Software spotlight: August roadmap update
Originally Published: 12 April 2023
Last Updated: 17 April 2023
In the first of what will now be a regular update on our roadmap, here is a honking binder full of changes that we’re either already working on, or is already in the pipeline for development this quarter.
Wholesale orders
New client feature
Changes to the add manual order screen and more functionality for wholesale orders are being worked upon, including;
- A new add order screen
- New order types for wholesale, destruction and rework
- Replacement of amendments with more detailed “order instructions”
- More detailed information on wholesale orders, such as collection and delivery times
Order picking changes
FC operation
This project will increase FC throughput and capacity ready for peak 2022. We are making changes to the process and algorithms that we use to capture orders, along with a new set of specially designed trolleys that will speed up pick as well as pack. It will further improve our world-class accuracy. This is part of a full rebuild of all of our capture, pick, pack and labelling processes.
- Database changes to allow us to utilise new hardware and trolleys
- Back-end changes to create a new technology stack to modernise future development
- CommandPort UI/UX Re-design
N.B. UI = User Interface, the screen you look at; UX = User eXperience, how you interact with the UI
New Pick UX
FC operation
We’re going to simplify the pick screens by making them less cluttered, easier to follow and bigger to look at. We’ll be doing this in a new technology stack which will make future development faster, as well as allow us to incorporate the new single and multi-item trolley designs. This will not only improve productivity and accuracy but will also make it faster to train new team members during peak periods.
New Pack UX
FC operation
Once we’ve rolled out the new Pick UX, we’ll be working on a refresh to Pack. This is work that will be released in phases, with an initial phase to be delivered during Q3 ready for peak, and a more thorough re-write being completed during Q4 for release in early 2023. I’ll keep this brief for now, given how much else there is to write!
Streamlined pack paths
FC operation
We don’t want to give away too much of our secret sauce but suffice to say we’re streamlining both the physical layout and allocation logic for different types of orders to make packing more efficient. That basically means the order will be routed to the right trolleys for picking and then to the right type of desk (and the right team members) to get packed.
Shipping label print improvements
FC operation
We’re pretty unique in getting live shipping quotes from multiple carriers during Pack based on the actual package (rather than relying on rules or estimates). Unfortunately, this can slow the process down if we don’t get those quotes back super fast. As part of our rewrite, we’re making a number of significant improvements that make Pack more productive, without compromizing our ability to get the very best shipping price for clients on every package.
- Re-writing connectors involved in quoting to respond faster
- Improving multi-threading to increase the number of simultaneous quotes to be returned at once
- Decreasing image render time
- Changing when and how we print labels within the packing process
Reduction in paper waste
New client feature FC operation
As part of our commitment to the environment, we’re going to be making changes to how we print labels and packing slips to reduce both the amount of labels we use and increase the energy efficiency of our printers. We are doing this as part of the redesign of the packing process and will be rolling out new label designs and printers over a number of weeks.
More business insights
New client feature
Our platform is unique in the amount of data it holds, however, some of our more detailed reports can be a little technical to understand. We’re going to revamp a pile of client-facing reports, make them easier to find, improve their layout and generally make them easier to use. We’re also updating our guidance on best practices and providing videos of ways that you can use these insights to get the biggest improvement in your business. Of course, our clients can always speak to a real human for one on one advice on how to grow their business too.
We’ll provide a full set of details once this is nearer to release, however, we’ve got a lot more planned too, so watch this space.
Gift cards
New client feature
Currently, if a customer leaves a “gift note” in your store, we print this for the recipient on the packing slip. A while back we built a beta feature to allow bespoke gift card printing on demand to take this to the next level, but we were never that happy with it and so it was never fully released. Now we’re revisiting it, have some new ideas and will be dusting off the old feature to give it a new lease of life. Clients will soon be able to stock a range of physical cards, into which we can print the customer’s message on a customizable template. This will be out-ready for Q4 and will be a great feature for Christmas.
We’ll be adding more detailed updates as and when each feature is nearing release, as well as occasional updates on the whole development roadmap. If there are any related features you’d like to see, please do let us know them and we’ll look at whether they can be incorporated into the development.
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