The "Label Placeholders – Package Options" feature in Dynamics 365 Business Central's Dynamic Ship module offers significant flexibility in customizing package labels with dynamic information pulled from the shipping order or package itself. This capability is essential for businesses that need to include specific details on their shipping labels to meet carrier requirements or enhance package traceability. Let's explore this feature with an example to understand how it works and how it can be applied.
Understanding Label Placeholders
Label placeholders allow for the automatic inclusion of certain data on package labels without manually entering it for each package. You can use these placeholders in fields like Print Custom 1, Print Custom 2, Print Custom 3, and Invoice No. The data populated in these fields can vary depending on the shipping carrier, the nature of the shipment, or specific customer requirements.
Available Placeholders and Their Descriptions
Here are some of the available placeholders you might use in configuring package options:
- `[contact]`: Customer contact name from the source document.
- `[customer]`: Customer number from the source document.
- `[invoice]`: Invoice number; generated if not present on the header.
- `[item]`: First item in the license plate of the package.
- `[lot]`: Lot number of the first item.
- `[lp]`: License plate number of the current package.
- `[name]`: Customer name from the source document.
- `[order]`: Scanned order number in a pack worksheet, which may include sales order, transfer order, or warehouse shipment number.
- `[qty]`: Quantity of the first item in the package.
- `[serial]`: Serial number of the first item.
- `[shipment]`: Shipment number; generated if not present on the header.
- `[source]`: Source document number (e.g., sales order, transfer order).
Example Scenario: Using Placeholders for a Custom Package Label
Let's say you're shipping a batch of items to a customer, and you want the package label to include the customer's contact name, the invoice number, and the first item's serial number. Here's how you might configure your package options:
1. Print Custom 1: `[contact]` - This could be used to print the customer's contact name directly on the label, ensuring the delivery personnel knows who to contact upon arrival.
2. Print Custom 2: `[invoice]` - Including the invoice number on the package label can help in quickly referencing the associated order and handling any necessary documentation upon delivery.
3. Print Custom 3: `[serial]` - By printing the serial number of the first item in the package, you enhance traceability and make it easier to verify the contents without opening the package.
Implementing Placeholders in Dynamic Ship
To implement these placeholders:
1. Package Worksheet:
- When processing individual packages, go to Process > Package Options on the Package Worksheet page. Here, you can specify the package options, including the placeholders for the labels.
2. Customer Specific Defaults:
- To set defaults for all packages sent to a particular customer, add the placeholder configurations to a package option template in Dynamic Ship Customer Options. This ensures all packages sent to this customer include the specified details on their labels.
3. Global Defaults:
- For a company-wide default that applies to all packages, add the placeholders to the Default Package Option Template Code in Dynamic Ship Setup. This sets a standard label configuration that will apply unless overridden by specific customer or package settings.
By leveraging label placeholders, businesses can significantly streamline their package labeling process, ensuring that all necessary information is accurately and automatically included on every package they ship, tailored to meet the needs of their customers and comply with carrier requirements.
