Merging Waves
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Merge Waves is a feature within XoroERP systems that allows you to consolidate multiple waves into a single wave. Consider the scenario: You have received multiple orders from the same customer that are set to be fulfilled around the same time. You can use the merge wave feature to optimize order fulfillment. Instead of fulfilling waves for each order separately, you can combine them into a single wave and process them into a single shipment. Consequently, this leads to several advantages:
Improved Efficiency: By merging waves, order pickers can gather items for multiple orders in a single trip through the warehouse. This reduces unnecessary travel time, ultimately speeding up the picking process.
Reduced Handling Costs: Fewer waves mean fewer instances of handling and processing, which can translate into cost savings. Warehouse staff can focus on packing items efficiently rather than managing multiple waves.
Enhanced Packing Efficiency: When products from multiple orders are picked together, they can often be packed together in the same shipping container. This reduces the need for extra packaging materials and minimizes wasted space within shipping boxes.
Better Resource Allocation: Merge waves allow businesses to allocate their resources more effectively. Rather than spreading staff across multiple waves, they can concentrate their efforts on a single, larger wave, ensuring that orders are processed promptly.
There are two ways to merge a wave: manual and auto. Manual merge waves empower users to selectively combine multiple waves, while auto merge waves automate this process, consolidating waves into a single shipment without manual intervention.
To manually merge a wave, follow the steps below:
Navigate to the Wave Centre.
Select multiple Waves with the same Store.
Then, go to Options > Merge.
The system will ask you to select a "Primary Wave". This is the wave into which all the selected waves will be merged, creating a single wave. The status of the secondary wave will be updated to "Merged".
Select the primary wave and click on "Merge" to merge the waves.
It is also important to note that invoices will be created separately for each order involved in the merge. This ensures accurate accounting and billing.
Please Note: In the following cases the Waves cannot be merged:
Waves corresponding to different stores cannot be merged.
You cannot merge waves that are in the Shipped, Void, Closed, Produced, or Disassembled status. These waves are considered final, and cannot be combined with others.
Waves also cannot be merged if any of the waves involved are in lock status. Ensure that all waves are in a suitable state for merging.
Auto merge feature allows you to merge the waves with the same address. With this feature, users don’t have to pay Shipping Charges on every Order. Instead, Waves will be merged for different Order and thus Orders will be clubbed in a single Shipment.
Prerequisites
For the auto-merge wave feature to work, the orders should have the Ship To Address. This means that all the following elements of the address should match:
Ship To City
Ship To State
Ship To Country
Ship To Postal Code
Merge Wave setting should be enabled in both Shopify and ShipStation.
How does it Work?
For All Shopify Orders:
When multiple Orders are dropped from Shopify in Xoro and they meet the above-mentioned conditions, then the Waves for each Order are automatically voided and merged into a single Wave (the First Wave). This creates a Merged Shipment, which is then Shipped to the Customer.
Please note that the existing Shipment will be automatically voided in the ShipStation.
Let’s understand this with an example:
Suppose 2 Orders are dropped into Xoro from Shopify and a Wave is created for each Order.
Order 1 - Wave 1
Order 2 - Wave
As Order 2 is dropped, the Wave for the second order will automatically merge with the existing Wave, i.e. Wave 1 (Order 1+Order 2). In the Wave Centre, one Wave will be recorded for both the Orders.
This newly merged Wave will be automatically sent to the ShipStation.
This whole process can be seen in the ShipStation logs.
Understanding the Logs
Let’s take a look at how this process will be reflected in the Logs of Shopify and Shipstation Fulfilment modules.
Shopify Logs:
If the waves are merged successfully, your Orders will be processed and the following message will be logged in Shopify:
Wave(s) merged successfully
Shipstation Logs:
ShipStation Logs will clearly depict the flow of the process. The following messages will be logged in ShipStation:
Order is already voided (Wave 2).
Order voided successfully (Wave 1)
Order processed successfully (Merged Wave)
Shopify Orders + Manual Orders
If the Manual Order and Shopify Orders the above-mentioned conditions, then Waves for each Order are automatically voided and merged into a single Wave (the First Wave). This creates a Merged Shipment, which is then Shipped to the Customer.
Please note that the Wave Merge feature is triggered as soon as the next Wave is created.
Let's understand this with an example:
Suppose there are 2 Orders, one Manual and one from Shopify.
Order 1 - Manual- Wave 1
Order 2- Shopify- Wave 2
As Order 2 is dropped, the Wave for the second order will automatically merge with the existing Wave, i.e. Wave 1 (Order 1+Order 2). In the Wave Centre, one Wave will be recorded for both Orders.
Understanding the Logs:
Let’s take a look at how this process will be reflected in the Logs of Shopify and Shipstation Fulfilment modules.
Shopify Logs:
The Shopify Logs will only show the status of the Shopify Order. If the waves are merged successfully, your Orders will be processed and the following message will be logged in Shopify:
Order#: processed successfully
ShipStation Logs:
ShipStation Logs will clearly depict the flow of the process. The following messages will be logged in ShipStation:
Order is already voided (Wave 2).
Order voided successfully (Wave 1)
Order processed successfully (Merged Wave)
There is one scenario in the Merge Wave function that can lead to an error during Shipment. This happens in case of mix of Shopify and Manual Orders. It is worth noting that this scenario only happens if the existing Wave of the Manual Order is already shipped in ShipStation but not in Xoro.
Let's understand this with the help of an example.
Suppose you have two orders that fulfill the Merge Wave criteria, of which one is a Shopify Order and the other is Manual.
Order 1- Shopify- Wave 1
Order 2- Manual- Wave 2
As mentioned above, let's assume that Order 2 is marked as Shipped in ShipStation, but not in Xoro, i.e. Wave is in "Allocated" status for this Order.
Now, a third Order is be dropped from Shopify that meets the required condition.
Order 3- Shopify- Wave 3
When this Order will be dropped, it will trigger the Merge Wave feature. As a result, Wave 2 and Wave 3 will be automatically merged with Wave 1. But, as the Manual Order is already Shipped in ShipStation, the system would not be able to void the Wave and thus throw an error.
Understanding The Logs
ShipStation Logs
As the Manual Order was Shipped in ShipStation, so when the system tries to send the Merged Wave to ShipStation, it gets an error, which can be seen in the ShipStation Logs.
How to resolve this issue?
Please follow the steps below to resolve this issue:
Navigate to Pick Wave module and void the Manual Order wave line from the Merged Wave.
Go to Wave Centre and search for the Wave.
Right-click on the Wave and "Toggle Status" of the Wave twice.
Then, go to Ship Station Fulfillment page in Xoro and re-run the error.
Your Order will be processed.
After that, you have to manually Quick Ship the Manual Order.
**Please note that manually merging the Waves can lead to issues in Ship Station. So, we suggest that you do not manually merge the Waves.
