Bulk import packages with a CSV file via the Packages importer

Overview

Packages can be bulk imported into MotionTools via a CSV file with at least 3 packages. Read Packages for more information about this extension.

• Prerequisites
• Saved places
• Create packages
• Optional fields
• Packages created directly 'At Hub'
• Customer Saved places
• Admin Saved places

Prerequisites

• You have the Packages extension enabled on your MotionTools account.

Saved places

Saved places are required in order to create packages. Saved places are used for managing the origin address of a packages, usually the customer’s store/ warehouse.

Create Customer Saved places

Admins are allowed to created Customer Saved places on the customer’s behalf. Select the customer’s profile and click on Saved places. Please read this section to learn more about Customer Saved places.

1. Log in the MotionTools dashboard as a Customer.
2. Click on the ‘user’ icon at the top right hand corner of the dashboard.
3. Click Saved places from the menu on the left.
4. Add new place manually or import your Saved places via a CSV file.
5. Give this location a name and enter the full address of the store/ warehouse.
6. Fill in the contact person’s details of this hub and hit Add place.
    
   

Create Admin Saved places

Please read this section to learn more about Admin Saved places.

1. Log in the MotionTools dashboard as an Admin.
2. Go to Settings and click Saved places from the menu on the left.
3. Add new place manually or import your Saved places via a CSV file.
4. Give this location a name and enter the full address of the hub/ warehouse.
5. Fill in the contact person’s details of this hub and hit Add place.

Create packages

1. Go to Packages.
2. Click on + New to create packages.
3. Click on Download CSV template.
4. Add packages and their respective information according to the columns in the CSV template.
5. Save the file as CSV and click Upload CSV button.
    
   
    
6. Only as an Admin: Select a customer name. If you’re creating a package as a customer, please skip this step.
7. Select a package origin from the customer’s Saved places to define the pickup location. If the package is already located at your hub, choose an admin’s Saved place instead.
8. Only if addresses are inaccurate: You may be prompted to correct some addresses if they are not accurate enough. Click on the address that has an icon next to it to open the address editor and correct the address details.
9. Hit Create packages.
10. Click Go to packages to see the packages you’ve created.
     
    

Optional fields

Metadata

Add Metadata such as an external id to packages by adding a new column on the very right of the CSV template.

Examples of metadata on packages:

• Metadata: external_id => Add metadata with key external_id
• Metadata: delivery_attempt => Add metadata with key delivery_attempt
• Metadata: shipment_id => Add metadata with key shipment_id

Weight

You can add the package weight might be useful for tour planning, see Automatic planning for Package tours.

External label ID's

If your packages already got labels on them please add them here. This helps drivers to scan the label to find or interact with the package. If you have multiple labels use ; as separator.

Coordinates: Latitude & Longitude

The CSV template supports importing packages that contain only coordinates (address not required). Admins can choose to provide only the latitude and longitude of the package destination if the address is not available.

If you choose to provide coordinates instead of addresses, both the lat and lng are mandatory fields. If either of the fields are missing the information, an error will be returned.

Packages created directly 'At Hub'

Packages created in the ‘At hub’ status will be planned into drop-off tours to be delivered off. You will need to send these packages to the hub/ warehouse instead of the drivers arriving at your location to pick up the packages.

Customer Saved places

• Saved places created on Customer level in the Customer profile refer to the store/ warehouse of the customer.
• Packages that have a customer’s Saved place defined as the package origin will result in packages getting created in the ‘Created’ status.
• When logged in as a Customer in MotionTools, the admin’s Saved places are not visible to the user. The user will only be allowed to select a package origin from the list of Saved places in the Customer profile.

Admin Saved places

• Saved places created on Admin level in the MotionTools account refer to the hubs/ warehouses of the service provider.
• Packages that have an admin’s Saved place defined as the package origin will result in packages getting created directly in the ‘At hub’ status.
• Admins have the permission to create packages on behalf of a customer, either at the customer’s pickup location or at the admin’s hub/ warehouse.
• More details about packages being created directly ‘At hub’ can be found here.