Workslayr offers an integrated solution for managing your shipping needs, primarily through its connection with Shippo. This allows your service-based business to streamline the creation of shipping labels and manage your logistics directly within the platform. By integrating shipping capabilities, Workslayr ensures that the management of physical goods, often associated with client projects or services, is seamless from creation to delivery.
Understanding Workslayr’s Shipping Capabilities #
While Workslayr is primarily an operational software for service-based businesses, it recognizes that many services involve physical components, such as delivering products to clients or receiving supplies from Vendors. The shipping features are designed to support these operational needs without delving into complex logistics or inventory management beyond what’s relevant for service delivery.
The core of Workslayr’s shipping functionality is its Shippo Shipping integration. This allows you to generate shipping labels, track packages, and manage various aspects of your outgoing and incoming shipments directly within the Workslayr interface. This integration helps connect the physical movement of goods to your overall projects and purchase orders.
Integrating Shipping into Your Workflow #
To leverage Workslayr’s shipping features, you will typically interact with the Shippo integration. This integration facilitates the smooth flow of information required for shipping, such as recipient addresses and package details. For instance, when you need to send a physical item as part of a service, the system enables you to prepare the shipment efficiently.
Effective use of the shipping module complements other areas of Workslayr. For example, if a product needs to be shipped to a client for a specific project, you can generate the shipping label, attach tracking information, and maintain a record of the shipment directly tied to that project. This ensures all associated costs and activities are centralized within your operational data.
You can manage shipping details alongside your Vendors, especially for managing incoming supplies. When creating Vendor contacts, their Vendor Addresses can be stored for easier shipping calculations. Understanding the Operational Scope (Important) of the vendors module highlights how Workslayr aids in coordinating these logistics, but it’s important to remember that Workslayr is not a full-fledged shipping management system or inventory optimization tool.
Key Aspects of Shipping Management #
Workslayr’s shipping integration helps you manage the practicalities of sending and receiving physical items. While providing essential tools for label generation and tracking, it emphasizes operational efficiency rather than complex supply chain management. This focus aligns with Workslayr’s role as an all-in-one operational platform for service businesses, ensuring that physical goods support, rather than complicate, your service delivery.
The shipping functionalities allow for better oversight when a service involves physical deliverables. For example, if you manage IT services and need to send a replacement part, the integration helps you handle the shipping logistics without leaving the Workslayr ecosystem. This ensures that tracking information is readily available and linked to the relevant client interaction or project activity.
- Label Generation: Directly create shipping labels through the Shippo integration.
- Tracking Visibility: Access shipment tracking information within Workslayr to monitor delivery progress.
- Streamlined Workflow: Connect shipping activities with projects, clients, and vendors for a cohesive operational view.
- Record Keeping: Maintain accurate records of all shipped items and their associated details.
For more detailed information on configuring the integration, please refer to the Shippo Shipping documentation.
Workslayr’s shipping functionalities, particularly in conjunction with the Shippo Integration, offer flexible options for fulfilling purchase orders or client orders. Understanding the distinction between Pickup and Manual Shipping is essential for accurately managing your logistics within the platform, whether you’re working with vendors or preparing to deliver products to your clients.
Understanding Pickup vs. Manual Shipping #
Workslayr provides two distinct methods for handling the delivery or retrieval of goods. The choice between Pickup and Manual Shipping depends on how items are transferred, whether they are being received from a vendor or sent to a client.
Pickup Option #
The Pickup option indicates that the items will be collected directly from a specified location, rather than being shipped. This method is common when you are:
- Receiving products from a vendor at your business location or a designated pickup point.
- Allowing clients to collect their purchased items directly from your premises.
When you select Pickup, Workslayr streamlines the process by removing the need for shipping carrier details or tracking numbers. Instead, the focus shifts to verifying the collection at the pickup location. For example, if you’ve placed a purchase order with a vendor and chosen pickup, you might record the date and time of collection as part of your inventory tracking process.
Manual Shipping Option #
The Manual Shipping option is utilized when items are delivered using a shipping carrier, but you handle the shipping process and documentation outside of Workslayr’s direct integration. This means Workslayr will not automatically generate labels or track shipments via the Shippo Integration. Instead, you would:
- Arrange shipping with your preferred carrier independently.
- Record relevant shipping details (e.g., carrier name, tracking number) manually within the Workslayr system as a reference.
- Update the purchase order or sales order status once the item has shipped.
Manual Shipping is suitable for businesses that have established relationships with specific carriers, prefer to manage shipping through separate systems, or handle unique delivery requirements not covered by standard integrations. For instance, if you are shipping a custom-made good to a client and use a specialized courier service, you would choose Manual Shipping and manually update the order with the tracking information.
Integrating with Shippo for Enhanced Shipping #
While Manual Shipping offers flexibility, Workslayr’s Shippo Integration significantly enhances shipping efficiency. With Shippo enabled, you can automate label creation, compare carrier rates, and track shipments directly within Workslayr. This is particularly beneficial for businesses managing a high volume of purchase orders or fulfilling numerous client orders for products.
When using the Shippo Integration, the system handles the complexities of generating shipping labels and updating tracking information, essentially automating much of what Manual Shipping would require you to do by hand. This allows your team to focus on core tasks, like managing projects and serving clients, rather than manual logistics data entry.
Workslayr integrates with Shippo to manage shipping labels and related logistics directly from the platform. This integration facilitates the creation of outbound shipping labels.
Enabling Shippo Integration #
To use the Shippo integration, enable it within your Workslayr settings. Navigate to the integrations section and activate the Shippo module. You will need to provide your Shippo API credentials.
Creating Shipping Labels #
Once enabled, shipping label creation is accessible from relevant modules. When processing orders or fulfilling tasks related to physical goods, options will appear to generate shipping labels. This process uses product information and client addresses.
- Origin Address: Configured within your company settings.
- Destination Address: Pulled from the associated client profiles.
- Package Details: Derived from the product details & classification.
The system communicates with Shippo to generate the label based on these parameters. The generated label can then be printed directly.
Managing Shipments #
After a label is created, tracking information from Shippo is available within Workslayr. This allows for monitoring shipment status without leaving the platform. Shipment details are associated with the relevant projects or deal agents for reference. Records are maintained for each generated label, including carrier and tracking numbers.
This integration streamlines the operational aspect of shipping physical products & services. It connects inventory management to outbound logistics.
Workslayr allows users to define and save box and parcel dimensions for shipping purposes. These saved configurations integrate with third-party shipping services like Shippo.
This functionality assists in automating shipment preparation by presetting common package sizes used for your products or when sending items to vendors.
Configuring Saved Boxes & Parcels #
To define a new box or parcel:
- Navigate to Settings.
- Select the ‘Shippo’ integration option.
- Locate the ‘Saved Boxes & Parcels’ section.
- Click ‘Add New’ to create a new configuration.
Each saved configuration requires specific details:
- Box Name: A descriptive name for the package (e.g., “Small Flat Rate Box”).
- Length: The length of the package.
- Width: The width of the package.
- Height: The height of the package.
- Distance Unit: The unit of measurement for dimensions (e.g., Inches, Centimeters).
- Default Weight: A standard weight if applicable, useful for recurring shipments.
- Mass Unit: The unit of measurement for weight (e.g., Pounds, Kilograms).
After entering the details, save the configuration. These saved boxes will be available when generating shipping labels through the Shippo integration, streamlining the process for your employees.
Saved Boxes & Parcels are distinct from specific vendor purchase orders or client profiles. They are a universal setting designed to standardize shipment dimensions across your operations.
Workslayr integrates with Shippo to facilitate shipping rate lookups and label creation directly within the platform. This functionality streamlines package delivery processes.
To use this feature, navigate to the relevant order or shipment within Workslayr. Look for the option to initiate a shipping rate lookup. This will present available shipping options and their associated costs.
Rate Lookup Process #
The rate lookup process involves defining package details and destination. The system uses this information to retrieve rates from integrated carriers via Shippo. Required information includes:
- Origin and destination addresses, often pre-filled from client or vendor addresses.
- Package dimensions (length, width, height) and weight.
- Service type (e.g., ground, express) if specified.
After entering these details, Workslayr queries Shippo to return a list of available shipping services and their prices. Users can then select the desired service.
Label Creation #
Once a shipping rate is selected, Workslayr can generate a shipping label. This feature requires a funded Shippo account. The label is created as a PDF document, which can be downloaded and printed.
The system records the generated shipping label information, including the tracking number, directly on the associated order or product record within Workslayr. This allows for package tracking and record keeping. This process supports internal operational workflows, such as fulfilling orders for inventory-tracked products.
Workslayr manages shipping fees and markups associated with products. These settings are configured per shipping rate within the system.
Workslayr integrates with Shippo for shipping rate calculations. When Shippo returns a shipping rate, Workslayr applies any configured markups or fees before presenting the final cost.
Configuring Shipping Markups #
Shipping markups can be a fixed amount or a percentage. These are applied to the base shipping cost provided by the Shippo integration.
Administrators configure these settings in the shipping rate section of the platform. This allows for adjustments to the actual carrier costs.
- You can set a percentage markup to increase the shipping cost by a specified percentage.
- A fixed amount markup adds a flat fee to the shipping cost.
Fixed Fees #
In addition to markups, Workslayr allows for the application of fixed shipping fees. These fees are added to the shipping cost after any percentage or fixed markups have been applied.
Fixed fees provide a method for covering additional handling or administrative costs associated with products that are shipped. These fees are distinct from markups and are configured independently.
Impact on Invoicing #
The final shipping cost, including all applied markups and fixed fees, is reflected on invoices generated in Workslayr. This ensures that clients are billed the correct amount for shipping services.
Shipping costs contribute to the overall project expenses and dashboard reports. This helps track the financial aspects of fulfilling orders involving physical goods.
Workslayr’s integration with Shippo allows for shipping costs to be associated with invoices. This ensures that shipping expenses incurred for delivering products or goods to clients are passed through or accounted for in the billing process.
When a shipping label is generated for an order within Workslayr, the corresponding cost from Shippo can be applied to an invoice. This process links the shipping service provided by your chosen vendors via Shippo directly to the client’s billable amount.
The shipping cost generated through Shippo integration populates as a line item on the invoice. This allows for transparent billing of shipping services to your clients. The system records the cost, which can then be included in the total due for the invoice.
Applying Shipping Costs to Invoices #
Shipping costs are applied to invoices via the following process:
- A shipping label is generated for a client’s order using the Shippo integration.
- The cost calculated by Shippo for that label is recorded.
- When creating or editing an invoice for the client, the recorded shipping cost can be selected as a line item.
- This line item will detail the shipping charge, contributing to the invoice’s subtotal and total amount due.
This integration aims to streamline the billing of delivery services for products and services. It ensures that shipping charges are captured accurately and associated with the correct client invoice.
