Restrict Shipping by Factory Location

A guide for printIQ users

What is this feature?

Restrict Shipping by Factory Location is a setting that controls which products can be grouped into the same delivery. When switched on, printIQ only allows products manufactured at the same factory location to share a delivery. Products from different factory locations are separated into their own deliveries automatically. The feature also makes the factory location of each product visible on the freight control, so your team can see at a glance which deliveries can be grouped together.

Why would I use it?

• Deliveries are always fulfilled from a single origin, reducing the chance of dispatch errors when products are manufactured in different locations.
• Your team can see the factory location of each product directly on the freight control, making it easier to assign deliveries correctly.
• In single mode, printIQ creates one delivery per factory location automatically, so staff don't have to split deliveries by hand.
• Freight costs reflect the actual number of origin points, giving customers accurate pricing when products come from more than one location.

How does it work?

When the setting is switched on, printIQ checks the factory location of each product on a quote or job before grouping it into a delivery. In multiple mode, the Factory Location field on a delivery is set automatically to match the factory location of the first product added to that delivery. If you try to add a product from a different factory location to the same delivery, printIQ displays an error: "These products cannot be shipped together. Please contact your account manager." In single mode, printIQ creates one delivery per factory location behind the scenes, while the screen continues to look the same as standard single mode.

The factory location of each product is also shown on the freight control, regardless of whether the setting is switched on. This is useful for any site that wants visibility of production origins when building deliveries.

Factory Location Display

To assist users when configuring deliveries, the Factory Location of products is displayed within the Freight Control area.

This allows users to clearly identify where each product is being manufactured before assigning products to deliveries.

Multiple Delivery Mode Behaviour

When using Multiple Delivery Mode:

• The Factory Location field automatically defaults to the Factory Location of the first product added to the delivery.
• Only products with the same Factory Location can be added to that delivery.
• Products manufactured at different Factory Locations cannot be grouped into the same delivery.

What qualifies?

A product is included in a delivery if all of the following are true:

• The product's factory location matches the factory location already assigned to that delivery.
• The product is part of a quote or job where freight has not already been confirmed.
• The delivery is being built in either single mode or multiple mode. Distribution mode also applies the restriction when the setting is on.
  

What happens after a delivery is created?

1. Factory location is locked to the delivery: The delivery's Factory Location field is set to the factory location of the first product added. It cannot be changed to a different location while products from the original location remain on the delivery.
2. Freight pricing is recalculated: When the setting is on and single mode is used, each factory location generates its own delivery with its own base freight cost. The total freight cost on the quote or job reflects the number of separate origin deliveries.
3. Factory location updates when a product changes: If a product on a quote or job has its factory location updated after delivery has been set up, printIQ adjusts the freight shipping location to match. The same applies when a product's factory location changes on a live job.
   

What about products that can't be grouped?

If a customer's order includes products from more than one factory location and the setting is switched on, printIQ creates a separate delivery for each location in single mode. Each delivery has its own freight cost. In multiple mode, staff build deliveries manually and will see an error if they try to add a product from the wrong location. The error message is generic by design: "These products cannot be shipped together. Please contact your account manager."

What about the Factory Location dropdown in multiple mode?

In multiple mode, the Factory Location dropdown on a delivery now always updates to match the factory location of the first product selected for that delivery. This happens regardless of whether the restriction setting is switched on. The change makes the dropdown more reliable for all sites using multiple mode, not just those with the restriction enabled.

What about deliveries with different origin locations on the dispatch board?

The restriction applies at the delivery-building stage. Once deliveries exist, the dispatch board does not apply any additional rules about which deliveries can be consigned together. Deliveries from different factory locations can still be consigned as a group on the dispatch board.

Settings to know about

Validation Rules

When Restrict Shipping by Factory Location is enabled:

Allowed

Products from the same Factory Location can be shipped together.

Multiple deliveries can be created for different Factory Locations.

Deliveries originating from different Factory Locations can still be consigned together on the Dispatch Board.

Not Allowed

Products from different Factory Locations cannot be added to the same delivery.

Freight grouping across multiple Factory Locations is prevented.

User Message

If a user attempts to combine products from different Factory Locations into the same delivery, the following message is displayed:

These products cannot be shipped together. Please contact your account manager.

Restrict Shipping by Factory Location didn't work as expected. What should I check?

Is the restriction setting switched on?

Go to your site settings and confirm that the factory location shipping restriction is enabled. If it's switched off, products from any location can be added to any delivery without restriction.

Are products showing the correct factory location?

Check the factory location assigned to each product on the quote or job. If a product has the wrong location set, it may be grouped incorrectly or blocked from a delivery it should be on.

Why is freight costing more than expected in single mode?

When the setting is on and products come from more than one factory location, printIQ creates a separate delivery per location, each with its own base freight cost. This is expected behaviour. The higher total reflects the number of distinct origin points.

Why is the Factory Location field on a delivery not editable?

Once a product has been added to a delivery, the Factory Location field is locked to that product's location. To change it, remove the existing products from the delivery first, then add them back in the correct order.

Important Notes

Still not seeing the expected behaviour after checking the above?
Reach out to your system administrator or the printIQ support team for a closer look at the configuration.

Note: This article describes behaviour scheduled for a future release. Confirm the feature has shipped before publishing the article in Zoho Desk.