Operate > WebSphere Commerce Accelerator > Inventory returns and dispositions
Releases and shipments
A release is a set of order items in a given order that will be fulfilled by the same fulfillment center, where all the order items will be shipped on same shipping date to the same ship-to address, and the order items will be shipped by the same shipping carrier, using the same shipment method. A single release might be packaged in the same box, but it might also be in multiple boxes. This could happen if part of the release is fragile or oversized, if an item is designated to ship separately, or if the release simply does not all fit in one box.
In the WebSphere Commerce Accelerator, releases are grouped together to create pick batches. Each pick batch has a pick ticket, which is a list of the products that need to be gathered to fulfill the orders in those releases. After the inventory has been gathered, products are packaged into their boxes to be shipped. Each release has a packing slip, which is used by packers to package the products in a release for shipping. It may then be included in the package itself so that the customer can verify that the correct products were sent. Sometimes there is only one packing slip for multiple boxes.
Products are configured for fulfillment in the Product wizard and the Product notebook. This includes options to:
- Track inventory using WebSphere Commerce
- Externally track inventory
- Not track inventory
- Allow backorder
- Force backorder
- Release separately
- Specify that the product cannot be returned
Information about each package is recorded in a manifest when the package is shipped. The manifest often includes package tracking information that can be shared with the customer.
- Release and shipment flow
All orders follow the same release and shipment flow, from authorizing payment, to confirming the release of the shipment.
- Work with pick batches
- Work with pick tickets
- Work with packing slips
- Work with releases ready to ship
- Work with shipments
Related concepts
Related tasks
Changing a package in a shipment
Delete a package from a shipment