Agency Shipment Method Code (v5.0)

Modified on Wed, 20 Sep, 2023 at 9:22 AM

Agency Shipment Method Code

Purpose of this document

The Shipment Method Code advanced features described here are designed to reduce errors related to handling Agency Orders. Specifically, the Shipment Method Code can be made a required field when setting up an Agency and subsequently creating Agency Orders. Additionally, this update provides the ability to specify via setup how differences in Shipment Methods should be handled for Web orders received from Agency Express as compared to the Shipping Method specified for the related Agency.

The core functionality for Shipment Methods are defined in the Agency Overview and the Agency Express Agencies, Shoppers and Items Procedures.

Ceres Object release 5.00.00 is required for the functionality described in this document.

Table of Contents

Requiring the use of Shipment Method Codes
Establishing the Web Order Shipment Method Priority

Requiring the use of Shipment Method Codes

Shipment Method Codes identify the manner of shipment for an Agency Order and are user defined within Ceres. Typical Examples are Deliver or Pickup.

To require the use of Shipment Method Codes in Ceres navigate Departments à Agencies & Receivables à Setup à Agencies & Receivables Setup.

The Agencies & Receivables Setup Page will be displayed. Locate the Require Shipment Method Code setup option as shown below and place a checkmark in the box.

With this option selected users will be required to specify a Shipment Method Code on the Agency Card under two conditions.
- Creating a new Agency when closing the Agency Card.
- Navigating off of an Agency (e.g. closing the Agency Card).

If the user fails to specify a Shipment Method for the Agency, Ceres will present an error similar to the one shown below.

To correct this, navigate to the General or Shipping FastTab for the Agency. Locate and specify the applicable Shipment Method Code as shown below.

With Ceres configured to require Shipment Method Code, the requirement to specify a Shipment Method Code on an Agency will also be enforced on Agency Orders under the condition that the Agency’s Shipment Method will default to the order. If the Agency does not have a Shipment Method Code when the order is created, Ceres will present an error similar to the one shown below.

Note: If the Shipment Method Code is removed after order creation, no further check on SMC is made by the system

To correct this, navigate to the Shipping FastTab for the Agency referenced in the error message and specify the applicable Shipment Method Code as shown in the example above. Upon the creation of new Agency Orders for the Agency, Ceres will default the value of the Agency’s Shipment Method Code to the order. User can override the Shipment Method Code at the Agency Order header level if desired. However, the Shipment Method Code for the Agency Order Lines is not editable.

Establishing the Web Order Shipment Method Priority

The Web Order Shipment Method Priority functionality facilitates priority handling of the Shipment Method in cases where a Web order is received from Agency Express 3 and the Shipment Method specified for the imported Web Order differs from the Shipment Method specified for the related Agency. This option allows the food bank to define which Shipment Method flows to the Agency Order – the one from the Web Order or the default from the Agency.

Note: The use of this functionality does not require Ceres to be configured for Require Shipment Method Code; it is independent functionality.

Navigate to Agencies & Receivables Setup a described above.

The Agencies & Receivables Setup Page will be displayed. Locate the Web Shipment Method Priority setup option as shown below and specify the desired option from the available List.

Order – The shipment method from the Web Order (PO file) will be used.

Agency –The shipment method from the Agency will be used.

Web Exception – Ceres will update the web processing queue entry as having an error and create an Agency Comment Line entry for the Web Order. Ex. Shipment Method Code conflict; PO file: DELIVER, Agency: PICKUP.