A package preset is a pre-configured packing material that can be applied to a proposed shipment. Package presets are intended to speed up your workflow. You can create presets whose dimensions correspond with common types of packages you ship your items in, eliminating the need to manually enter package details in the ShipHawk platform. When selecting a package preset or scanning a preset barcode, the package details for a shipment are automatically filled in, including:

• Package type

• Package dimensions and weight

• Value

• Carriers and carrier services 

• Freight class and NMFC code 

• Dangerous Goods details

Package presets are different from packing materials. Packing materials only refer to information about the actual material, while presets include additional information about the package such as carrier and service information. In addition, only packing materials can be used with Smart Packing, not presets.  Presets are used to assign packing configurations to orders, and can be assigned manually or automated through shipping policy rules.

This guide covers the following topics:

Overview

This section provides an overview of the steps necessary to begin using package presets. 

Package Presets Setup Tasks

To successfully use package presets, you must complete the following tasks in order:

• Create package presets

• Generate preset barcodes

• Use presets when shipping an order by selecting the preset manually or  scanning a barcode.

• Optional: Create rules to automatically apply presets to your shipments. 

This document will expand on each of the preceding steps, providing you with instructions on how to create, generate, and use package presets in ShipHawk.

Terminology

Configure Package Presets

This section will show you how to manage package presets in Settings.  You can manage package presets under the Preset Package Settings screen in the ShipHawk platform.

Create a New Package Preset

Package presets are usually created when a user has information about a specific type of shipment that the preset should correspond to. Entering this information ahead of time makes it easier to process that shipment later. The following steps describe how to create a new package preset.

To create a package preset

1. Login to Shiphawk.

2. From the menu bar, click the Settings icon > Settings.
   
   

   Open

   

   
   
   

3. Select Packages under the Presets heading in the left-hand sidebar. 
   
   The  Preset Package Settings page is displayed.
   
   

4. Locate the Add new preset section at the top of the screen.
   
   

   Open

   

   Add the preset details of your new package preset. This usually corresponds to information you want to add for a specific shipment.
   
   

5. Select the Packing Type of the preset. When configuring a preset, there are several different types of packages available:

   1. Parcel is a package used only for shipping small parcels. You can not use the parcel packing type as a handling unit on a pallet.

   2. Box is a package that can ship as a parcel. A box can also be a valid handling unit to create a pallet, depending on the quantity of boxes in the order.

   3. Pallet means there are one or more pieces in this package strapped securely to a pallet. Do not set the height of this package preset because that will not be accurate after it is packed. 

   4. Crate indicates the package must be packed into a crate for shipment. Can be shipped using an LTL or parcel carrier depending on dimensions added.
      
      Additional fields may populate depending on the Packing Type you select for your preset.
      
      

6.  If you select a packing type that may have multiple pieces contained in one larger package (such as a Pallet, Box, or Crate) you can specify the types of pieces that can be packed into the container in the Piece Type field.
   
   

   
   
   

7. Use the Carrier and Carrier Service fields to select a carrier and service to associate with your preset. This means when the package preset is used for order fulfillment, the carrier and service selected here will be used as the default.

8. Select the Default Preset checkbox if you want to make this preset the default when creating proposed shipments. If this option is selected, shipments will always begin with this preset’s package details and commodities. 

   1. This option works if your shipping contents tend to stay the same.
      
      

       

9. After you have finished entering your package preset details, click the Create New Package Preset button.
   
   Here is a simple example:

    

Manage Existing Presets

You can also use the Preset Package Settings page to manage presets that have already been added to your ShipHawk account. All existing presets are displayed in a grid under the Add new preset section in the Preset Package Settings page.

To edit a package preset

1. From the menu bar, click the Settings  icon > Settings.

2. Select Packages under the Presets heading in the left-hand sidebar.
   
   

   The  Preset Package Settings page is displayed.
   
   

3. Locate the grid that displays all the currently created package presets under the Add new preset section.
   
   

    

4. Click on the Edit (Pencil ) icon next to the preset you wish to edit.
   
   The Add new preset  area will populate with the preset information.

    

5. Edit the information you wish to change from the Add new preset fields.

6. When you are finished editing, click Update Package Preset.

Here is an example:

To delete a package preset

1. Navigate to the Preset Package Settings page.

2. Locate the grid that displays all the currently created package presets under the Add new preset section.
   
   
   

    

3. Click on the Delete (trash can )icon next to the preset you wish to remove.

4. The preset details are removed from the table.
   
   

Here is an example:

Apply Package Presets

This section will describe how to use the package presets you created in Preset Package Settings to add package information to your shipments. Package presets can be applied using preset barcodes, manually from the Order Details page, or automatically using  rules.

This section will describe each method of applying package presets, so you can select which methods best fit your organization’s shipping workflow.

Using Barcodes

Shiphawk can generate barcodes that correspond to the package presets in the Preset Package Settings page. These barcodes can then be used to scan and apply package presets.

To generate preset barcodes

1. From the menu bar, click the Settings  icon > Settings.

2. Select Packages under the Presets heading in the left-hand sidebar.
   
   

   The  Preset Package Settings page is displayed.
   
   

3. Locate the grid that displays all the currently created package presets under the Add new preset section.
   
   
   

    

4. The Generate Preset Barcodes button is located above the table of package presets.
   
   

    

5. Click on the Generate Command Barcodes button.
   
    A PDF file will download to your computer with all of the package presets. 
   
   

6. Open and print the PDF. You can now scan the preset barcodes to apply them to proposed shipments.

Here is an example:

To apply preset barcodes to proposed shipments

1. Login to Shiphawk. From the menu bar, click Orders.
   
   

    

2. From the Orders page, select an order that has not yet shipped. This will take you to the Order Details page for that order.
   
   
   

    

3. Scan a barcode for a preset to apply it to your order.

Using Presets Without a Barcode

Presets can also be applied without the use of a barcode. You can manually select a present for a proposed shipment from the Order Details page. You can also automatically apply package presets to your orders by creating and enabling a shipping policy type rule. This section will provide instructions for applying presets using each method described above.

To manually select a preset

1. From the Orders page, select an order that has not yet shipped.
   This takes you to the Order Details page for that order.

2. Click on the Materials and Presets button in the Handling Unit section.
   
   A drop-down menu displays under the button.

    

3. Click on Presets. 
   
   A list of all presets available for this account is displayed.

    

4. Select the preset you wish to apply.

5. Package information related to the preset you selected automatically populates in the Handling Unit section.
   
   Here is an example:

To apply presets using rules

1. Log in to Shiphawk.

2. From the menu bar, click the Settings  icon and select the Rules option from the drop-down. The Rules screen is displayed.

3. Click on the Actions button in the top left hand corner.
   
   

    

4. From the drop-down, choose Create New Rule. The Create New Rule screen displays.

5. In the Rule Type field, set your rule type to Shipping Policy.
   
   

    

6. Under Rule Application, select whether you want the rule to apply to all proposed shipments, or only under certain conditions.

   1. If you want the rule to only apply in certain conditions, click ‘Only apply this rule under certain conditions’ and input your specific conditions under Rule Criteria. 

      1. For example: Specify you only want this package preset to apply to shipments that contain a specific item type.

7. In the Rule Actions area, select Use Package Preset

8. The Select package preset field will populate. Using this field, choose the preset you wish to automatically apply.
   
   

    

9. Click Create.