Understanding The Basic Shipping Terms

The process of ordering goods online and receiving them at your doorstep is an amazing process that requires smooth coordination between the merchant and shipping company. This blog enumerates the process of how you receive your orders, and the jargons you must be aware of, used in the industry.

Airway Bill Number (AWB Number)

AWB is an 11-digit code used for tracking the shipment. You can use this code to check the delivery status of the shipment and its current position. If you find that your order is ridiculously late, use AWB to report the complaint to the shipping and logistics company that your merchant has chosen.

Shipping Invoice

It is a document containing standard information, including the name and location of the sender and the receiver. Additionally, it contains an itemized list of the purchase order, i.e., the invoice reflects the total number of items ordered, their cost, any discounts, or taxes applicable, and the final billing cost.

shipping terms - invoice

Shipping Label

A shipping label is pasted on the top of the package and describes the contents of the package. It also contains the originating and destination addresses to help the courier carrier to deliver the package promptly.

shipping terms- shipping label

Shipping Manifest

A shipping manifest is a document that acts as a proof of handing over the shipment to the courier company. It contains the information of the pick-up courier person, i.e., name, contact details (mobile number), and his/her signature. The shipping and logistic company gives one copy to the merchant and keeps the other copy for its records.

shipping terms: manifest

Freight Bills

The shipping and logistics company issue freight bills to the consignee (usually the merchant of the order placed). This bill includes the description of the freight, shipper’s name, the point of origin, actual weight, and volumetric weight of the shipment, and the bill amount.

shipping terms freight-bill

Ready For Dispatch

This message is an indicator that the shipment is about to leave its place of origin. It flashes only after the processing of the AWB Number and assigning the shipment order to a shipping carrier (Courier Company).

COD Label

Cash on Delivery (COD) label can be printed on the top of the product package, or the courier person has the receipt. This label includes information related to the supplier, receiver, and itemized list of products and mentions the amount to be collected. It also includes other details like AWB number, weight, and product dimensions.

Generate Pickup

This process appears once the product to be shipped has been finalized for a specific day. This entails selecting the courier company responsible for completing the order delivery. The cutoff time for generating pickups is before 1:00 PM from Monday to Saturday and no pickup is generated on Sunday.

Missing Orders

These are the orders that couldn’t be processed at the initial stage of the shipping and Logistics Company. Some of the factors responsible for such an error involve the product order not checked out properly and failed payment process.

Return to Origin (RTO)

It contains the address of the sender. The product can be returned to the point of origin, i.e., the merchant’s address, if there is a discrepancy related to the product or order placement.

Keep these shipping terms in mind so you can immediately resolve any issues arising from your placed order.

The process of shipping is intriguing and interesting. We had already discussed the part II of common shipping jargons that you should be aware of.

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Puneet Bhalla

Associate Director - Marketing at Shiprocket

7+ years of experience in growth hacking and product marketing. A passionate digital marketer with a great blend of technology. I spend most of my time upskilling and experimenting, for my love of doi ... Read more

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  1. Pingback: Are You Aware of These Shipping Terms? Part II

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