The Batch Order Processing feature allows you to take a large set of orders, sort them, and batch them by certain attributes so they can be easily picked and shipped together. Whether you choose to batch items based on their SKU, the customer, or the shipping carrier and/or service, 3PL Warehouse Manager makes it a simple process to do so.

This article reviews how to batch orders manually or automatically and reviews a few helpful tips related to batching.

Guidelines

Navigate to Orders > Find Orders. If needed, use the search filters in the left pane to refine the results displayed in the grid.

Decide whether you want to batch orders manually or let the system batch them automatically—both methods are outlined below.

Manually add orders to a new or existing batch

This method is preferred when you specifically batch by SKU and quantity to utilize batch-picking. 3PL Warehouse Manager requires the following to create a batch of orders: same customer, same warehouse, fully allocated.

Select the order(s) you want to batch, using < Ctrl > or < Shift > on your keyboard to select multiple orders, then hover over Batch.

• To add the order(s) to a new batch, click Add to New, enter the name of the batch, then click Create and Add.
  
  
   
• To add the order(s) to a previously created batch, click Add to Existing Batch, select the appropriate batch from the drop-down menu, then click Add.
  
  
   
• A confirmation message appears notifying you that the selected order(s) are batched.

Add orders to a new batch using auto-batch

Auto-batching allows 3PL Warehouse Manager to automatically generate batches of orders based on rules that you select in a customer's settings.

Orders must have the following criteria to qualify for an auto-batch: same customer, same facility, in an Open or Complete status, fully allocated, created in the last 30 days, and not in an existing batch.
 

1. To get started, you need to enable auto-batching in a customer's settings. Navigate to Customers > Manage Customers in 3PL Warehouse Manager, select a relevant customer from the grid, then click Edit.
   
   
    
2. Select the Batches configuration section.
    
3. Click the selection box for Enable auto-batching.
    
4. For Batch Cutoff Time, enter the time of day you want to stop creating batches, which is typically driven by your carrier's pickup schedule. If orders are imported or created after the specified cutoff time and qualify for batching, they are held and batched automatically the following day.
    
5. For Batch Size, enter the number of orders you'd like in each batch. The default batch size is 25 and can be increased up to 500 orders per batch.
   
   
    
6. Next, select the rule you want to apply to make orders eligible for auto-batching.
   
   
   
   Each rule is described below:
   
   • Quantity 1: Batches single-item orders that include the same item and have a quantity of 1
   • Identical Orders: Batches orders that include the same items and quantities of those items
   • Identical Items: Batches orders that include the same items regardless of item quantities
   • Carrier: Batches orders assigned the same shipping carrier
   • Customer and Warehouse: Batches orders for the same customer and warehouse
     
     

     If you'd like to see additional auto-batch rules, please submit a Product Idea. We'd love your feedback!

      
     
      
7. Once you select a rule, choose whether you want orders to also be batched by carrier by selecting the relevant option in the Same Carrier drop-down menu. Note: This does not apply to the "Carrier" rule.
    
8. Click Save to apply your auto-batch settings.
    
9. Repeat Steps 1–8 for each customer as needed.

Once configured, it's important to understand how the batching process occurs.

• When an order transitions into a Complete status, 3PL Warehouse Manager evaluates it against the customer's auto-batch rule. If the order matches the rule, it's grouped with other orders of the same configuration. Once the specified batch size is reached based on these batching qualifications and the rule selected in a customer's settings, the system creates a batch.
   
• However, if one or more eligible orders come in after the specified cutoff time, those orders are held and batched starting at midnight the following day.
   
• The system automatically names each batch using the following formatting: Customer Name (up to 10 characters)-Batch rule number-Month/Day-How many batches of that type have been created that day. For example: customerA-1-07/26-5.
   
• Once a batch is created, it is searchable and manageable through the Find Orders grid. You can manually add orders to these batches as needed.

Batching tips

Now that your orders are batched, here are a few helpful tips related to batching:

• Add batch columns to the Find Orders grid. If you're batching orders regularly, you may find it helpful to add the 'Batch ID' and 'Batch Name' columns to the Find Orders grid via Options > Columns to quickly reference an order's batch details.
   
• Filter the Find Orders grid by batch. After specifying a customer, you can Choose a Batch in the 'Search by Order Details' filter container to display batches from the last 30 days. Note that the 'Edit Batches' permission must be enabled for a user to access this search filter, found in the 'Orders Module' permission set under 'Manage Orders'.
  
  
  
  To search for batches older than 30 days, you must use the relevant column filters.
   
• View details for all the transactions in a batched order. To view all the transactions in a batch, select at least two orders from the batch, click Documents > Master Pick Ticket, make the appropriate selections, and then click Generate. A Master Pick Ticket opens in a new tab in your browser, which lists each transaction on the batched order.