Outbound Tracking Functionality

Outcome

Units are tracked at issue by connecting a unique tracking ID to each individual piece.

Limitations

• You can use this functionality only for customer order deliveries.
• You cannot use this functionality for wave picking.
• You cannot use this functionality for sublot items.
• You cannot use this functionality with load building.
• You cannot use package-based reporting when outbound tracking functionality is activated.
• When reporting issues from aggregated levels, the system validates that all external tracking IDs are assigned. If not, a stop message is displayed.
  Note: This validation takes place only if parameter 660 in 'Dispatch Policy. Open' (MWS010) is set to 1 ='Activated', and the manual selection in combination with 'Selection method' in 'Outbound Tracking Policy. Open' (MWS471) is set to 1. If reporting from these levels, 'Outbound Tracking ID. Open' (MWS475) is not automatically displayed, but the system validates that the correct number of tracking IDs exists per delivery or shipment.

Before you start

1. Define rules for outbound tracking activation.

   On (MWS010/J), activate outbound tracking using the 660 Outbound tracking activation parameter.

   Select between these alternatives:

   • 0-'Not activated'
   • 1-'Activated, manual'
   • 2-'Activated, automatic'

   If you select value 1, you must assign and select an external tracking ID for each issued unit. This requirement is based on the settings on 'Item. Connect Warehouse' (MMS002/J).

   If you select value 2, the system automatically creates a blank external tracking ID for each issued unit. The external tracking ID record is assigned status 19 and can be manually updated after issue.

2. Define rules for outbound tracking policy.
   1. In (MWS471), define the settings for your outbound tracking policy.
      Select between these alternatives:

      • 1-'Always display MWS475'
      • 2-'Conditionally display MWS475'
      • 3-'Never display MWS475'

      Select 1 if you must assign an external tracking ID and manually select a detailed issue reporting. We recommend this alternative when the user reporting the issue must ensure that outbound tracking IDs are provided before the units are shipped.

      Select 2 if you should assign external tracking IDs before the issue, enabling issue reporting on aggregated level such as per 'Picking list. Report' (MWS420), 'Delivery. Open Toolbox' (MWS410) or 'Shipment. Open Toolbox' (DRS100). This alternative applies when the picker or packer must provide the tracking ID, while the user who reports the issue does not have access to that information and reports the whole picking list, the entire delivery, or the entire shipment.

      You can report at an aggregated level if:

      • The reported quantity is equal to the number of assigned tracking IDs,
      • Only one allocation exists for the delivery line on the picking list,
      • The detailed rules of the tracking policy are fulfilled.

      Select 3 to enable a blank external tracking ID to be automatically created when you report an issue, and with status 19, you cannot provide the tracking ID manually. You can manage the record after the issue is reported. This option is relevant when, for example, the warehouse staff is not responsible for providing the tracking ID, but the customer or a sales representative after the goods are dispatched.

   2. The parameters will be automatically 0 if nothing is set. Optionally, set the remaining parameters with 0-'Not allowed', '1-'Allowed', or 2-'Allowed with warning' to enable these features:
      • Assigning blank external tracking IDs
      • Assigning duplicate external tracking IDs
      • Selection of blank external tracking IDs
      • Selection of blank external tracking IDs.
   3. On (MMS002/J), specify the outbound tracking policy that applies for an item/warehouse combination.

Workflow until issue

1. In 'Customer Order. Open' (OIS100), a customer order is created with an order type that uses a dispatch policy activated for outbound tracking.
2. In 'Customer Order. Open Line' (OIS101), an item is added. The item has an outbound tracking policy set up in (MMS002).
3. After releasing the picking list, open 'Picking List. Report Lines' (MWS422) and select option 31-'Tracking ID' to assign external tracking IDs. You can only assign tracking IDs if the 'Outbound tracking activation' is set to 1 in (MWS010) and 'Selection method' is set to 1 or 2 in the 'Outbound tracking policy' in (MWS471).

   In (MWS475), select between these options:

   • Create: Creates only one tracking ID.
   • Create all: Creates the total number of tracking IDs to be assigned.
4. Specify the tracking ID as necessary.
   • The Internal Tracking ID is a unique system generated number.
   • In the External Tracking ID, the user adds the item's serial or reference number.
     Note: Based on the configuration in (MWS471), you can leave the External Tracking ID field blank or use duplicates.
5. When reporting the picking list line, select option 16-'Confirm issues'.
   • If selection method is 1, the user must select tracking IDs in (MWS475).
   • If selection method is 2, the user must select tracking IDs in (MWS475) in some specific scenarios.
   • If selection method is 3, the system automatically selects blank tracking IDs.

Workflow after issue

After the issue, records are managed in 'Outbound Tracking ID. Open Toolbox' (MWS476). Use (MWS476) when you need to adjust existing records or when you cannot select tracking IDs before the issue.

Additional functionality - navigation from (MWS070) to (MWS476)

In 'Stock Transaction. Display History' (MWS070), the related option, 17='Ext Track ID' opens (MWS476). When you navigate from (MWS070) to (MWS476), only the external tracking IDs associated with specific stock transaction are displayed.

Additional functionality - views in aggregated reporting programs

Information fields are used in views in (MWS420), (MWS410), and (DRS100). The fields provide information about the current situation of tracking IDs for the entity used.

Use cases for outbound tracking functionality

• Scenario 1

  Automatic scenario where outbound tracking activation is set to 2 and selection method is set to 2 in outbound tracking policy.

  In this scenario, the warehouse staff executes and reports the picking. When the picking list line is reported, the system automatically generates tracking IDs with blank external tracking ID.

  • 'Outbound tracking activation' is set to 2-'Activated, automatic selection in (MWS010)'.
  • When the picking list is released, you cannot assign tracking IDs.
  • Confirming issues is possible from (MWS422), (MWS420), (MWS410), and (DRS100) and blank tracking IDs are automatically created.
  • After confirming issues, you can change the records in (MWS476).
• Scenario 2

  Manual scenario where outbound tracking activation is set to 1 and selection method is set to 3 in outbound tracking policy.

  In this scenario, the warehouse staff executes and reports the picking. When the picking list line is reported, the system automatically generates tracking IDs with blank external tracking ID.

  • 'Outbound tracking activation' is set to 1-'Activated, manual selection in (MWS010)'.
  • When the picking list is released, you cannot assign tracking IDs. The selection method on the outbound tracking policy will override the manual flow.
  • Confirming issues is possible from (MWS422), (MWS420), (MWS410), and (DRS100) and blank tracking IDs are automatically created.
  • After confirming issues, you can change the records in (MWS476).
• Scenario 3

  Manual scenario where outbound tracking activation is set to 1 and selection method is set to 2 in outbound tracking policy.

  In this scenario, the warehouse staff selects the items but not necessarily reports the issue. The picker assigns tracking IDs and enters the serial number (external tracking ID) for each piece, while the administrative staff reports the issue and must select tracking IDs manually if inconsistencies are detected.

  • 'Outbound tracking activation' is set to 1-'Activated, manual selection in (MWS010)'.
  • When the picking list is created, start (MWS422) and select option 31-'Tracking ID'.
  • In (MWS475), assign tracking IDs to the item on the delivery line.
  • When reporting the picking list from (MWS422), choose option 16-'Confirm issues'.
    • Scenario 1: If the quantity assigned equals the quantity to be assigned, no selection will be made by the user at issue.
    • Scenario 2: If the quantity assigned is blank and selection of blank tracking IDs isn’t allowed, the user must select tracking IDs at issue.
    • Scenario 3: If the quantity assigned is less than the quantity to be assigned, the user must select tracking IDs at issue.
    • Scenario 4: If there are several allocations on the picking list, the user must select tracking IDs at issue.
  • After confirming the issues, you can change the records in (MWS476).

Parameters to set