B2B | Give B2B instructions

B2B recipients often have specific requirements for reception. Bigblue’s standard B2B preparation is designed to get as close as possible to these expectations, yet it’s not always enough and you sometimes have to give additional instructions.

Compliance with these instructions is essential or you risk incurring heavy penalties and damaging your reputation with these recipients.

To make this both as simple and stressless as possible, Bigblue introduced instructions templates. If you still want not to use any template, you can refer to the last section of this article.

Giving instructions with templates

What are instruction templates?

Instruction templates are a new way to submit instructions. Selecting one will automatically send the required instructions to the warehouse and the carrier for the order to be prepared and delivered successfully to the given recipient.

How are instruction templates built?

Templates are built out of Bigblue’s experience with B2B recipients. Over the years and the brands we serve, we frequently delivered orders to large department stores and we wanted to make this experience easily accessible to any other brand.

Here is how a template is built:

1. We identify a new recipient worth building a template for. It is either a recipient we frequently ship to or a recipient you specifically request a template for.
2. We get the recipient reception SOP and analyze it.
3. We reach out to the recipient’s supplier management unit and align on their expectations.
4. Once aligned and validated we introduce the template to Bigblue.

How to select an instruction template when creating an order?

You must first make sure you create a B2B order by selecting the Create B2B order button.

Then, once you have selected your warehouse, a new section is available below line items:

If you don’t select anything at this step your order will be prepared following Bigblue’s standard B2B preparation. If you are shipping to a more specific recipient you can choose you template by clicking on Select a template

This opens a new window that offers you all templates available from your warehouse. You can browse them through the left navigation. The right section details what the template is about and how orders will be prepared.

Once selected you can always change it by clicking on Change

If the recipients requires additional info such as the department or segment code, you can fill these after selecting the template. You will always be able to add an invoice if you need to.

How to select an instruction template when the order is already created?

Instructions are not only given when creating manual orders, it is sometimes required to give them on existing orders whatever their origin. To do so:

Start by making sure your order type is B2B, as instructions can only be given on B2B orders.

Once your order type is B2B, you can add instructions from the Preparation instructions tile at the right of the order information page.

Impact of instructions on available carriers

Not all carriers are able to respect the instructions you give: only a few are able to book appointments or to deliver before a specific time or date. If you give such an instruction carriers will be filtered to show you only those able to fulfill your request.

On top of this, carriers not suitable for B2B deliveries such as pickup point carriers are filtered out anyway! This is made to maximize the success and the satisfaction of your B2B deliveries.

How to request a delivery appointment?

Delivery appointments are included in instructions templates but you can edit or add them on top if you need. To do so click Request appointment delivery in the Shipping section:

Then fill informations:

1. Either the phone number or the email must be filled. it’s mandatory for the carrier to have a point of contact to book appointment with.
2. The Customer order number, also known as PO number is mandatory.
3. If needed you can request a specific delivery date and time, such services are more expensive though so make sure you really need it!
4. Eventually you can add a few details for the carrier.

How can I save my own template?

You can’t save your own template for the moment. To ensure preparation and delivery instructions are cristal clear and maximize seamless deliveries, Bigblue always reviews templates. That being said you can always request us to add more

How can I request a new template?

When selecting templates, use the search and if no template is offered for your search you are offered to ask for it.

This buttons points to a request form where you can give:

1. The recipient SOP document
2. A contact at the recipient we can discuss reception policies
3. Your contact for follow-up.

Once refined and reviewed we will add the template and you will be able to use it.

Giving instructions manually

Even though it’s not recommended, it is still possible to give instructions manually.

1. Start by checking Bigblue’s standard B2B preparation to make sure it’s not already covered.
2. Then make sure it’s not an existing template.
3. Eventually if no check were successful, select the Customs instructions block and select the instructions you want: