Plain-language definitions for the shipping terms, logistics terms and Dynamics 365 Business Central terms you’ll meet when working with MetaShip — written for operations people, not just developers.
Think of this as a heads-up you send ahead of a shipment, letting the receiver know what’s coming, when it’ll arrive, and how it’s packed. With MetaShip, you can give your customers or warehouse partners advance visibility so they can plan dock space, staffing, and receiving before the truck ever pulls in.
The connective tissue that lets two software systems talk to each other. MetaShip bridges this gap by using APIs to exchange data with your carriers, marketplaces, and your ERP in real time, so rates, labels, and tracking updates flow automatically instead of you keying them in by hand.
Automatically calculating the shipping charges on each shipment and applied to the correct amount without any need of manual entry. Auto Billing takes the guesswork out of invoicing- it pulls the right rate and charges the right party the moment a shipment is created.
The logic that decides how your items should be grouped into cartons based on size, weight, and quantity. Smart Packing recommends the best box for each order, so you waste less space, spend less on dimensional weight, and move faster at the packing bench.
You use a handheld or fixed scanner to read a barcode and instantly pull up the matching order, item, or shipment. It keeps your warehouse accurate by replacing manual lookups with a single scan.
Instead of processing orders one at a time, you run many together in one batch. This lets you rate, label, and manifest dozens or hundreds of shipments in a single action, which is a lifesaver during peak volume.
The legal contract between you as the shipper and your carrier that details the freight being moved. A BOL acts as a receipt, a shipping instruction, and proof of the agreement all at once, and you’ll need it for freight and LTL moves.
Microsoft’s cloud ERP for small and mid-sized businesses. MetaShip runs natively inside Business Central, so your shipping lives right alongside your orders, inventory, and finance data — no separate system to manage.
The unique identifier that links your shipments to your own negotiated account with a carrier. Using your Carrier Account Number means you ship on your own rates and terms rather than default retail pricing.
Before you ship, you compare prices across multiple carriers so you always land on the most cost-effective option. Carrier Rate Shopping surfaces the best rate and service level side by side, so shipping becomes a smarter spend.
A single printable file that holds all the labels for a batch of shipments. It lets you print an entire run in one click instead of opening each label separately.
You combine multiple orders or items into a single shipment to save on freight and handling. This cuts the number of packages leaving your dock and lowers your overall cost per unit shipped.
Incoming goods move almost directly from the receiving dock to the outbound dock, with little or no storage in between. Cross Docking speeds up your flow and cuts down on the need to warehouse fast-moving stock.
Customs Documentation covers all the oficial paperwork, describing goods while crossing an international border including their value, contents, and origin. A complete Customs Declaration keeps your cross-border shipments compliant and helps them clear without costly delays.
Your record that a shipment reached its destination. Delivery Confirmation gives you and your customer peace of mind that the package arrived, and it’s what you’ll lean on if a dispute ever comes up.
A pricing method carriers use that considers a package’s size, not just its actual weight. Because a large but light box takes up truck space, DIM Weight can drive up your cost, which is exactly why efficient packing matters so much.
A price estimate that covers both sending an item out and bringing it back. You’ll find it useful for rentals, repairs, and exchanges where you need to cost the round trip up front.
You coordinate appointment times for trucks arriving to load or unload. Dock Scheduling prevents congestion at your loading bay, keeps carriers moving, and makes your labor planning far more predictable.
Software that lives inside your ERP rather than bolting on from the outside. Because MetaShip is ERP-native, your shipping data never has to sync across systems, so you get one source of truth and no double entry.
An inventory method where you ship or sell your oldest stock before newer stock. FIFO keeps your products fresh, which matters most if you’re dealing with expiry dates or short shelf lives.
Transporting parcels over roads rather than by air. Ground shipping is one of the most economical shipping options for most domestic orders, and it works well whenever speed matters less than cost.
The global standards organization behind the barcodes and product identifiers used across supply chains. GS1 standards make sure the barcodes you scan and the numbers you exchange mean the same thing everywhere.
This is a type of shipment where it contains hazardous materials which require special attention and handling. These shipments are handled with special documentation and labels and businesses have to follow strict regulations to maintain safety of people while cargo is in transit.
Everything involved in receiving goods into your operation, from purchase orders to putaway. Strong Inbound Logistics ensures the right stock lands in the right place, ready for you to fulfill customer demand.
You reserve specific stock to fulfill specific orders. Inventory Allocation stops you from overselling by committing units to an order the moment it’s placed, so what you promise is what you can actually ship.
How you produce the shipping labels your carriers require to move and track a package. Fast, reliable Label Printing keeps your packing line flowing and cuts down on mis-ships caused by mismatched labels.
You see up-to-the-minute prices from several carriers at once. Live Rate Comparison shows you rates that reflect current pricing, so you can confidently choose the best value at the moment you ship.
A summary document listing all the packages handed to a carrier in a pickup. A Manifest gives your carrier one consolidated record to scan, which speeds up pickup and creates a clear paper trail.
Your ability to ship through many carriers from one platform. Multi-Carrier shipping frees you from being locked to a single provider and lets you match each order to the best carrier for the job.
The full journey of getting your customer’s order picked, packed, and delivered. Smooth Order Fulfillment is where your inventory, shipping, and service come together to create a great customer experience.
Everything involved in getting your finished goods out the door and to the customer. Efficient Outbound Logistics reduces your cost per shipment and gets orders to customers faster.
A document you include in a package that lists its contents. A Packing Slip helps your customer confirm they got everything they ordered, and it helps your team verify the pack before it ships.
Sending individual packages, typically small and lightweight, through carriers like national post and express couriers. Parcel Shipping is the backbone of your e-commerce order delivery.
These are the three core warehouse steps which includes selecting items, boxing them, and dispatching them to the final destination. A well-run Pick-Pack-Ship process is the backbone of your fulfillment operation.
Consider it as a documented evidence, such as a signature or photo, that a shipment was delivered to the right customer. Proof of Delivery protects you against disputes and confirms that you met your obligation to the customer.
You compare shipping prices to find the lowest cost for a given service. Rate Shopping makes sure you never overpay by defaulting to a single carrier or service out of habit.
Live visibility into where a shipment is at any moment. Real-Time Tracking keeps you and your customers informed from pickup to doorstep, so you field fewer ‘where is my order’ inquiries.
Returns or reverse logistics refer to the process of moving goods back from your customer, whether for refunds, exchanges, or repairs. Efficient Reverse Logistics turns returns from a complicated process into a smooth, trackable part of your operation and can update the inventory accordingly.
The record of what your customer has agreed to buy. The Sales Order drives your fulfillment, telling your warehouse what to pick and your shipping engine what to send.
A workflow where scanning an item or order barcode automatically triggers the shipping steps. Scan-to-Ship cuts down on errors and speeds up your bench by turning a single scan into a ready-to-go label.
You group multiple orders bound for the same destination or route into one shipment. Shipment Consolidation lowers your freight cost and reduces the number of touches per delivery.
A projected cost and delivery time for a shipment before you book it. A Shipping Estimate helps you and your customers set expectations and make informed choices at checkout.
An add-on that brings shipping capabilities directly into your existing software. The MetaShip Shipping Extension plugs into your ERP so shipping becomes a native part of your workflow.
The printed label your carriers use to route and track a package. An accurate Shipping Label is what turns a packed box into a shipment your carrier can actually move.
Automated guidance on the best way to box an order for cost and protection. Smart Packing balances the fewest, smallest cartons against safe handling, trimming both your material and freight costs.
Charging shipping costs to an account other than yours or your receiver’s. You’ll see Third-Party Billing come up when a vendor, customer, or partner has agreed to cover the freight.
3PL is an outside logistics provider that handles all aspects of logistics including warehousing, fulfillment, and shipping operations on your behalf. Working with a 3PL lets you scale operations without owning the warehouse and staff yourself. They handle everything with expert dedicated team.
Third-party shipping enables you arranged shipping through an outside party or on someone else’s carrier account. Third-Party Shipping gives you flexibility and being responsible for how goods move.
The unique code assigned to your shipment so it can be followed through the carrier network. A Tracking Number is the key that unlocks real-time visibility for you and your customer.
You use technology and systems to reduce manual work in your warehouse. Warehouse Automation improves your speed and accuracy across picking, packing, and shipping, so your team does more with less.
It is a comprehensive software dedicatedly designed to manage and run your day-to-day warehouse operations, from receiving to shipping. A well-crafted Warehouse Management System allows you to keep accurate inventory record and organize workflow across locations.
Generally refers to a shipment that starts or moves from your warehouse location.
Moving inventory from one location to another within your network. A Warehouse Transfer rebalances your stock so each site has what it needs to fulfill nearby demand quickly.
A pricing structure where cost depends on the distance zone between origin and destination. Understanding Zone Shipping helps you predict freight cost and position your inventory closer to your customers.
The fastest way to understand MetaShip is to watch it ship an order without ever leaving Business Central. Book a walkthrough on your own workflow.
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