1. Introduction to rate cards
The Consignly team are excited to announce the launch of a new feature, Rate Cards, in the coming weeks.
We've introduced rate cards to help organisations bundle their rates together, and to support organisations that need to introduce a new rate structure to a Client Partner that might become effective from a particular date.
Rate information used to be stored on a Client Partner, but we've removed the rate tabs from the partner and introduced the rate card tab instead. This tab will list all the rate cards for the Client Partner, and allow you quick access to the cards.
Rate cards can be created and managed by using the Rate Card sub-menu item on the menu, underneath both Client Partners and Carrier Partners.
The rate card sub-menu item.
Watch the video below to get a brief introduction to rate cards.
2: Building a complex handling rate
A rate card can have many rates created for it. Within each rate, a series of charges can be created and ordered.
Charges in a rate are evaluated in order, and the first charge that matches all the properties configured will be used to raise a charge.
If the charge doesn't match, or if there are uncharged things left over, then Consignly will fall through to the next charge in the rate.
As each rate and their series of charges will be evaluated in this way, it is important to ensure that the charges you create for your rate are ordered appropriately.
Learn about the difference between Rates and Charges on a Rate Card.
Metric vs Product Rates
Activity and Freight rates support two different types of rate configurations, Metric Rates and Product Rates.
Metric Rates are evaluated on consignment information, regardless of the type of product that has been added to the consignment.
For example, raise a charge based on the total weight of the consignment, or Tasks performed on a consignment (such as shrink wrapping), or a consignment charge such as an Order Fee.
Product Rates are evaluated based on the product information added to the consignment. These rates can target information specific to products, such as targeting a certain product, or product group, or attributes, or a hazard class for example.
Additionally, with Product Rates, the Metric information for a product can be evaluated using Unit Conversions, allowing you to target a charge to a specific unit such as Pallets or Cartons.
Watch the video below to learn how to create a complex handling rate using Product Rates.
In this video, we'll create a rate that charges a Flat Fee for a particular product, and then uses Progressive Rate Breaks to charge $3.80 for the first 4 full pallets, and $3 for remaining full pallets, with an overflow rate of $0.80 per loose item remaining.
3: Service types to target specific charges
Following on from our earlier examples, the introduction of Service Types into Consignly allows you to create specific services that you perform on a consignment, and use these services when building rates in order to target a charge for a specific activity.
For example, create a Container Devanning rate to charge different amounts for devanning 20' and 40' containers by hand or by forklift.
Start by creating service types for Hand Unloading and Forklift Unloading, then create a rate with charges for all 4 configurations by using these service types in conjunction with the appropriate container sizes when building the different charges.
Consider creating a Biosecurity service type, and then create a rate targeting that service type in order to charge fumigation fees for 20' or 40' containers.
Watch the video below to learn how to create the container devanning and biosecurity rates above, as well as how the charges are calculated on a consignment based on the rate card we've built in our previous examples.
4: Creating storage rates to target DG pallets and standard pallets
When creating storage rates, use ordered charges within a rate to target DG pallets at one rate, and then remaining standard pallets at a different rate.
Watch the video below to see how to use Compound Metric Resolution to target Pallets and round up to the nearest whole pallet as we build out the rate above and illustrate the impact of this rate using our Storage Calculator.
5: Free storage at a location
The last of our video examples highlights how to achieve free storage for product that is at a location. In our example, we've created a cross-dock location in our Metro warehouse, and we've received goods into that location.
Watch as we then modify our existing storage rate to introduce a $0 rate targeting a specific location in our warehouse, and see how this impacts the Storage Calculator.
Continue watching as we unreceive some product from that location and receive a mix of product at the cross-dock location and the Bulk Storage location to see the impact that has on the Storage Calculator.