete Pack Task

What Happens on Complete Pack

Completing a Pack Task triggers:

1. Delivery Note is created in ERPNext:
   • Items move from bin warehouses to Dispatch warehouse
   • Delivery Note is in Submitted state
   • Client Order is linked
2. Billing Transactions are created:
   • Pick: Qty × Pick Rate (from Rate Card)
   • Pack: Order Lines × Pack Rate
   • Ship: 1 × Shipping Rate per shipment
3. Client Order status → Shipped

TIP

If you generate shipping labels from a carrier API (FedEx, UPS, ShipStation), the tracking numbers can be automatically populated into the Pack Task and passed to the Delivery Note.

Delivery Note

The created Delivery Note is a standard ERPNext document. From it you can:

• Print a packing slip
• Email the dispatch confirmation to the client
• View the stock ledger entries for the shipment
• Trigger downstream accounting if needed

See the Delivery Note list for reference.