Tip of the Month for: March 2013

Shipment Tracking Numbers on Orders and Invoices

The ability to view and/or edit tracking numbers from carriers such as UPS, FedEx, USPS, DHL, etc. on sales orders, warehouse transfers, and invoices was improved in the past release of Answers that came out in September 2012.

Answers has for many years allowed the importing of UPS tracking numbers from World Ship software.  And in 2011, Answers added the ability to import tracking numbers from Fed Ex.  But did you know that you can now manually enter tracking numbers from other carriers as well?  This can be done while the order is still open by bringing up the order in Order Entry and clicking on the  icon next to the Bill of Lading # field.   This new maintenance window allows for the viewing, adding, changing, and deleting of tracking of tracking #’s directly from Order Entry.  A good time to do this is when releasing the order.  In the past if tracking numbers were imported you could not see them until the order was released, invoiced, and updated through the Invoice Register.  Now you can use this window to view them as soon as they are imported even if the order is still open.  Plus it allows for the entering of multiple tracking numbers from other carriers or for those that may not have UPS or FedEx integrated with Answers, or for a tracking or Bill of Lading # that may exceed the 13-digit limit of the Bill of Lading # field.

Tracking numbers entered manually into this new window will also print on the invoice (if enabled in your configuration) just like those that are imported automatically.

These tracking numbers can also now be viewed or changed on prior invoices in the Invoice History tab of Customer Inquiry.  This is done by first viewing the invoice and then clicking on the [Edit] button.  In the "edit" window, you will find a new  icon next to the Bill of Lading # field that can be clicked on.