InfoShip® Local Server Overview

For businesses operating a single distribution center that utilizes either a single or multiple shipping lanes, InfoShip connected to your LAN is the most common implementation.

The simplest implementation of InfoShip is on a single computer. But don’t assume that this means it is a stripped-down version with few capabilities. Not at all. InfoShip is designed to run on a single computer as well as in a true n-tier, client-server environment consisting of one or more servers and several workstations. InfoShip can be scaled to efficiently meet your shipping volume and business requirements.

A single-computer implementation of InfoShip provides the same capability as dedicated server implementations of InfoShip to ship packages via small package carriers, such as BAX Global®, DHL®, FedEx®, UPS®, UPS Supply Chain Solutions®, USPS®, LTL carriers, plus regional and local carriers, and have tight integration to your host system.

Shipping volume on a single computer InfoShip system varies from several hundred packages per day to a few thousand packages per day. Sheer transaction processing speed is usually not the determining factor when moving from a single-computer to multiple InfoShip workstations communicating to an InfoShip DMS server on a LAN. Typically, the decision to move to a true client-server configuration is determined by the shipping department layout (how many lanes it has) or by the client’s desire to ensure shipping continues in the event there is a hardware problem at one workstation.

A single-computer InfoShip system can use either SQL Server or MSDE as the database to store configuration and transaction data. SQL Server is required for a client-server configuration of InfoShip and it can run on the same server that runs DMS Server and carrier components, or it can be isolated to a separate server.

Integration to an ERP, WMS, or other host system can be accomplished through real-time communications or in batch mode. InfoShip systems are typically integrated using XML or simple text message structures communicated via sockets real-time directly to ERP, WMS, or homegrown host systems, and to middleware products from companies such as DataDirect® (formerly NEON Systems). Many InfoShip systems connect directly to host databases, such as Oracle®, DB2® or Sybase®. InfoShip passes key lookup data to the host for the shipment being processed. The host returns the order header and line item information. When the order detail information includes unique package IDs to indicate which package contains which line items, and no manual adjustments to any order information is required, then the shipment can be processed by simply scanning the bar coded unique package IDs and capturing the package weights.

Batch mode systems receive scheduled downloads from a host system of field delimited text files containing order header information and passing shipping information including freight charges and tracking numbers in an upload text file after carrier closeouts at the end of the day.

InfoShip integration to host systems and client-specific business rules are implemented in InfoShip systems using VBScript and CLS’ proprietary tools of Behaviors, Mappings, PropertySets, and custom Dialogs to streamline system operation and ensure compliance with clients’ policies and procedures. A few examples of possible business rules are:

1) Host system freight terms (payment terms) and carrier/service codes (e.g. SAP® Shipping Conditions) are converted to InfoShip Freight Terms and Service codes.

2) InfoShip monitors several client specified fields, prompting the operator to manually input data if no data was retrieved from the host for the field.

3) InfoShip ensures that certain customers’ preferred carriers are used for their shipments.

4) InfoShip prevents a shipment and alerts the operator when a specific order number is in a Hold/Canceled Order table.

CLS can implement a scheduled process that runs each night sending emails through your mail server to your customers whose shipments were shipped that day. The email includes carrier tracking numbers with links to the carrier’s web site for small package shipments so the customer can simply click on the link in the email to track their shipment.

Providing this information to customers dramatically reduces the number of “where is my order?” calls to your Customer Service department. When a customer does call, Customer Service, Sales and other departments have the latest shipping information immediately available and are more responsive due to the real-time interface between InfoShip and your host system.

The above description of a local server InfoShip system is a brief example of one of the many ways InfoShip can be configured. Contact CLS at 800-407-0280 to discuss your company’s specific requirements and find out how InfoShip can benefit your operations.