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With the holidays just around the corner, it's no secret that your supply chain business or enterprise is pulling out all the stops to get packages delivered on time and ensure your customers are happy with their experience. If you're currently using the Oracle E-Business Suite or Oracle Cloud Enterprise Resource Planning for your cloud-based procurement and management needs, there are ways you can enhance these powerful tools to make this hectic season even more seamless.
With a multi-carrier shipping tool, qualifying Oracle customers can access a wide range of benefits and solutions. In this post, we'll walk you through Oracle ship to vs. deliver to and how it can impact your supply chain management at the busiest time of year.
Table of Contents:
- The Difference Between Ship to and Deliver to Address
- What Makes a Customer Qualified for Oracle Van Delivery?
- Benefits of a Multi-Carrier Shipping Solution
- How to Find the Right Shipping and Carrier Solution
- How ShipERP Core Streamlines Your Enterprise Shipping
The Difference Between Ship to and Deliver to Address
While using Oracle Suite, you may have come across two different terms — “Ship to Address” and “Deliver to Address”. At first glance, these phrases might seem synonymous and be used interchangeably. While these two terms have similar meanings, they're not quite the same. For instance, they both represent a parcel's designated delivery destination. However, it's important to know the difference between the two phrases, as your team will need to confirm both addresses before finalizing a transaction.
When a customer places an order, the item or items they've purchased may need to be shipped from one location to another before making their way to the customer. The reason behind this process varies for each business, but it may be due to inventory issues, inefficient shipping methods, or another problem that prevents the item from being shipped directly from the warehouse to the customer's home.
These tags may also refer to the time and date that the package was either shipped or delivered to a customer. For example, the Oracle “ship to address” will have a specific timestamp of when the package left the supplier's warehouse and is being transported to its final destination. Likewise, the Oracle “deliver to address" refers to the date and time when the parcel arrives at the customer's doorstep or mailbox.
In Oracle Suite, “ship to address” orders are generally reserved for customers who do not qualify for van delivery and may need to pick up their packages at a post office, P.O. box, or other pickup location. Again, this can be due to a multitude of reasons.
What Makes a Customer Qualified for Oracle Van Delivery?
If you're seeing the “deliver to address” tag on your Oracle Suite orders, this likely means you are either a rewards member or otherwise qualify for van delivery. This service is beneficial for both businesses and customers because parcels and packages get delivered directly to the customer without going through a separate carrier, such as the post office or another shipping company. This can help push orders along and make it easier for parcels to get to the final destination quickly and more efficiently.
To qualify for van delivery on Oracle, an order must ship to a customer associated with a specific van route and reserve warehouse. Orders can also qualify for van delivery if it ships to a:
- Permanent “ship to customer” address.
- Recipient customer and has a defined reserve warehouse and a van route for the recipient.
- "Sold to customer” and has a defined reserve warehouse and a van route for that customer.
An order will not qualify for van delivery if:
- Neither the reserve warehouse nor the van route is defined for the shipping address on the order.
- Only the reserve warehouse or the van route is defined on the shipping address, but not both.
Benefits of a Multi-Carrier Shipping Solution
If you have to use a carrier, partnering with the first one you find won't quite cut it for your business — you need a carrier that can scale to your enterprise needs and meet your unique requirements during any fluctuation. With a multi-carrier shipping solution, you can find the right carrier for your enterprise based on cost, shipping timeline and many other factors. Let's dive into the top benefits of using a multi-carrier shipping solution.
1. Lower Shipping Costs
One of the most significant benefits of using a multi-carrier shipping solution is that you and your team can compare shipping options, making it easier to find fair pricing, lower rates and the best shipping routes. The more options you have, the better prices you'll be exposed to. Even if your package can ship for a few cents cheaper with one carrier compared to another, these amounts add up, particularly if your business ships hundreds or thousands of parcels weekly.
With an all-in-one platform, you have more insight into every shipment and may even save on certain expenses like labor costs. This means your customers will also receive the best prices for your products, which can improve their loyalty. This entire process is fully automated, so you can focus on running your business while the solution finds you the best deals.
2. Saves Time
Accessing multiple accounts and websites to find the best carriers and shipping options for your orders can be a time-consuming and costly hassle. With a multi-carrier shipping solution, all you have to do is enter your package details and automatically receive competitive rates from different carriers so you can find the best option.
This reduces much of the manual labor you and your team usually have to undergo for getting packages shipped and delivered via van. This solution may also handle tasks like invoices, bills of lading, shipping labels and other documentation for each shipment. Reduce busy-work with a single access point and benefit from more free time!
3. Lets You Adapt Services to Customer's Needs
A multi-carrier shipping solution makes it easy to take advantage of multiple services and tools in a single platform for better flexibility and adaptability when it comes to your customers. Having access to various delivery services ensures you won't risk losing business if a certain carrier fails to meet your business needs.
For instance, if your products need to be delivered within a short time span, you can find a carrier that offers fast delivery. If your customer has a preference for using a certain carrier, you can accommodate. If a parcel is not time-sensitive, you may choose the carrier that offers the most affordable shipping rates.
Instead of using a one-size-fits-all strategy, multi-carrier shipping software helps you craft a personalized experience for consumers and keep them satisfied.
4. Provides Enhanced Visibility for Managing and Tracking Orders
If one of your business goals is to reduce shipping disruptions, parcel delays or overall unhappy customers, multi-carrier shipping solutions can help you monitor packages more effectively.
Say you want to track three or four different shipments. Using the traditional method, you would have to check each account or website separately, which can be very time-consuming. With an all-in-one platform, you get a single source for all shipments in all your delivery locations. Enhanced visibility and transparency are particularly important when it comes to your supply chain.
How to Find the Right Shipping and Carrier Solution
Though your Oracle EBS or ERP can certainly help you manage projects, accounting and finances, choosing the right shipping partner is just as critical. With so many supply chain options, it can be challenging to determine which one best suits your needs.
Here are some factors to keep in mind when deciding which carrier is right for your supply chain or e-commerce business:
- Insurance coverage: The carrier you partner with should provide insurance in case a parcel is lost or damaged. If not, you can end up with unhappy customers and wasted materials.
- Reputation: Be sure the carrier backs up what they say on paper. Read reviews and take your time before signing an agreement with a carrier with a less-than-favorable reputation.
- Pricing: Weigh your options when it comes to pricing. Just because a carrier offers a low rate doesn't mean their services will be efficient. It may be worth paying a little extra for services like insurance and faster shipping.
- Location: Check the location the carrier delivers to. If you eventually expand your business, you'll need a carrier that isn't limited to one coast. Choose one that can grow with you.
- Speed: Ensure the carrier maintains an efficient shipping speed that aligns with your customer's needs. Inquire about the speeds to different areas. This can be a huge selling point for your business.
- Tracking availability: Once packages are on their way, your business should be able to easily track where they are at any moment. This service can reduce fraudulent lost package claims and improve overall communication with customers. Check the carrier's website to see if they offer this service or require an additional charge.
- Product: Depending on the type of product you sell, you may need a specific carrier that deals with large, liquid, fragile or otherwise unique products.
How ShipERP Core Streamlines Your Enterprise Shipping
Managing a supply chain can be challenging, even with the help of Oracle Suite. Whether you're gearing up for the busy holiday season or want to improve visibility and efficiency in your supply chain, ShipERP has everything you need to help you stay competitive and innovative. The benefits above are just a few ways your business can take advantage of our multi-carrier shipping solution, ShipERP Core.
It's our goal to help companies effectively manage order processing and shipment tracking to improve their bottom line. If you're ready for a multi-carrier shipping solution to automate shipment processing, reduce labor and save money, ShipERP Core is the answer. Contact us today to learn more.
