Larger newspapers often use depots as part of their distribution process. Depots are warehouses where newspapers for a large number of routes are dropped off and arranged. Carriers then come to the depot and pick up the papers for their routes.
Depots are basically large drop locations. Since a large number of routes have papers dropped there, however, it is useful if the bundle tops are sorted in a depot drop order. Account invoices may also be sorted in depot drop order.
Depots must be defined.
Depots can then be assigned to routes as part of route setup. Along with the depot assignment, a route is assigned a depot drop order. Depot and depot drop orders have no direct connection to truck and truck drop orders.
Depot must be set as the sort option for bundle tops and/or account invoices, as defined in Business Rules. Business Rules also determine the label for depots on bundle tops and invoices (for example, they might be called “warehouses” at your newspaper).
If depot sorting is used, the depots will sort in alpha-numeric order. Within each depot, routes will sort in depot drop order. For example, assume the following depots contain these routes:
A34
D1566
10
A0988
20
C1444
30
A07
A0029
20
99899
50
C883
100
90
R111
30
The sort order for bundle tops or account invoices would be: R111, A0029, 99899, C883, D1566, A0988, C1444.
Select Distribution | Geographic | Depot to display the Depot screen.
Click the Add icon and complete the following fields.
DEPOT
open (8)
Enter an ID for this depot. You may want to number your depots so that they sort in the correct depot order.
DESCRIPTION
open (30)
Enter a description of this depot.
Click OK to save the depot in the database or Add Another to save the existing record and add another depot.