Process Shipments - Multi-User System

[olimits7]

Hi,

I currently have a backend where I can check ON multiple orders and run a "bulk batch" process shipments which then prints out all the packing slips I need to finish processing & shipping orders.

This system works fine now since I'm the only one running it, but what if I wanted to set up different PC stations to allow other employees to process shipments at the same time. I'm just looking into the future and seeing how my backend would work, or if I need to make some changes to it today this way I'm able to expand into a multi-user system.

My main concern is if multi-users are using the check box option to perform a "bulk batch" to process shipments how can I make sure that the same order isn't being run by multiple users? Is there a way to lock the order as soon as a user clicks on the check box?

Thank you,

olimits7

[votrechien]

We had the same problem and I eventually had a custom system developed for the backend of OScommerce. It worked "ok" but it had the same problem as you- there was no way to prevent a user from double-processing an order (we used google docs and recorded the last order that was processed, which worked fine as long as everything was processed sequentially).

Your better bet is to look at a full on order management system. There's only a few of them...stone edge order mananger, dydacomp order manager, and Linnworks (the one we use). Linnworks does exactly as you've specified plus a lot more. They have a free option, but you're ultimately looking at around $60/month. It might be a lot for you to swallow if you're a small business, but it is really the best solution in the long run.

[olimits7]

Ok, thank you!

Do you know what type of system order management systems like stone edge, dydacomp, linnworks have in place to allow admin user's to process multiple orders without having any double-processing issues?

Thank you,

olimits7

[ssgumby]

Our shopping cart has a bulk invoice printing option. When you run it, it sets a flag in the db that they are pending print. As they print it then reset the flag to printed. Only orders not in pending print or printed come up in the batch.

[votrechien]

I can only speak from the perspective of Linnworks. In Linnworks, you select which orders you want to process (although a lot of people do it via automation rules) and these then get placed in a 'processed folder' (I'm oversimplifying but that's the general gist of it).

[olimits7]

Thank you for the replies!

To batch process orders in my system each order has a checkbox that has to be selected before you can run it. Maybe I can have my programmer code the page so if the checkbox gets selected then another admin user won't be able to select the same checkbox and it will grey it out.