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Packing- or Bill-data-export Interface with Remote WarehouseA standard Cat’s Pajamas system includes modules to print shipping and invoice information. Some publishers have contracted with outside fulfillment services for shipping. All the data required for packing and shipping must be provided to the outside service. Some publishers print packing slips or invoices, either to a file or on paper. A file can be emailed to the service; paper copies can be sent via courier. Either way, the fulfillment service may then have to manually enter the data into their fulfillment software system. Generally, they charge a higher rate for manual data entry and a lower rate for importing data. Obtain that lower rate and save money. Have Cat’s Pajamas craft a custom module that exports customer and packing information in a format meeting the data-import requirements of the fulfillment service. The data import requirements of fulfillment services are generally specific and unique to their system. Some require a single file with different types of records for customer information, line-item information, comments, shipping instructions, and the like. Others prefer a number of files that have one type of record in each file. Among the fulfillment-service providers used by Cat’s Pajamas publishers are Books International, Maple Vail, WarePak, PSSC, BookMasters, Worzalla, and Tasco. Some fulfillment services print the shipping document and the invoice -- the publisher exports only the data files. Other services print a packing slip only; the publisher exports the data to them, but prints and mails billing documents. The cost of an interface with a fulfillment system is related directly to the complexity of the data import requirements. Such projects are among the most complex undertaken by Cat’s Pajamas. Typically, 20 to 40 hours are required for analysis of the requirements, programming, and testing. The cost effectiveness of a data-export interface needs to be compared to the rates of the fulfillment service for manual entry or data import. Some publishers combine this enhancement with other options. For example, some publishers add the option to Import Data File to Confirm Shipments. Many add the Deferred Billing option to batch and print billing documents after the order is shipped. Follow the links for additional information about these options. For more information, email the name of your outside fulfillment service provider and their data-file import requirements with your questions (including your name and company name) or call at 800-827-2287.
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