Orders, Shipments, and Billing managed in one click
Logistics, as understood by MarketRock, can serve various purposes summarized as follows:
- Managing Incoming Orders from all connected Distribution Channels
- Managing Shipments for all Configured Carriers
- Managing Billing for all Incoming Orders
The advantages of having your inventory on MarketRock are multiple and apply at least to these four categories:
DATA MANAGEMENT
Having a single "collector" of data allows you to conduct highly advanced analyses, which can include Orders, Inventory Turnover, Product Pricing, and Customer data.
OMNICHANNEL
Managing order information simultaneously from multiple distribution channels sets you on a path to an omnichannel management culture. For instance, you can align stock levels automatically and promptly, enhancing customer service.
ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESSES
Being able to manage billing according to different VAT rates based on the buyer's nationality, using what we call Tax Classes, allows you to access consistent data across different departments.
In this article, we will cover the following topics:
- Basic Concepts of Logistics
- Monthly Order Processing Limits
- Customer Data Anonymization
- Best Practices for Managing Orders and Shipments
Basic Concepts of Logistics
On MarketRock, we distinguish between two elements that look similar but are different: Order and Shipment.
An Order contains all the data the distribution channel sends to MarketRock about the products you have sold and the customer who purchased them. This data is used to arrange a Shipment, manage inventory, and fulfill fiscal requirements (billing, registering receipts, shipping documents, etc.).
A Shipment is the instruction you give a carrier to ship the goods, which results in issuing a waybill and tracking code.
While an Order may relate to an in-store sale and thus not necessarily be shipped to the customer (who may pick it up on-site, for example), every Shipment is organized starting from an Order available on MarketRock.
MarketRock allows you to manage Orders and Shipments in an integrated, simple, and intuitive way.
Orders include extensive information and can be divided into two main groups:
- Orders of Products not listed in your MarketRock Inventory.
In this case, an icon labeled "Not in catalog" appears on the Order. - Orders of Products included in your MarketRock Inventory.
This flexibility lets you manage Orders and Shipments without necessarily populating your MarketRock Inventory.
The drawback of not having your Inventory on MarketRock is that you will be unable to manage and sync Available Quantities in stock across other Distribution Channels.
Managing Orders for products not in your MarketRock Inventory means you cannot manage the Warehouse.
Monthly Order Limit
When an Order is imported into MarketRock, it is marked with an icon depicting a yellow lock.
The icon indicates that the Order has not been processed by any MarketRock user and is therefore excluded from the monthly count of Orders managed under each license.
Any action on the Order, such as viewing its details or moving it from one status to another, unlocks the Order and includes it in the monthly contracted limit.
Customer Data Anonymization
For data privacy and security reasons, Customer information becomes inaccessible to MarketRock five months after its import. Since the contract stipulates that MarketRock holds your data, you can export and archive it for future reference if needed.
The export is performed via .zip files, accessible from the Privacy section.
The table shows the files available for download (up to five months prior), one for each month. The files may be "Complete" or "Partial." "Complete" means that the file generated that month is complete.
The file is declared "Complete" if it is over two months old (for example, the April file will be complete in June). What is the difference between a "Complete" and an incomplete file? The difference is that a "Complete" file, once downloaded, is deleted from MarketRock. Incomplete files remain available.
All files, whether "Complete" or incomplete, are deleted after five months, so if necessary, they should be downloaded periodically. Once deleted, either because downloaded or because five months have passed, they are permanently lost.
To download a file, simply click on the link. The file is a zip file protected with your MarketRock password. To start the export, you need to specify the password.
Best Practices for Order Management
Managing Orders and Shipments can become particularly demanding when there are many to handle over time.
As the number of Orders and Shipments increases, business processes must become more rigorous. At the same time, it is essential to maintain a set of procedures to manage exceptions that may arise (for example, a customer requesting an invoice weeks after the purchase).
With MarketRock, you have everything you need to handle large volumes of Orders and Shipments while still accommodating exception management based on your internal organization.