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Commodity Management

CargoX implements a hierarchical commodity tracking system to monitor shipment items throughout the transportation process and during storage in warehouses.

The term "commodity" refers to a hierarchical, composite entity, indicating that a single commodity can have multiple sub-commodities. This hierarchical structuring facilitates granular tracking and management of shipment items.

For instance, a primary commodity could be a shipping container, which itself houses several pallets. Each pallet might then be laden with a variety of boxes, each box containing distinct types of merchandise. This detailed tracking capability ensures a comprehensive overview of the shipment's contents at every stage of the supply chain.

Commodity Fields​

  • Description: Description of the commodity.

  • Package Type: Package type of the commodity. Example: Box, Pallet, etc.

  • Commodity Type: Schedule B Code, or Harmonized System Code.

  • Location: Warehouse Location of the commodity. Example: Aisle 1 - Shelf 1, etc.

  • Pieces: Number of distinct items or containers. Example: 10 boxes, 5 pallets, etc.

  • Length: Single piece length of the commodity.

  • Width: Single piece width of the commodity.

  • Height: Single piece height of the commodity.

  • Dimension Unit: Unit of the commodity dimensions.

  • Weight: Single piece weight of the commodity.

  • Weight Unit: Unit of the commodity weight.

  • Volume Piece: Volume of the commodity. Calculated by multiplying the length, width, and height.

  • Volume Unit: Unit of the commodity volume.

  • Quantity: Number of units for a specific item. It's used to estimate the total value of the commodity.

  • Unit: Unit of the commodity quantity. Example: box, crate, carton, etc.

  • Unitary Value: Value of a single unit of the commodity. Example: 10 USD, 10 EUR, etc. It's used to estimate the total value of the commodity.

  • SKU: Stock Keeping Unit. Unique identifier for the commodity.

  • Model Number: Model of the commodity as provided by the manufacturer.

  • Serial Number: Serial number of the commodity.

Child Commodities​

List of child commodities. Child commodities are used to track shipment items in more details. Example: Container -> Pallet -> Box.

Additional Fields​

Additional fields are used to store additional information about the commodity. Additional fields are defined in the section. Additional fields are used to store additional information about the commodity. Additional fields are defined in the Custom Fields section.

Tracking Numbers​

List of tracking numbers associated with the commodity. When commodity is associated with the order, tracking numbers are automatically added to the commodity.

Primary tracking number is used as primary identifier of the commodity. It's used to identify the commodity in the system and always visible to the user.

Pieces vs Quantity​

Example: Suppose you are shipping wine bottles. If there are 120 bottles in total and each box holds 12 bottles, then while the "quantity" stands at 120 bottles, the "pieces" would be equated to 10 boxes.

Understanding Hierarchical Commodities​

Hierarchical commodities create a parent-child relationship between items, allowing you to:

  1. Group related items together
  2. Track both individual components and the overall package
  3. Maintain detailed inventory at multiple levels

Example Structure​

  • Container (Parent)
    • Pallet 1 (Child of Container, Parent of Boxes)
      • Box 1 (Child of Pallet 1)
      • Box 2 (Child of Pallet 1)
    • Pallet 2
      • Box 3
      • Box 4

Use Cases​

Consolidated Air Shipment​

Scenario: Shipping various electronic components from multiple suppliers to an assembly plant.

Hierarchical Structure:

  • Air Cargo Container (ULD)
    • Pallet 1: Motherboards
      • Box 1: ATX Motherboards
      • Box 2: Micro-ATX Motherboards
    • Pallet 2: CPUs
      • Box 3: Intel CPUs
      • Box 4: AMD CPUs
    • Pallet 3: Memory Modules
      • Box 5: DDR4 RAM
      • Box 6: DDR5 RAM

Benefits:

  • Easily track each component type
  • Quickly identify the location of specific items within the shipment
  • Streamline customs documentation by grouping related items

Ocean Freight for Retail Distribution​

Scenario: Importing mixed merchandise for a department store chain.

Hierarchical Structure:

  • 40ft Container
    • Pallet 1: Men's Clothing
      • Box 1: T-shirts
      • Box 2: Jeans
      • Box 3: Sweaters
    • Pallet 2: Women's Accessories
      • Box 4: Handbags
      • Box 5: Scarves
      • Box 6: Jewelry
    • Pallet 3: Home Goods
      • Box 7: Towels
      • Box 8: Bed Sheets
      • Box 9: Pillows

Benefits:

  • Organize diverse inventory within a single shipment
  • Facilitate easy distribution to different departments upon arrival
  • Improve inventory accuracy and stock management

Ground Transportation for Trade Show Equipment​

Scenario: Transporting booth materials and product samples to a trade show.

Hierarchical Structure:

  • Truck Load
    • Crate 1: Booth Structure
      • Box 1: Metal frame components
      • Box 2: Graphic panels
      • Box 3: Lighting equipment
    • Crate 2: Product Displays
      • Box 4: Display stands
      • Box 5: Product samples (Electronics)
      • Box 6: Product samples (Accessories)
    • Crate 3: Marketing Materials
      • Box 7: Brochures
      • Box 8: Promotional items
      • Box 9: Business cards

Benefits:

  • Ensure all necessary components are shipped together
  • Simplify setup process at the trade show venue
  • Easily track and locate specific items during the event

Parcel Shipment for Kitted Products​

Scenario: Shipping a custom computer build to an end customer.

Hierarchical Structure:

  • Main Package: Custom PC Kit
    • Item 1: Computer case
    • Box 1: Internal Components
      • Subitem 1: Motherboard
      • Subitem 2: CPU
      • Subitem 3: RAM modules
      • Subitem 4: SSD
    • Box 2: Peripherals
      • Subitem 5: Keyboard
      • Subitem 6: Mouse
    • Box 3: Cables and Accessories
      • Subitem 7: Power cable
      • Subitem 8: HDMI cable
      • Subitem 9: Instruction manual

Benefits:

  • Ensure all components of the custom build are included
  • Facilitate easy unpacking and assembly for the customer
  • Simplify returns or replacements of specific components if needed

Best Practices for Hierarchical Commodities​

  1. Consistent Naming: Use clear, consistent naming conventions for each level of the hierarchy.

  2. Logical Grouping: Group items in a way that makes sense for your operation, whether by product type, destination, or handling requirements.

  3. Detailed Descriptions: Provide comprehensive descriptions at each level to aid in identification and tracking.

  4. Quantity Management: Keep accurate counts of items at each level of the hierarchy.

  5. Flexible Hierarchy: Design your hierarchy to accommodate changes or additions to the shipment contents.

  6. Documentation Alignment: Ensure your hierarchical structure aligns with required shipping documents and customs declarations.

  7. Regular Audits: Periodically review and update your hierarchical structures to ensure they meet your current business needs.

By effectively utilizing hierarchical commodities in CargoXplorer, you can significantly improve your ability to manage complex shipments, enhance inventory accuracy, and streamline your logistics operations across various modes of transportation.