Creating Container Deliveries

How to create and schedule inbound container deliveries. 

IN THIS TOPIC

• Create a Single Container Delivery
  • Add Inventory Items Individually
  • Add Inventory via CSV Upload
• Create Multiple Container Deliveries via CSV
  • Fixing CSV File Errors

The Inbound Deliveries functionality is used to send inventory to warehouses. It gives you access to everything associated with creating and managing Container Deliveries of floor-loaded or mixed-SKU goods (typically via container) that need to be palletized upon arrival. 

Create a Single Container Delivery

To create a single inbound container delivery in Flexe: 

1. Open Inbound Deliveries from the left menu and select Schedule a Delivery. 

2. Under the Container Unload option, select Schedule Delivery. 

3. Select a warehouse. 

Use the dropdown to select the warehouse for the delivery: 

Note: If there are multiple warehouses for your reservation(s), make sure to select the one you'd like the container delivery to go to.  

4. Request a delivery date. 

Choose a date for the delivery. This is the date the container should arrive at the warehouse: 

Note: The date you select should be at least 24 hours after the date of order submission. If you need to request a delivery after standard operating hours or over the weekend, please reach out to your Flexe Logistics Analyst for additional help. 

5. Enter Delivery Details. 

Use the text boxes to enter information about the delivery, including:

• Seal Number/Container Seal Number- required
• Purchase Order (PO) Number - required
• Trailer Number/Container number - optional
• Value of Goods/Estimated value of goods (USD) - required
• Vendor - optional

Note: The Purchase Order (PO) number can be any alphanumeric combination; however, using an easily identifiable or universal number with your carrier is recommended, to make it easier for the warehouse to reference. 

6. Upload the Bill of Lading. 

Select Choose File, then select the Bill of Lading (BOL) file from where it's saved on your computer. Once selected, the file name will be displayed next to the Choose File button: 

You can also use the Bill of lading description text box in this section to add any notes about the BOL document, as needed.

Note: You can still create the delivery if you don't have a BOL yet--you can add the BOL file later. 

7. Add inventory to the delivery. 

Add SKU Items Individually

You can use the text box to enter specific SKUs individually. Or, enter a description to search your inventory for the items you'd like to add: 

Add Inventory by CSV Upload

You can also add multiple items at once by uploading them in a CSV file: 

Select Import CSV.

Select Download a sample CSV file. 

A sample spreadsheet file (flexe_palletized_template.csv) then downloads through your web browser. Select the file from your downloads to open it. You'll use it as a template to help you enter all required information and complete the rest of the import process. 

Next, edit the spreadsheet to add your inventory information. Leave the first row in place--this is how the system will read your data. Delete the contents of the following rows (rows 2-4), then add information for all the inventory you want to include in the delivery: 

Once you've finished adding all of your information, make sure to save the spreadsheet as a .csv file. 

Return to the "Add Inventory by CSV upload" window in Flexe, and select Choose File. Find the file you edited from where it's saved, then select Import Inventory From File.  

Note:  If you get an error message during the importing process, review Issues with Inbound Deliveries for Shippers for troubleshooting guidance and common solutions. 

8. Review and modify selected inventory. 

Use this section to review the inventory you've added to the delivery, and modify as needed. 

Note: You can select the "X" next to an item to completely remove it from the delivery. 

9. Confirm and schedule the delivery. 

Once you've reviewed everything, select Confirm and Schedule to submit the delivery:

 

A summary of the delivery shows onscreen for you to review:

You can also find the delivery in the New tab on the Inbound Deliveries page.

The warehouse receives an email notification about the delivery, and will review and confirm it as the next step. Once the warehouse confirms the delivery, it moves to the In Progress tab on the Inbound Deliveries page. For more information, go to Inbound Delivery Basics for Shippers. 

Note: If you need to make any changes, you can use the Edit button to add those changes directly on this page. To learn more about editing inbound deliveries, go to Editing Inbound Deliveries.  

Create Multiple Container Deliveries via CSV

You can create multiple new container deliveries at once by uploading them in a CSV file. 

To create multiple container deliveries via CSV upload in Flexe: 

1. Select Inbound Deliveries from the left menu, then select Schedule a Delivery. 

2. Under the Container Unload section, select Import from CSV. 

3. Select a warehouse, then click the Select a CSV button.

Use the dropdown to select the warehouse for the delivery: 

Note: If there are multiple warehouses for your reservation(s), make sure to select the one you'd like the containers to go to.  

4. In the pop-up that appears, use the blue template hyperlink to download a CSV template which includes all required information in the correct format.

Once downloaded, select the file (container_inbound_sample.csv) to open it. You'll use it as a guide to help you enter everything correctly and complete the rest of the import process. 

If you need additional guidance about what to include in the file, select See a sample of the data your file needs from the upload window: 

5. Edit the spreadsheet to add your information. 

Leave the first row in the spreadsheet in place--this is how the system will read your data. Delete the contents of the following rows (rows 2-4), then add relevant information for each container:

Note: Make sure to add information marked as (required) in the spreadsheet file. Otherwise, you won't be able to complete the import process. 

Once you've finished adding all required information, make sure to save the spreadsheet as a .csv file. 

6. Upload and Submit your CSV file. 

Return to the upload window in Flexe, and select your finalized CSV file from where it's saved. You can either drag and drop it into the Upload Your File section, or select Choose File to browse for it on your computer: 

After you choose the file, it will show next to File Selected in the window. You can then select Submit to close the upload window and complete the import process.  

If the file uploaded without any issues, you'll see a confirmation message onscreen: 

 Note: If you get any error notifications, go to Fixing CSV File Errors for Container Uploads for troubleshooting guidance. 

7. Review the new containers from the Inbound Deliveries page.  

Select Inbound Deliveries from the left menu to return to the Inbound Deliveries page. You can review the container deliveries you just created from the New tab: 

The warehouse receives an email notification about the new inbound containers, and will review and confirm them as the next step. Once the warehouse confirms, the containers move to the In Progress tab on the Inbound Deliveries page. For more information, go to Inbound Delivery Basics for Shippers. 

Fixing CSV File Errors 

If there are any problems with your CSV file after you click the Submit button, the system automatically generates an error notification onscreen:  

The notification shows each error, details on how to fix it, and the impacted rows on the spreadsheet. To complete the CSV import process, you'll need to correct each of these errors directly within your spreadsheet file. 

Keep in mind that you can find additional guidance on how to edit the file from upload window. Select the Select a CSV button again to reopen the window, then select See a sample of the data your file needs: 

The window will expand to show you a detailed breakdown of each column in the spreadsheet, including the column header (name), a description of the column, examples of what to input and any important guidelines to follow.   

Once you've reviewed and corrected all errors, upload and submit the file again from the upload window: 

Note: If you need more help fixing file errors, reach out to your Flexe Logistics Analyst or contact us at [e-mail].