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What Are Packages and When Do You Need Them?

What Is the Packages Feature?

Packages in CloudFFL OS (Odoo) let you track physical shipping boxes as separate records. Each package gets its own:

  • Package number (e.g., PACK0000001)
  • Weight
  • Package type (box dimensions, base weight)
  • Contents (which products are inside)
  • Barcode

This is not the same as product packaging (like "sold in packs of 6"). This is about the shipping container — the cardboard box you put products in before handing it to the carrier.

Do You Need Packages?

Most small dealers: No.

If you ship one box per order (which is the majority of firearms and sporting goods shipments), you don't need the Packages feature. The delivery order itself tracks the shipping weight, carrier, and tracking number.

You need Packages when:

  • You regularly split orders across multiple boxes (e.g., a large order that won't fit in one box)
  • You need to track which items are in which box for compliance or customer service
  • You use barcode scanning in your warehouse and need package-level barcodes
  • You operate a 3-step pick/pack/ship workflow with dedicated packing stations

How to Enable Packages

  1. Navigate to Inventory → Configuration → Settings
  2. Under Operations, find Packages
  3. Check the box to enable
  4. Click Save

Once enabled, the Put in Pack button appears on all inventory operations (receipts, deliveries, internal transfers).

What "Put in Pack" Does

The Put in Pack button on a delivery order:

  1. Opens the Choose Delivery Package wizard
  2. You select a package type (box size) — optional
  3. You set the shipping weight (manually or via PrintNode scale)
  4. Clicking confirm creates a stock.quant.package record
  5. The items are assigned to that package in the Destination Package column

Multi-Box Example

Order has 10 items that need 2 boxes:

  1. In the delivery's detailed operations, set quantities for the first 5 items
  2. Click Put in Pack → creates PACK0000001, set weight
  3. Set quantities for the remaining 5 items
  4. Click Put in Pack → creates PACK0000002, set weight
  5. Each package can get its own tracking number and label

Packages vs. Direct Weighing

Feature Without Packages With Packages
Weight entry Weigh button on delivery order Weigh button in Put in Pack wizard
What gets weighed The entire shipment Each box individually
Tracking numbers One per delivery One per package
Best for Single-box shipments Multi-box shipments
Setup required None Enable Packages in settings

Package Types

You can define package types to pre-set box dimensions and base weight:

Inventory → Configuration → Package Types

Field Purpose
Name e.g., "Small Box", "Large Flat Rate"
Size (L x W x H) Dimensions for carrier rate calculation
Base Weight Weight of the empty box itself
Carrier Restrict to a specific shipping carrier
Barcode For scanning during packing

When you select a package type in the Put in Pack wizard, the base weight is automatically added to the product weight to calculate the total shipping weight.

Tip: If you always use the same box, define it as a package type and set it as default. The weight calculation will automatically include the box weight.

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