Packing Materials modifies and extends the current “Manage Packaging” functionality by introducing a new type of packing material known as an “order insert”. An order insert is an additional customer-specific material added to an outgoing order. There is no support for a “generic” insert that would be applied to all orders, regardless of customer.

Note: An insert can be anything but is most commonly small lightweight items like coupons, marketing materials, product samples, etc.

The Packing Material updates also let you monitor the consumption of packing materials, both packaging and inserts, as part of the order fulfillment process, and receive in-app alerts when it’s time to restock a given material.

3PL Warehouse Manager supports both non-SKU and SKU-based inserts. Which type you use depends on your specific goals. Non-SKU inserts are typically low-value, paper-based items like coupons and marketing materials. SKU-based inserts are regular inventory items that are used as an insert.

See our article Using Packing Materials to learn how to use the Packing Materials feature.

How Inserts work

Inserts are not ordered items and aren’t part of the order when it is created. However, when an order moves into a “Complete” status, the system reviews the order and identifies the relevant inserts. Inserts are then added to an order’s processing depending on if they are non-SKU-based or SKU-based.

Non-SKU inserts

Non-SKU inserts are not inventory items and are often low-value items, typically paper, coupons, or marketing materials, that can be organized and stored near the pack station. On-hand quantities of these inserts are tracked loosely in the Manage Packing Materials page. These inserts are not line items added to the order but inserted into the order’s packing processes via SmartScan or SmartPack (Small Parcel Suite).   A designated user is sent an in-app notification when the on-hand quantity drops below the specified minimum value letting them know to replenish the stock of that insert. The pack line for the added insert is marked to identify it as an insert and not an item required to ship the order.  
Note: Non-SKU inserts are not picked as part of an order.

SKU-based inserts

SKU-based inserts are inventory items that are added to the order as an insert. If an order qualifies for a SKU-based insert, it is added to the order as a line item and is then picked and packed together with every other line item on the order. However, because the insert line item wasn’t specifically ordered, it is identified as an optional insert and is not required to ship the order.

SKU-based inserts can be set by clicking the This insert is an inventory item box under the General section.

Inserts can be skipped during picking and packing, and the order is still considered “fully picked” and “fully packed”. This prevents the order from being held up due to an insert’s insufficient stock.

You and your customers are notified through standard email notifications when the on-hand quantity of an insert drops below its specified minimum quantity.