Background

Inserts are a type of Template. Right now, they require custom set up and are not possible in most facilities.

Current limitations

• Inserts require close collaboration with the facility, and typically custom pricing. Right now, we're only using this feature in highly specialized operations; until we develop the feature further, it's usually cost-prohibitive.
• Insert templates don't have native size customization—they are Letter size by default. You can use HTML to create a working smaller file, but it is hacky and not consistent across printers.
• Using smaller paper for Packing Slips only works for reliably short slips: they have an unbounded height, because Orders can have many Items. Our PDF generation relies on printer page splits, so we’d be placing content in “dead” areas of any page after 1.

Benefits to inline printing

• Inserts do not feature barcodes in the upper right, since they are not used for packing. They can be used in place of Packing Slips for a barcode-free experience.
• Inserts can be printed on different-sized paper. Batches must be created with a printer that's set up with Letter sized paper, but packing stations can be loaded with notecards instead.

Replace Packing Slips with Inserts

This is for cases where the customer doesn't want to include a Packing Slip.

1. Set up a rule to "Skip Packingslip Print" for appropriate Orders.
2. Add an Insert template with your desired content, or the Packing Slip content.
   
3. Set up a rule to "Set Order Insert Template" to the one you chose for appropriate orders.
4. Create Batches with Short Form Order Lists OR Batch with Robots.
5. Proceed with Picking as normal.
6. Initiate Pack, either by scanning the Order on the Short Form Order Scan Sheet or the Robot.
7. The Insert will download and print as part of the Pack process.

Customer Routing Rules

Orders Search → Batch Results

Examples & Details

Active Use

Order number notecard: https://app.getwhiplash.com/templates/7936/edit

Custom note notecard: https://app.getwhiplash.com/templates/8031/edit

Short Form Order Lists

This is how we can skip packing slip printing. Instead of scanning a barcode in the upper right of the packing slip, we're scanning a barcode on this sheet which is attached to the pick list.

Short form Order Lists combine the scancodes that would be on packing slips into a sheet to scan at the pack station.

You can find examples by making a Batches search with this filter:

Click "Re-print" to view an example.

Smaller Notecards

This template for 5 x 7 notecards successfully prints when loaded according to this image. That file centers an Order Number on a print in this configuration.

Smaller Packing Slips

This almost works, but since we're relying on a printer using a letter size PDF to paginate for us, we are going to put data where the printer doesn't expect it. This is currently under testing, but we would likely need to build a feature to support multi-page packing slips.