App Overview
Shipping Manager is a shipping and logistics integration app for Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central. It gives sales, warehouse, and purchasing teams a structured way to create waybills, connect to shipping brokers, manage physical packages, handle customs documentation, and assign shipping fees — all from within Business Central.
At the heart of the app is the Waybill: a shipment document that captures the recipient address, sender address, package lines, weight, volume, integration status, and the tracking number returned by the broker. Waybills can be created directly from sales orders, warehouse shipments, purchase orders, transfer orders, and inventory picks — with address information copied automatically from the source document. Once a waybill is complete, it is transmitted to a shipping broker through a Connector, which handles the API communication. The broker returns a tracking number and package label, and Shipping Manager tracks the delivery lifecycle from Packing Finished through Shipping Agent Ordered to Delivered to Recipient.
Beyond the core waybill flow, Shipping Manager adds four supporting feature areas. Connectors manage the credentials, endpoint URLs, and unit of measure mappings for each broker integration, and can be configured to synchronise warehouse documents and automatically create waybills for new orders. Packaging Types and Waybill Lines provides a reusable catalogue of package sizes with pre-configured dimensions and volume, and supports automatic line creation on new waybills based on connector, customer, and shipping agent rules. Customs Tariffs attaches item-level customs declaration data to source documents for transmission to the broker when shipping internationally. Shipping Fees automatically calculates and writes the broker's freight cost back to the linked sales order, either from a price matrix by country and package type, or via special freight rules based on item categories and order origins.
Feature Map
Use this table to find the right article for your task.
| Feature | What it solves | Who uses it |
|---|---|---|
| Waybills | How do we send a shipment to the broker and get a tracking number? Creates, manages, and transmits waybill documents linked to sales orders, warehouse shipments, purchase orders, and transfer orders. | Sales Order Processor, Purchasing Agent |
| Connectors | How do we connect to our shipping broker? Configures API credentials, endpoint URLs, and unit of measure mappings for each broker integration. | IT Manager |
| Packaging Types & Waybill Lines | What package sizes do we use, and how do we add them to waybills consistently? Defines reusable package templates with dimensions and volume, and supports automatic line creation rules. | IT Manager, Sales Order Processor |
| Customs Tariffs | How do we provide item-level customs data for international shipments? Attaches tariff numbers, country of origin, weights, and declared values to source documents. | Sales Order Processor, Accountant |
| Shipping Fees | How do we get the broker's freight cost onto the sales order automatically? Assigns shipping fee lines to sales orders based on a country/package type price matrix or special freight rules. | IT Manager, Accounting Manager |
Common Infrastructure
Several concepts are shared across all feature areas. Understanding them once makes the individual feature articles easier to follow.
Shipping Manager Setup
Shipping Manager Setup is the central configuration record for the entire app. It holds the number series for waybills and packaging units, the default connector, the default shipping agent and service, the default units of measure for weight, volume, and dimensions, customs defaults (declaration type, reason for export, type of goods), and the global options that control automation behaviour (send waybill on post, auto-close packages, print label, calculate and assign shipping fee). Most of these fields are pre-populated by the Assisted Setup wizard.
Connectors
A Connector is the integration record that links Shipping Manager to a specific shipping broker. Every waybill must reference a connector. The connector holds the broker's credentials, API endpoint URLs, and the unit of measure mappings the broker expects. Connector-specific shipping agent mappings are managed separately in the Connector Shipping Agent ID table, which maps Business Central shipping agents and services to the external product codes used by the broker.
Abakion Manager Foundation Features
The seven features listed below are managed in Abakion Manager Foundation and are all enabled automatically when you complete the Shipping Manager activation wizard. They control which fields and subpages are visible on standard Business Central documents:
- Show Waybill Lines — adds the waybill sub-page to sales orders, warehouse shipments, transfer orders, and purchase orders.
- Show Waybill on Purchase Orders — specifically enables the waybill integration on purchase order documents.
- Show Ship-to Fields — adds ship-to address fields to warehouse shipments for use by the waybill.
- Show Customs Tariffs — adds the Customs Tariff Lines sub-page to relevant documents.
- Show Weight and Volume — adds weight and volume fields to item and document pages.
- Connect via Rest API — enables the REST API integration used to transmit waybills to brokers.
- Activate API Field Handler — exposes additional fields on BC API pages for waybill and warehouse document data.
Waybill Status Lifecycle
Every waybill moves through a defined set of statuses as the shipment progresses. Understanding these statuses helps you know what actions are available at each stage:
| Status | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Waybill Created | The waybill has been created but packing has not started. |
| Packing Started | At least one package line has been added. |
| Packing Finished | All packages are closed. The integration status automatically moves to Ready to Send. |
| Shipping Agent Ordered | The waybill has been transmitted to the broker. |
| Picked up by Shipping Agent | The broker has confirmed physical collection of the shipment. |
| Delivered to Recipient | The shipment has been delivered. |
| Closed | The waybill is archived. |
In parallel, the Integration Status tracks the API transmission: blank → Ready to Send → Successfully Sent → Updated with Label (tracking number and label received) → Error (if the broker returns a fault).
Package Numbers and Packaging Units
Each waybill line (package) is assigned a unique Package Number from the Packaging Unit number series. This number is the physical identifier for the package — it may be printed on the label and scanned at logistics checkpoints. Package numbers are generated automatically when a waybill line is created.
Typical Workflows
Shipping a sales order
- Open a Sales Order. Choose the Waybill action to create a waybill — the ship-to address is copied automatically.
- Verify the Shipping Connector and Shipping Agent on the waybill.
- In Waybill Lines, add a line for each physical package. Select a Package Type to apply default dimensions, and enter the Gross Weight.
- Choose Close All Packages when packing is complete. The integration status moves to Ready to Send.
- The connector transmits the waybill to the broker. The tracking number and label are returned and written back to the waybill.
Shipping from a warehouse
- Open the Warehouse Shipment and choose the Waybill action. The ship-to address and packing station are copied from the shipment.
- Add package lines and close all packages.
- Post the warehouse shipment. If Send Waybill on Post Document is enabled, the waybill is automatically transmitted at the time of posting.
Processing an international shipment with customs
- Open the source document (sales order or warehouse shipment).
- Navigate to Customs Tariff Lines and add a line for each group of goods, filling in the tariff number, country of origin, quantity, weights, and declared value.
- Set the Declaration Type and Reason for Export on the associated waybill.
- When the waybill is sent, the customs data is transmitted to the broker alongside the package information.
Automatic shipping fee assignment
- Ensure Calculate and Assign Shipping Fee is enabled in Shipping Manager Setup and that a matching Shipping Fee Price record exists for the destination country and package type.
- Create the waybill and add package lines as normal.
- When the waybill reaches Ready to Send, Shipping Manager automatically looks up the matching price and adds a shipping fee line to the linked sales order.
Integration with Other Abakion Apps
| App | Integration |
|---|---|
| Abakion Manager Foundation | Required dependency. Provides the shared infrastructure for features, connectors, waybill data structures, API pages, and the feature toggle system. All waybill and connector tables live in this app. |
| Master Data Information (MDI) | When MDI is installed, an Information Code can be configured in Shipping Manager Setup to pull freight-related data from item master records into special freight fee calculations. |
| Document Customizer | If installed, enables formatting and customisation of the waybill and related documents sent to brokers or printed as delivery notes. |
Setup
The setup user stories below cover the complete end-to-end configuration of Shipping Manager — from first activation through a fully operational shipping environment. Work through Core Setup first. The remaining sections are independent once the core is complete, and can be implemented in any order depending on which features you need.
Core Setup
SETUP-01: Activate the app via Assisted Setup
As an IT Manager
I want to activate Shipping Manager using the Assisted Setup wizard
So that the app is registered, the trial is started, and number series and default units of measure are created
Setup:
- In Business Central, search for Assisted Setup and open the page.
- Find Activate Shipping Manager in the list and open it.
- Optionally enable I am a partner activating this on behalf of a client.
- Enter the Email Address — this is mandatory to proceed.
- Click Activate Trial to register the app and start the 30-day trial period.
- On the next step, choose a Way-Bill No. Series and a Packaging Unit No. Series, or enable Default No. Series to have the wizard create standard series (WAY-BILL and PACKAGING UNIT) automatically.
- On the Unit of Measure step, confirm or change the default Weight (KG), Weight for Customs (KG), and Volume (M3) units of measure.
- Click Finish. The wizard enables all seven Abakion Manager Foundation features and saves the setup.
Note: If the app is installed but not activated, a notification bar appears on the role centre each time a user opens Business Central, with a shortcut to this wizard.
SETUP-02: Configure global settings in Shipping Manager Setup
As a Business Manager
I want to review and configure the global options in Shipping Manager Setup
So that automation behaviour, default units, and defaults for new waybills match our company's shipping policies
Setup:
-
Search for Shipping Manager Setup and open the page.
-
Review and set the following fields:
- Default Shipping Connector — the connector used when no connector is specified on the source document.
- Default Shipping Agent and Default Shipping Agent Service — pre-populated on new waybills.
- Send Waybill on Post Document — when enabled, the waybill is automatically transmitted when the linked shipment is posted (default: enabled).
- Close all package event — controls whether packages are closed automatically on posting (Close all packages when posting shipment) or left for manual closing (Keep package status).
- Print Label on Send Waybill — automatically sends the label to the printer when the waybill is transmitted.
- Calculate and Assign Shipping Fee — enables automatic shipping fee assignment to the sales order when the waybill reaches Ready to Send.
- Sync. Measurements on Item — writes weight and dimension updates from waybill lines back to item cards (default: enabled).
- Default Weight Unit of Measure, Default Volume Unit of Measure, Default Dim. Unit of Measure — applied to all new waybills.
- Default Packing Station — the default label printer / packing area.
- Default Type of Goods, Default Declaration Code, Default Reason for Export — customs defaults applied to new waybills.
-
Close the page to save.
SETUP-03: Set up a connector
As an IT Manager
I want to create a connector record for the shipping broker
So that Shipping Manager can transmit waybills to the broker via its API
Setup:
- Search for Connectors and choose New.
- Enter a unique ID and Description for the broker (e.g., ID: GLS-DK, Description: GLS Denmark).
- Set Type to match the installed broker connector app.
- Enter the Email for Error Messages.
- Set Weight Unit of Measure, Length Unit of Measure, and Volume Unit of Measure to the values the broker API expects (validated on entry).
- Enter the broker's API credentials (User Name and Password).
- Enter the required URL fields for the broker API endpoints.
- Go to Connector Shipping Agent IDs and map each Business Central shipping agent and service to the broker's external product code.
- Return to Shipping Manager Setup and set this connector as the Default Shipping Connector.
SETUP-04: Create packaging types
As an IT Manager
I want to define a packaging type for each standard box or pallet used in our warehouse
So that warehouse staff can select from a consistent list of package sizes when creating waybill lines, with dimensions applied automatically
Setup:
- Search for Packaging Types and choose New.
- For each package size, enter a Code and Description (e.g., BOX-S / Small Box, EUR-PALLET / EUR Pallet).
- Set Type (Package, Half-Pallet, or Pallet).
- Enter Length, Width, and Height and set the Dimension Unit of Measure. Volume is calculated automatically.
- Enter Tare Weight (empty package weight) and Max. Weight if applicable.
- Enable Swap Pallet on pallet types where the carrier requires a pallet exchange.
- Repeat for all standard package sizes.
Optional: Automatic Waybill Line Creation
Complete this section if you want the system to pre-populate waybill lines automatically when a waybill is created, based on the connector, customer, and shipping agent.
SETUP-05: Configure waybill line setup rules
As an IT Manager
I want to define rules that automatically add a package line to new waybills for specific connectors and customers
So that staff do not need to manually add standard package lines on every shipment
Setup:
- Search for Waybill Line Setup and choose New.
- Set Connector to the relevant connector.
- Set Source Type to All Customers for a general rule, or Customer and enter a Customer No. for a customer-specific rule.
- Optionally set Shipping Agent Code and Shipping Agent Service Code to restrict the rule to a specific service.
- Set Package Type to the packaging type to automatically add.
- Optionally enter a default Gross Weight and Net Weight.
- Save. When a new waybill is created matching these criteria, the package line is added automatically.
Note: Exact-match rules (all fields specified) take priority over wildcard rules (some fields blank). Each package type is only added once per waybill even if multiple rules match.
Optional: Customs Tariffs
Complete this section if you ship internationally and need to transmit item-level customs data to the broker.
SETUP-06: Configure customs defaults
As an IT Manager
I want to set default customs values in Shipping Manager Setup
So that new waybills are pre-populated with the correct declaration type, reason for export, and type of goods
Setup:
- Open Shipping Manager Setup.
- Set Default Declaration Code (e.g., C88 or the relevant code for your country's customs authority).
- Set Default Reason for Export (e.g., Sale, Return, Gift).
- Set Default Type of Goods (e.g., Commercial Goods).
- Set Default Weight Unit of Measure for Customs (typically KG).
- Optionally enable Automatic Paperless Clearance if your broker supports electronic customs submission for your shipping lanes.
Note: Paperless clearance support depends on the connector app and the destination country. Confirm with your broker before enabling.
Optional: Shipping Fees
Complete this section if you want Shipping Manager to automatically add a freight fee line to the sales order when a waybill is sent.
SETUP-07: Create shipping fee price records
As an IT Manager
I want to define a shipping fee price for each combination of destination country, package type, and shipping agent/service
So that the correct freight cost is added to the sales order automatically when the waybill is transmitted
Setup:
- Ensure Calculate and Assign Shipping Fee is enabled in Shipping Manager Setup.
- Create the items to use as freight line items on sales orders (type: Service or Non-Inventory).
- Search for Shipping Fee Prices and choose New.
- Set Country Code, Currency Code (blank = company currency), Package Type, Shipping Agent, and Shipping Agent Service for each combination.
- Set Shipping Fee Item to the fee item.
- Either enter a Unit Price, or enable Use Price from Item to pull the price from the item card.
- Repeat for all relevant shipping lanes.
SETUP-08: Configure Special Freight Fees
As an Accounting Manager
I want to define freight surcharges as a percentage of order value or as flat fees per country for specific item categories
So that freight costs based on commercial agreements are applied consistently without manual order adjustments
Setup:
- Open Shipping Manager Setup and enable Use Special Freight.
- Set Use Special Freight inherited from to the appropriate source: Order Origin, Sell-to Customer, or Customer-Order Origin.
- Optionally set Freight Acc. No. and Fee Acc. No. to the G/L accounts for freight and fee posting.
- Search for Sales Special Freight Fees and create rules:
- For percentage-based freight: set Type to Freight, enter the Item Category Code and Country Code, and enter the Freight Percentage.
- For flat fees: set Type to Fee, enter the Country Code, and enter the Fee Amount and Fee Currency Code.