How to set up and use Banded Boxes [Step-by-Step guide]

When handling orders at the packing line, you might want to band boxes together.

Banding consists on stacking boxes, adding the height and weight, and keeping the top width and length from the biggest box being banded.

Cartons are scanned separately, while techSHIP will keep and add the values respectively.

This scenario can be approached in two different ways:

a) Use Predefined Boxes: You will need to create barcodes to target predefined boxes at the Client profile you'll band boxes for, and these will be scanned by name as you handle the order at the packing line

b) Use Hardcoded Values: You will need to create barcodes with hardcoded dimensions and weight, which doesn't require any additional setup at the client level, and these will be scanned as you handle the order at the packing line 

NOTE: This feature is only available through the techSHIP Desktop Client.

NOTE: You will need to create each box barcode with 3rd party software; we recommend using https://barcode.tec-it.com/en to do so.

Feel free to follow the step-by-step guide written below or the video guide, as you prefer:

PREVIOUS SETUP ELEMENTS

1. The Desktop Client Allow Advanced Text Commands is checked and Save to apply the setting, this is necessary for the application to understand the codes being scanned and apply the correct action

2. Create your barcodes depending on the scenarios:

2.A Predefined Boxes

2.A.i. Create the predefined boxes under the Client profile as described here: How to add standard box types to a Client - [Step-by-step guide]

2.A.ii. Access https://barcode.tec-it.com/en and create the barcodes (enter the command as Data and press Create Sequence) using the following format:

^CMD:B:[BoxName]:[S]

Where each parameter is:

• ^CMD:B: The command to use a predefined box
• BoxName: Box name added in the Client Profile
• S: Trigger scaling (if S) or not (if empty)

If you would have a predefined box called Medium12 and would like to scale as you scan, your barcode should be created based on the following command:

^CMD:B:Medium12:S

2.B Hardcoded Values

2.B.i. Access https://barcode.tec-it.com/en and create the barcodes (enter the command as Data and press Create Sequence) using the following format:

^CMD:E:[Length]:[Width]:[Height]:[S]

Where each parameter is:

• ^CMD:B: The command to use a predefined box
• Length/Width/Height: Dimensions of the box to be assigned
• S: Trigger scaling (if S) or not (if empty)

If you would have a box of L/W/H of 12/8/7 and would like to scale as you scan, your barcode should be created based on the following command:

^CMD:E:12:8:7:S

PACKING LINE PROCEDURE

Regardless of which scenario, to band boxes you will have to:

1. Scan the Pick Ticket to bring the order from your WMS into techSHIP

2. Scan the Barcode of the box you'd like to add and scale

3. Repeat Step #2 with all the boxes you'd like to band (you'll notice how techSHIP assigns the highest Length and Width while adding the weight

4. Process & Print once you have added all the boxes to process and print the label