Batch Processing | CLS | Parcel Shipping Software Glossary (2024)

Batch Shipping

Batch shipping or “ship from a file” is a common phrase used in order management and fulfillment today to describe a time-saving method of processing large quantities of shipments in minimal time. It is highly effective in instances where the shipment item, weight, and packaging are the same across every customer order.

Batch shipping is a computer-related term that has evolved from a historical phrase – shipping from a list. Up until the mid-1970s, workers prepared parcel shipments by working from a printed list of orders, which they “shipped” by writing them into a shipping book provided by a carrier such as UPS.

For each shipment, the staff wrote in the name, address, package weight, and delivery zone based on a destination zip code.

If you’re shipping more than 10 or 15 packages a day, this process would quickly become time-consuming and at risk for shipping errors due to incorrect addresses, etc.

From Handwritten to Computerized Shipping Manifests

As computers became more prevalent in the warehouse, shippers replaced the handwritten shipping process with a computerized shipping manifest. The original computer manifest was simply a report generated from the computer listing the details for all the packages being tendered to the carrier that day:

  • Name and address
  • Weight
  • Zone
  • Declared value
  • COD amounts, etc.
Today: Batch or Automated Shipping from a File

Today, the computerized manifest process has evolved even further into “batch shipping” for even greater speed and efficiency. This is commonly used by companies shipping hundreds or thousands of orders of the same item to hundreds or thousands of customers, in which the shipping characteristics are the same for every order.

Some examples of this include a media company selling a new CD or a jewelry company offering a promotional pearl necklace via its online store.

Batch shipping automates the process of matching the items to the customer distribution list and printing shipping labels in bulk, for rapid application to the box and faster shipment processing.

Since all the orders are made up of one or more of the same item, it’s not necessary to match each shipping label to a specific box – since they are all the same. Here is how it works:

  • This process usually starts with a file being transferred to the multi-carrier shipping system.
  • The file is next loaded into a program to be reviewed and processed.
  • Once it’s released for print, hundreds or thousands of shipping labels are printed in a sequence on thermal or laser printers, or simultaneously released to many printers.

This eliminates the need to have each shipment go through the shipping workstation to weigh the package, select the carrier and produce the label. Since the shipping details are determined upstream in the fulfillment process, the only remaining step is to apply the labels to the boxes so they’re ready for carrier pickup.

Processing “like” shipments in this way can dramatically reduce the number of touches on a shipment and increase warehouse productivity.

Batch shipping is offered by numerous parcel shipping software providers, although the process and capabilities will vary, and it may be described in different terms by different carriers. UPS, for example, defines it as batch file shipping.

If you’re planning to introduce batch shipping into your operations, it is important to ensure that your parcel shipping software system will produce carrier-compliant labels. Check with your shipping system provider and your carriers for compliance questions and answers.

Contact Us

CLS has helped many companies reduce shipping costs through process improvement and multi-carrier shipping software solutions. If you’d like to learn more, please contact us today.

Visit Our Knowledge Center

Also, feel free to visit ourKnowledge Centerfor shipping system case studies, timely blog posts such as:

Case Study:ALOM Triples Shipment Processing Productivity with CLS Multi-Carrier Shipping Software
Blog: Five Ways to Reduce Unexpected Carrier Back Charges
Blog: Four Proven Ways to Reduce Shipping Costs

Batch Processing | CLS | Parcel Shipping Software Glossary (2024)

FAQs

What is batch processing software? ›

Batch processing software essentially lets repetitive large-volume jobs run themselves, allowing organizations to allocate valuable resources — including employee time and energy — elsewhere.

What is batch processing in logistics? ›

Batch optimization or batch processing is the use of technology to automate manual batching processes, allowing businesses to process orders according to unique business needs within minimal time, and with less human intervention and great accuracy.

What is USPS batch shipping? ›

Batch shipping is a process that allows you to organize multiple shipments into customized groups.

What is batch delivery? ›

Batch Delivery is a feature that sends your regular or plain-text email in timed batches rather than to your whole audience at once. This helps control traffic to your website and prevents potential strain on your server.

What are the different types of batch processing operating systems? ›

There are many types of batch operating systems. One popular type is the scheduled batch system. This type of system is used to control the execution of a series of tasks or jobs. Other types of batch systems include the interactive batch system, the real-time batch system, and the concurrent batch system.

What are examples of batch processing? ›

Some of the most common types of batch processing jobs include:
  • Weekly/monthly billing.
  • Payroll.
  • Inventory processing.
  • Report generation.
  • Data conversion.
  • Subscription cycles.
  • Supply chain fulfillment.

What is the batch processing cycle? ›

In batch processing, each single operation in the analytical process is carried out on each sample before the next operation is performed. Most manual techniques employ batch processing, due to the convenience of performing a single operation many times.

What is the difference between batch and bulk processing? ›

While "batch" is often used to describe the simultaneous processing of many requests or huge volumes of data, "bulk" is a subset of batch that specifically refers to data processing and does not include any activities.

What are the two stages in batch processing? ›

Data collection: The first step in batch processing is collecting data from various sources. This data can come from different systems, databases, or external files. The data is gathered and organized into batches for processing. Data preparation: Once the data is collected, it undergoes a preparation phase.

Does FedEx do batch shipping? ›

No problem. With FedEx bulk label solution, we will print batches of shipping labels ready for you to place on your shipments. Convenient and easy, we will deliver your shipping labels directly to you. Just provide your FedEx account executive with the information needed to create your labels, and we'll get it done.

What shipping method does USPS use? ›

Domestic Mail & Shipping Services
ServiceShipping TimeMail or Package
Priority Mail Express®Next Day to 2 Days4Packages
Priority Mail®1–3 Days5Packages
USPS Ground Advantage®2–5 Days6Packages
Media Mail®2–8 DaysPackages
1 more row

What is a batch in ShipStation? ›

Batches are a way to organize shipments into groups for more efficient shipment management. To start a Batch, you must first create the batch and then add shipments to it. Once created, you can assign batches to other users or begin working in the batches.

What is CLS in shipping terms? ›

The Control Shipping Level (CLS) is an inspection process, carried out by a third party company, on the premises of automotive suppliers, aimed at checking and preventing materials and products that do not conform from being shipped.

What is batch order processing? ›

In a batch order process, products will be manufactured in groups. Each stage of the production process will only begin once the previous one has finished for each product, and this means that large groups of products will be finished at the same time.

Does Amazon use batch processing? ›

Every Amazon Payment Services merchant has access to batch processing capabilities that enable novel payment processing applications -- and that simplifies routines payment processing tasks. It does so without requiring you to write extensive code to enable the batch process.

What is the difference between serial processing and batch processing? ›

Serial processing is typically used when tasks or data items are dependent on each other, and the order of execution is crucial. 2. Batch Processing: Batch processing involves grouping or collecting a set of similar tasks or data items and processing them together as a batch.

Is batch OS still used? ›

Batch operating systems put less strain on the CPU and require less user interaction, which is why they are still in use today.

What are the disadvantages of batch processing? ›

The very disadvantage of batch systems or processing is the time delay between the collection of data (transaction receiving) and getting the result (output in the master file) right after. The Master File (The organization's big data) is not always kept up to date. One time process can be very slow.

What is the difference between batch processing and online processing? ›

In conclusion, the data processing time is the primary distinction between batch and online processing. While online processing handles data in real-time, batch processing handles data in batches.

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