The strength of a system comes from the interconnectedness of its steps. Each step takes the output of the previous one as input; skipping a step or doing it manually breaks the traceability of the entire chain.
Warehouse-focused or transportation-focused?
The shipping flow can be established using two different logics. In a warehouse-focused flow , the delivery is created first, picking and packaging are completed, and then transportation is planned. In a transportation-focused flow , transportation is planned first; after determining which goods will go into which vehicle, the warehouse starts working.
The choice between the two depends on the business constraint: a warehouse-focused flow is more efficient if the bottleneck is in the warehouse, and a transport-focused flow is more efficient if it's vehicle capacity and delivery window. Mature systems support both models and allow for the application of different models depending on the product group.
Special location of goods exit
The most critical moment in the flow is the goods exit. This single operation simultaneously: reduces inventory, establishes the cost of goods sold, enables revenue recording, documents the transfer of ownership and risk, closes the traceability record, and triggers legal documentation obligations.
Therefore, goods dispatch must be recorded simultaneously with the physical reality. Bulk dispatches at the end of the day disrupt inventory accuracy, cost accounting, and document dates.