Processing an order shipment involves several tasks:

• Download the order information.
• Verify the destination address and flag problem shipments.
• Print the packing slip.
• Select the appropriate carrier and service.
• Fill in label reference information such as order number.
• Print the label and schedule a pickup.
• Send a confirmation email to the customer.
• Upload the tracking information.

All of these steps can be automated in Shipper using Automation Tasks. Each Automation Task performs a specific task for each order or package that you process. For example, there is a Package Task to assign a carrier service, and there is an Order Task to send an email to the customer. In all, there are over 20 different Automation Tasks in Shipper.

The Basics About Automation Tasks

Automation Tasks are part of the Store configuration. If you used the New Store Wizard to create your initial Store configuration, the Wizard may have created several Automation Tasks for you.

Automation Tasks are divided into 2 groups:

• Automation Tasks that apply to orders are called Order Tasks
• Automation Tasks that apply to packages are called Package Tasks

Each Automation Task has a Criteria field and a Trigger field:

• The Trigger field tells Shipper when to perform the task. For example, "After Download" or "After Printing Label".
• The Criteria field tells Shipper which orders or packages the Task applies to. For example, you might create a Package Task to assign the UPS Ground service to each package with the "Standard Shipping" Rate Option.

To create an Automation Task you follow these basic steps:

1. Select Stores from the Navigation pane.
2. Double click on a Store row to open the configuration.
3. Select the Order Tasks or Package Tasks tab.
4. Select New > Task from the task list tool bar.

See Also