 |
Pallet Packagingfor WooCommerce |
The Pallet Packing plugin is designed exclusively for use with Eniture Technology’s LTL Freight Quotes plugins. The plugin allows merchants to identify their standard pallet size and it maximum loaded weight and dimensions. The data is used to identify a packaging solution prior to obtaining shipping rate estimates. The packaging solution is saved with orders as a step-by-step graphical illustration that the merchant can refer to during fulfillment. The result is the most accurate shipping rate estimates possible.
Features
Identify your standard pallet size.
Uses the pallet’s weight capacity and dimensional constraints to determine the number of pallets that will be required for the shipment.
Allows the LTL Freight Quote plugins to work for accounts that have density pricing. (Check the Features tab of the LTL Freight Quote plugin you’re using to verify that it has been updated to support use of the Pallet Packing add-on plugin.)
Refer to a step-by-step graphical illustration of how the packaging solution was created.
Record the weight of the pallet so the weight of the shipment is precise.
Specify the maximum weight capacity of the pallet.
Specify the maximum height the loaded pallet can be.
Stipulate whether individual products can be rotated for placement on a pallet.
Identify products that ship as their own handling unit and should not be palletized with other items.
Current version: 1.1.4
Requirements
WooCommerce 5.7 or newer.
The use of one of the following LTL Freight Quotes plugins from Eniture Technology:
- ABF
- Estes
- Fedex Freight
- FreightQuote.com
- GlobalTranz
- ODFL (Old Dominion Freight Lines)
- R+L Carriers
- Saia
- SEFL (Southeastern Freight Lines)
- Unishippers
- UPS Freight
- Worldwide Express
- XPO Logistics
- YRC
FAQ’S
How is the packaging solution identified if this plugin add-on isn’t installed?
It depends on the LTL Freight Quote plugin you’re using. Some don’t account for the pallet at all. In these cases, use the Handling Fee/Mark Up field to pad your quotes. Other plugins will allow you to identify a pallet weight and a weight threshold, after which the weight of additional pallets are added.
How does the Pallet Packing plugin work?
The plugin uses a highly complex algorithm to consider the constraints of the defined pallet, the physical characteristics of the items in the shopping cart, and the governing settings to identify the packaging solution. The algorithm’s goal is to determine how many pallets are required for the shipment. And if your carrier pricing is density based, the shipment dimensions will be sent with the quote request.
What does it cost to use this plugin?
A transaction fee is charged per packaging solution. The smallest plan equates to 5 cents per packaging solution if fully consumed. The cost per transaction gets progressively cheaper the larger the monthly plan. A packaging solution is calculated for every shipment origin point involved for a particular shopping cart. A potential order with only one warehouse will require one packaging solution each time shipping rates are retrieved. A potential order with one warehouse and two drop ship locations will require three.
Installation & User’s Guide
Overview
1. Install the plugin |
Return to top. |
Download the plugin installation file. Be sure to save it to a familiar location so you can navigate to it during the installation process.
Login to the WordPress dashboard as the website administrator. In the left sidebar, hover your mouse over the Plugins menu to display the sub-menu options. Select Add New from the sub-menu options. The Add Plugins page will load.
At the top of the Add Plugins page, click on the Upload Plugin button.
Controls will appear in the middle of page that will allow you to choose and install the plugin application. Click the Choose File button, navigate to the location where you saved the installation file and select it.
Click the Install Now button.
WordPress will display information about the installation progress at the bottom of the page. The plugin has been installed once the message Plugin installed successfully is displayed.
2. Activate the Plugin |
Return to top. |
Once the plugin has been installed, it must be activated. If you are still on the same page that you were on at the end of Step 2, you can click the Activate Plugin button.
If you’ve already navigated away from that page, select Installed Plugins from the Plugins menu.
Locate the Pallet Packaging plugin on the list and click the Activate link.
3. Configure the plugin |
Return to top. |
Select Settings from the WooCommerce menu.
Click on the tab that corresponds to the LTL Freight Quotes plugin you have installed. Click on the Pallet link to access the plugin settings.
3a. Enter your pallet information |
Return to top. |
Begin by entering your pallet. Click the Add Pallet button.
Use the popup to enter the pallet parameters and repeat this procedure for each of your pallet sizes.
| Nickname | Enter a nickname for the pallet. The nickname will be used to identify the pallet in the graphical illustration of the packaging solution. |
| Length | The length of the pallet in inches. |
| Width | The width of the pallet in inches. |
| Height | The height of the pallet in inches. |
| Pallet Weight | The weight of the pallet in pounds. |
| Max Height | The maximum height the pallet is allowed to reach, entered as inches. This measurement doesn’t include the height of the pallet. |
| Max Weight | The maximum weight the pallet is rated to hold, entered as pounds. This value doesn’t include the weight of the pallet. |
| Pallet Fee | If you want to add a fee to the shipping quote for the pallet, enter the amount here. |
| Available | Check this box to make it available for the packaging solution calculations. |
3b. Choose a plan |
Return to top. |
| Auto-renew | Choose a plan that best meets your needs. The credit card associated with quote plugin license will be billed immediately and the plan will become your current plan. Your choice will be retained for the auto-renew option. You can change your auto-renew selection at any time. Plans automatically renew at the end of every monthly billing cycle or upon the depletion of the current plan. To prevent a renewal, choose Disable from the list of options. |
| Current plan | Displays information about the current plan and the start and end dates of the current subscription period. |
| Current usage | Displays information about the consumption of the current plan. The date shown is the UTC timestamp of the last time a packaging solution was identified. |
| Suspend use | Checking this box temporarily suspends the Pallet Packaging plugin. It does not permanently disable the feature and if the current monthly billing cycle expires, a new plan will be activated. To disable the plugin, deactivate it or choose Disable from the Auto-renew drop down. |
4. Product packing properties |
Return to top. |
When the plugin is installed two new options are added to the product shipping parameters.
| Allow vertical rotation | Allows the product to be rotated for the purpose of arriving at a packaging solution. If left unchecked, the product can only be placed on a pallet in its upright orientation. |
| Ship as own package | When checked, the item is prevented from being placed on a pallet with other items. The packaging solution will represent it as its own package. |
5. Viewing the packaging solution |
Return to top. |
When the plugin is installed and enabled, the packaging solution is saved graphically with each order. To view it, navigate to WooCommerce > Orders and select an order. Scroll down the Order Details page until the Packaging Details section is located.
The illustration shows the pallets required to ship the order. To the right of the nickname is an image of how the pallet was loaded. The dimensions are the dimensions of the shipment not including the pallet. The height of the pallet will be added to the shipment parameters prior to making the request for quotes if your carrier pricing is density based.
Beneath the illustration of the fully loaded pallet are a series of images providing step-by-step placement of the items onto the pallet. Below each step’s image is the name and dimensions of the item that is the focus of that step. If more than one warehouse or drop ship location is required to fulfill the order, the packaging solution for each location will be presented in succession.
To further assist you, the Additional Order Details widget will contain information about the shipment(s) required to fulfill the order.
