Crossdock
What this does
Crossdock lets inbound pallets pass straight through the warehouse without going into storage.
On a crossdock inventory order:
- Pallets are received as crossdock LPNs — LPNs that do not need to contain products
- When the order is marked as received, every crossdock LPN is automatically placed on a Ship by LPN shipping order
- The pallets are then picked and shipped like any other LPN
A single inventory order can contain both crossdock pallets and regular storage products.
When to use crossdock
Use crossdock when:
- Pallets arrive that are already destined for an outbound shipment
- The customer does not need the contents itemised at SKU level
- Pallets should not be put away, replenished or counted in available stock
Use a regular (storage) inventory order when the inventory will be stored and fulfilled later.
Creating a crossdock inventory order
Crossdock is set up when the inventory order is created. Any role that can create inventory orders can create a crossdock order.
- Step 1 — Select the option to flag that the order has crossdock LPNs.
- Step 2 — The products step now shows two sections:
- Storage — add products as usual
- Cross Dock — enter the pallet count (number of crossdock LPNs expected)
- Continue through the remaining steps as for a regular inventory order.
If the crossdock option is off, Step 2 shows only the Storage section.
⚠️ A crossdock order must have at least one crossdock LPN to move past Step 2. Adding storage products is optional on a crossdock order.
→ See: Inventory Orders (Inbound)
Receiving crossdock pallets (web)
Open the inventory order. On the Products tab, the order shows separate Cross Dock and Storage sections. Storage products are received as usual.
In the Cross Dock section:
- Enter the Location, LPN, Tags and LPN quantity.
- Update the actual received count and save. Teamship creates the LPNs in the stage location.
- Optionally assign tags to the selected pallets.
- Optionally print inbound pallet labels and LPN labels, and upload pictures.
Crossdock LPNs also appear on the Location/LPN tab, where they can:
- Have dimensions, weight and tags added
- Be printed or downloaded
- Be removed (the Cross Dock section and used/unused LPN counts update to match)
The receiving details popup for a crossdock LPN shows only its Location and LPN.
Receiving rules
- Crossdock LPNs can be received without products.
- An LPN used in the Cross Dock section cannot be used in the Storage section, and vice versa.
- Crossdock LPNs cannot be received into a picking location.
- An LPN that is on an open Ship by LPN shipping order cannot be added to an inventory order.
- Crossdock LPNs are given the default storage charge, the same as storage LPNs.
Receiving crossdock pallets (mobile)
On the mobile app, open the inventory order and select Order Progress. The products screen shows Crossdock and Storage parts (only Storage if the order is not flagged as crossdock).
- Select the Crossdock option to open a record with location, tags and LPN quantity.
- Enter an LPN quantity to create that many LPN records. Selecting a specific LPN sets that record's quantity to 1 (not editable).
- The tile on the products screen updates as crossdock LPNs are received.
Storage products are received as usual.
Receiving crossdock pallets (scan sequence)
Applies to both the default and custom scan sequences.
When the order is flagged as crossdock, the first Scan Barcode screen offers Receive Cross Dock LPN. Scanning a product or GS1 barcode instead follows the normal storage flow.
- Select Receive Cross Dock LPN.
- Location — keep stage or select another location. Picking locations are not allowed.
- LPN — scan or select an LPN, or choose Generate LPNs and Print to enter a count of LPNs and tags. Bulk receive is not available here.
- Review the list of crossdock LPNs. You can add more, and — individually or in bulk — quarantine, take pictures, update the storage charge, update dimensions, add tags or print. The total crossdock LPN count is shown at the top.
- Select Done. From the bottom sheet you can print inbound pallet labels or view details (location and LPNs only). Next returns you to the first step.
Running the flow again adds new crossdock LPNs to those already received.
Completing the inventory order
To mark a crossdock inventory order as received:
- At least one LPN must be used — either a storage LPN with products or a crossdock LPN (no products needed)
- Every LPN on the order, crossdock or storage, must be received
- Unused LPNs must be removed, as usual
Crossdock shipping orders
Automatic creation
When the inventory order is marked as received, Teamship places all crossdock LPNs on a single shipping order.
A side pane lets warehouse users split them across additional shipping orders:
- Add a new shipping order, then scan or select the LPNs to move into it. They are removed from the original order.
- Optionally enter a Shipment ID.
- Every shipping order must contain at least one LPN. Empty orders must be deleted before saving.
After saving, the shipping orders are listed under View Associated Shipping Orders on the inventory order. This link appears on every crossdock inventory order.
The same split is available on mobile after the order is completed.
Working the shipping order
Shipping orders that contain crossdock LPNs are always Ship by LPN orders.
- Non-mandatory order details can be edited after creation.
- Crossdock LPNs are picked the same way as storage LPNs.
- The order can be marked as shipped only when all LPNs are picked. Shipping the order marks the LPNs as shipped.
- Storage LPNs can also be added to the order and shipped. They can be removed again and returned to inventory.
- Completed shipping orders cannot be modified.
Moving crossdock LPNs between orders
A crossdock LPN can be moved to another shipping order only if:
- It has not been picked — otherwise you'll see an error asking you to unpick it first
- The destination order is open
A crossdock LPN moved to a new order creates a Ship by LPN order.
Crossdock LPN rules
| Rule | Detail |
|---|---|
| Products | Not required |
| Storage charge | Applied and editable, but skipped by automated storage billing |
| Relocation | Not allowed — crossdock LPNs cannot be relocated or used in Product Relocate |
| Quarantine | Allowed, but must be removed before the LPN can ship. A shipping order containing a quarantined LPN cannot be closed. |
| Picking locations | Cannot be received into a picking location |
| Deletion | Crossdock LPNs on a shipping order cannot be deleted — only moved to another open order |
| Shipping order deletion | Shipping orders containing crossdock LPNs cannot be deleted |
Roles and permissions
Warehouse users
- Receive crossdock LPNs on web, mobile and scan sequence
- Split crossdock LPNs across shipping orders
- Pick and ship crossdock shipping orders
Customers (parent and child)
- Can create crossdock inventory orders
- Can view receiving progress on open and completed crossdock inventory orders, but cannot edit them
- Can open View Associated Shipping Orders to see which LPNs are on each order, but cannot move LPNs
- Can view open and completed crossdock shipping orders, but cannot change or add LPNs
Administrators
- Same access as warehouse users
Common crossdock issues
| Issue | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Can't continue past Step 2 of the inventory order | No crossdock LPNs entered on a crossdock order |
| Receive Cross Dock LPN doesn't appear on the scan gun | The inventory order isn't flagged as crossdock |
| Can't receive a crossdock LPN into a location | It's a picking location |
| An LPN can't be added to the inventory order | It's already on an open Ship by LPN shipping order, or it's already used in the other (storage/crossdock) section |
| Can't mark the inventory order as received | Some LPNs are not yet received, or unused LPNs haven't been removed |
| Can't save the split of shipping orders | One of the shipping orders is empty — delete it |
| Can't move a crossdock LPN to another order | It has been picked (unpick it first), or the target order isn't open |
| Can't delete a crossdock LPN or its shipping order | Crossdock LPNs and their shipping orders can't be deleted |
| Can't close the shipping order | Not all LPNs are picked, or an LPN is quarantined |
| Can't relocate a crossdock LPN | Crossdock LPNs can't be relocated |