Infoplus WMS Glossary

This is a list of terms/jargon and their definitions used in warehousing and within Infoplus. Listed in alphabetical order.

AFR (Advanced Fulfillment Rules)

A set of instructions that are defined prior to a fulfillment process that may be applicable to an order.

Alert

In Infoplus, get alerted automatically of any selected activity or issue so you're always in the know.

Allocation

The process by which inventory is assigned to orders, removed from on-hand inventory, and the orders become ready for shipment.

Allocation Behaviors

In Infoplus, control from where you are picking inventory, such as always allocate from oldest PO lot first or strict first in/first out to save time for your warehouse workers.

API (Application Programming Interface)

The Infoplus web service API (Application Programming Interface), enables partner systems to directly share information in Infoplus. These include simple service calls, like order tracking, to complex full integrations including everything for real-time inventory levels, order placement, order tracking, vendor, SKU, restriction, and PO management.

ASN (Advanced Shipping Notification)

A notification of an upcoming shipment which includes relevant details such as SKUs, quantity, lot numbers, pallet numbers, and more. ASNs are often referred to as Purchase Orders (POs).

Address

A reference to a warehouse location. Addresses are typically alphanumeric schemes made up of location attributes. For example: An address of S PR-100-1-103 indicates the following location: South Warehouse (S), Pallet Rack Zone (PR), Aisle 100, Level 1, Location Number 103.

Aisles

An aisle is, in general (common), a space for walking with shelving to either side. In warehouses and factories, aisles may consist of storage pallets, and in factories, aisles may separate work areas.  Aisles are distinguished from corridors, hallways, walkways, sidewalks, trails, paths and (enclosed) "open areas".

App (Application)

Infoplus is a software application or app. Within Infoplus there are many other sub apps such as Item Management, Receiving, and Fulfillment.

Auto Cartonization

An automatic determination of the number of shipping cartons required for a single order based on product and carton dimensions.

Back Orders

Orders placed on products that are temporarily out of stock.

Barcoded Addresses

Barcoded Addresses are location addresses that can be scanned (read by a scanner device).

Billing Codes

In Infoplus, record quantities against your existing billing codes, create billing code records, and export data. Integrate with your own accounting system.

BOL (Bill of Lading)

A detailed list of a shipment of goods in the form of a receipt given by the carrier to the person purchasing the goods.

Bulk Actions

In Infoplus, a selection of multiple records on which to perform an action. For example, Bulk Edit allows you to edit multiple records at once.

Carrier

In Infoplus, integrate with your preferred shipping carriers through available APIs.

Cartonization

The process of manually examining the contents of an order and using dimensions of each item to determine the size and amount of cartons that each order will need to be shipped. 

In Infoplus, pick, pack and ship multiple orders at one time using cartonization. Great for if you have a club that receives the same item each month or free gifts to send to your best customers. Do it all at once in one swift action.

Carton Shipping

In Infoplus, pick, pack and ship multiple orders at one time using cartonization. Great for if you have a club that receives the same item each month or free gifts to send to your best customers. Do it all at once in one swift action.

Case Pick

A Case Pick is a picking process where you gather full cartons or boxes of product.

Cost Allocation

In Infoplus, categorize items to allocate costs to a particular department or group. 

CSV file

A comma-separated values file that stores data in plain text. In Infoplus, CSV files can be used as inputs for bulk load processes.

Cycle Counts

A Cycle Count is a physical count of the inventory in your warehouse at a specified time. You may count only a portion of your warehouse's inventory or the entire inventory. A common cycle count occurs on a warehouse's entire inventory once a month. As a regular practice, it is important to count your inventory. A discrepancy between your physical warehouse inventory and the inventory within Infoplus is bound to occur due to human error within the warehouse over time.
Cycle counts are repeatable, and it is common practice to have a standard cycle in which inventory is counted. Fast-moving items may be counted every month, or high-value items may be counted every week. Different parts of your warehouse may be subject to different cycle counts.

Data Security

Infoplus takes the security of you and your customers very seriously. We understand how important it is to keep your data safe and secure. Infoplus' practical security measures are based on best practice risk management - and then we take it even further. Here are the details:

Encryption: Infoplus' first security defense is simple and important but often overlooked by others: We make sure every single connection between your computer or wireless device and the Infoplus servers is encrypted using 256 bit security encryption. This is roughly twice as strong as many banks use today. Unlike many other web-based services that provide encryption as an option, Infoplus provides this level of encryption and security as compulsory. There is simply no way to access Infoplus without at least 256 bit encryption.

Access: We go to significant lengths to ensure the connections our engineers use to manage your system and are also tightly controlled and secured. All engineers are closely vetted, and access to the server infrastructure by our engineers is only possibly via a 2048 bit encrypted VPN connection, secured in addition through private keys and a server-side access control list that allows for immediate revocation if required. While a small group of our engineers need to be able to access systems to manage, optimize and maintain them, the only services that are accessible outside this protected channel are via the website and mail server that you use, each of which is firewalled and locked down at the front door. The databases and application servers that store your critical data are never accessible directly to the outside world.

Segregation: When it comes to data security, segregating your data from that of other Infoplus clients is an important and effective security measure. In other hosted or multi-tenant applications that run in the cloud, one of the risks is that everything is stored together in a single database, and all it takes is one oversight to get unauthorized access to your data. When you become an Infoplus client, your data is kept in a separate, segregated database which is tied completely to only your quarantined deployment of Infoplus.

Vigilance & Expertise: Servers, websites and applications are created by people. Infoplus is built with top notch engineers who have more than a decade of proven performance in large scale technical environments for the most demanding high-tech companies . By choosing to build upon services within the Amazon AWS sphere, we've made sure Infoplus is built on the most stable, secure and proven platforms. Should a hole or exploit be found, Infoplus is architected to support a high level of automation. This means within a matter of minutes, Infoplus' systems and services will automatically update and patch. Infoplus' team of dozens are watching the system around-the-clock. They leverage their high expertise, vigilance and dedication to doing things right to ensure your data is protected and secure. - See more at: http://www.infopluscommerce.com/frequently-asked-questions/

Down Forward Locations

Floor level locations that are easy to pick and are reserved for a specific item at any given point of time. 

Drop Ship

To ship goods directly from the manufacturer to the customer therefore avoiding any normal distribution channels.

EDI (Electronic Data Exchange)

Infoplus uses Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) standards to interface with clients and other partners. EDI technology allows for automatic processing and reporting of every step of the order process, from the time the client makes an order on the web until the order arrives at the client's door. Specifically, EDI can take and process orders, notify of shipments, invoice, and alert inventory status to the B2B trading partner.

Exception Notice (Shipment Tracking)

In Infoplus, for package tracking and exceptions, track your shipments in real-time for status. Get visibility to exceptions and or returns as they happen.

FIFO (First In First Out)

A method that assumes that inventory that was purchased or made first will be sold first.  In Infoplus, FIFO is one of several allocation rules that specify how an an item is chosen from inventory. For more information, see Overview of Allocation Rules for more information.

Footprint

The Location Footprint represents the physical dimensions of the location assignment in the warehouse (width, depth, height). One possible use of location footprints is to determine how much square feet is open in the warehouse.

Forward Location

Floor level locations that are easy to pick and are reserved for a specific item at any given point of time.

Forward Pick

A Forward Pick is a picking process where floor level locations provide easy access for picking. These locations are reserved for specific items at any given point in time.

Fulfillment

The process of packaging and shipping orders for goods. In Infoplus, optimize your fulfillment by prioritizing orders and managing outside vendor and drop ship vendor data. Use alerts, tracking and reporting to follow back orders, get ship complete alerts, ensure compliance, and send reminders, Know when an order is held and released. Get automatic cartonization for orders. Get 100% customization of how you prefer to process orders.

Hold (Order)

In Infoplus, manage held orders until they can be released.

Inbound Scheduled Receipts

In Infoplus, know what's coming and when. Receive and commit inventory to be ready for ordering against advanced shipping notifications.

When items arrive to be received into the warehouse, create a Receiving Worksheet that connects the ASN to an actual receipt of the items on the PO with details about the items, such as quantity received and weight.

Create a putaway plan for an item. For instance, if all received items don't fit on one pallet, create a putaway plan assigning a quantity per pallet.

Print the Put Away work tickets for items in your Receiving Worksheet. Once the items are put away, commit the item receipts. This indicates that the items are available for ordering.

Inserts

A printed form of communication from the vendor that is added to a carton that’s being shipped. This is usually a flyer or something similar. In Infoplus, you can use Filter Actions to automatically add inserts to orders.

Integration Partners

In Infoplus, integrate with software and systems you already use for your ecommerce including Magento and Shopify. Integrations are also available for your accounting software such as QuickBooks or Xero.

Inventory

Your warehouse's inventory is a complete list of items, such as property, goods in stock, or the contents of a building. 

Item Receipt

Record of an item that was received into the warehouse. When a Purchase Order is created in Infoplus, an Item Receipt record for each line item in the purchase order is created.

Inventory Adjustment

The action of moving inventory within a system to bring them into agreement with actual physical inventory. In Infoplus, The Inventory Adjustments table displays all transaction details related to adjustments (i.e., quantity, reason, notes, PO affected, etc.). You can export the data to Excel or PDF for a report. For more information, see the View / Export Inventory Adjustments tutorial.

Inventory Management

The process of efficiently overseeing the constant flow of units into and out of inventory. Infoplus masters Inventory Management with full lot control, allocation behaviors, and pick behaviors depending on what keeps your labor costs low and your efficiency high. Know where your inventory is, from when it is received to when it is picked, packed, and shipped. Achieve the speed both you and your customers demand from your shipping by optimizing labor and prioritizing orders based on your unique specifications.

Job Time

Job Time is the amount of time spent on a specific job (i.e., 2 hours picking items for replenishment, 1 hour putting items away after receiving, etc.). You can create Job Time records in Infoplus.

Job Type

When entering Job Time into Infoplus (which indicates the amount of time spent on a specific job), you need to select a Job Type (i.e., Receiving, Receiving Putaway, Picking, etc.). Job Types help to organize job time. You can create Job Types in Infoplus.

JSON (JavaScript Object Notation)

A means of transmitting data between a server and a web application, such as Infoplus.

Knowledge Base

The digital home for all training and documentation for Infoplus.

Kitting

The process of pre-packaging multiple items together in a warehouse for efficiency and cost savings.

LPN

An LPN is a Licence Plate Number which serves as a temporary location for a product (i.e., while being moved to a new location).

LIFO (Last In First Out)

A method that assumes that inventory that was purchased or made last will be sold first.

LOB (Line of Business)

A grouping of products or services offered by a company.  In Infoplus, a Line of Business is equivalent to a business unit.

Labor Optimization

In Infoplus, allocate inventory from the optimal location for minimizing labor plus run reports on labor production time. Allocate from the optimal location for minimizing labor, without regard to FIFO. Track and run reports on how much time production workers spend on selected jobs such as replenishment, pick, receiving, and putaway. 

Labor Tracking

In Infoplus, Labor tracking is a process to track elapsed time that production workers spend on selected jobs. 

Locations

A location is a place that you use to put away (store), pick (retrieve), or replenish (refill) items that you stock in the warehouse. The warehouse might consist of many locations, each with its own characteristics.

Location Address Schemes

Location Address Schemes is the strategy for how location addresses are generated.

Location Behavior Types

Behavior types are pre-set in Infoplus and are used to set rules about what can be done at a location. For example, assigning a behavior type of “Pallet” to a location means only pallets can be placed and removed from that location.

Location Billing Types

Location Billing Types can be used to assign a cost to storage of an item (i.e., to bill by square footage). Billing Types are typically used by third-party logistics providers. Billing Types do not impact the physical layout or dimensions of locations as used by warehouse personnel. They provide a categorization feature for billing purposes.

Location Builder

A process within Infoplus that allows you to create multiple locations with similar attributes. For more information, see the Location Builder tutorial.

Location Footprints

Location Footprints are the physical dimensions of the location assignment in the warehouse (width, depth, height).

Location Labels

Location labels are barcode labels generated during warehouse setup allowing for a physical identification of a location in the warehouse.

Location Management

A process within Infoplus that allows you move entire locations of inventory from one section of a warehouse to another.

Location Move Work

If you need to move entire locations of inventory, run the “Create Location Move Work” process in Infoplus. For example, if you add a whole new section of shelving and want to move inventory to the new location, run this process. For more information see the Create "Location Move" Work Tickets tutorial.

Lot

A Lot is a batch of items that was received, is being stored, or is being shipped from your warehouse.

Lot Control

In Infoplus, makes sure that inventory has the ability to be tracked back to its original group.

LTL (Less Than Truckload)

In Infoplus, ship orders no matter how big or small, from small freight to full truckload carriers.

Manifest Setup

In Infoplus, allows you set up Parcel accounts under your shipping carrier of choice.

Master Item Record

Default records used as the basis for new records (i.e, Default Customer Record, Default Vendor Record).

Metrics

In Infoplus, gain insights with customized reports to get metrics on just about any aspect of your business. Customize the report with your precise data needs, share the report with others and download it as an Excel or PDF file. Flag metrics important to you and notify yourself and others of key indicators.

Example: Run a report and print it out for your upcoming board meeting that shows how orders over $500 have gone up since instituting the white glove treatment sales program three months ago.

Mixing Rules

Controls if and how inventory items may be mixed within locations in a warehouse.

Mobile Devices / System Compatibility

In Infoplus, run your business in the office, on the go and on the warehouse floor using the most popular mobile devices on the market today. Use iOS and Android, tablet or phone, Mac or PC with an internet connection.

Infoplus gives you the confidence that it will work on your preferred systems whether you're iOS or PC. And there's no software to install so Infoplus is available from any device with an internet connection. All you need is a HTML5 compatible browser. The full list: 

Mac Desktop Compatible 
PC Desktop Compatible 
iOS Phone and Tablet Compatible 
Android Phone and Tablet Compatible 
Zebra & Label Printing Compatible 
Mobile & Line Printer Compatible 
Windows Printing Compatible 
LXE Compatible 
Honeywell Compatible 
Windows Tablet and Handheld Compatible 
Bar Code Scanner Compatible 
All Major Email Clients Supported for Alerts 
Supports Internet Explorer (Best on v. 10 +) 
Supports Google Chrome 
Supports Safari 
Supports Firefox

Multi-Channel Control

In Infoplus, segment by order source, vendor and integration partners plus implement channel inventory reservations using multi-channel control.

Multi-Facility

Having more than one facility in which to store goods. 

Non-Parcel Order

A Non-Parcel Order is an order that is to be shipped using a method other than a parcel carrier. (Examples of parcel carriers include UPS, FedEx, DHL, USPS, etc. Use the standard process to ship a parcel order when using parcel carriers.) Examples of a non-parcel carrier include shipping LTL (Less than truckload), TL (a full truck load), Will Call (where recipient comes to warehouse to receive the item), local courier, etc. To indicate non-parcel orders are shipped, use the Ship Non-Parcel Order process.

OMS (Order Management System)

A computer system that automates order entry and processing.

Orders

To confirm a request of products or goods to be supplied.

Order Alerts

In Infoplus, get alerted automatically of any selected activity or issue so you're always in the know.

Order Hold

When an order cannot be fulfilled for various reasons. 

Order Prioritization

In Infoplus, prioritize orders based on service levels and carrier options to expedite an order through fulfillment and/or transit. Priority Codes are another way to insure that an order goes ahead of another, specifically if it's in contention for inventory.

Order Processing

In Infoplus, process orders based on FIFO, LIFO, shipping method, service levels, types of customers and need by or deliver on date plus defined fulfillment plans as dictated by you. 

Order Line

A table within Infoplus that lists all ordered line items (SKUs).

Order Release

After an Order Hold is taken off of an order, it is then cleared to go through the fulfillment process.

Order Source Reservation

Reserves a specified quantity of a product for a particular retailer.

Outstanding Pick Quantity

This number represents how many of a SKU are currently on order. Infoplus reports how many SKUs it thinks you have in a given location, but this number does not account for the items you know are going to be picked for open orders. Total Quantity minus Outstanding Pick Quantity is the actual number of available items in a location. Outstanding Pick Quantity does not change until the order is fulfilled. 

Package Tracking and Exceptions

In Infoplus, track your shipments in real-time for status. Get visibility to exceptions and/or returns as they happen.

Packing Slips

In Infoplus, get greater control over your packing slip creation and implementation with B2C and B2B packing slips, per-order and per-carton packing slips, integrated shipping labels -- all with customizable contents and templates.

Parcel

A package of one or more items.

Pallet Pick

Picking product from a pallet.

Parcel Shipping

In Infoplus, Parcel Shipping indicates shipping an order via a parcel carrier, such as UPS, FedEx, DHL, USPS, etc. (Use the standard "Ship Parcel Order" process to ship parcels.)  

Non-parcel shipping is shipping via any other method, such as LTL (Less than truckload), TL (a full truck load), Will Call (where recipient comes to warehouse to receive the item), local carrier, etc.

Pick and Pack Methods

In Infoplus, increase warehouse productivity with choices of wave pick, pick to order, and pick to tote methods.

Pick Face Assignments

In Infoplus, used by the Replenishment process to determine the replenishment location for a SKU, Replenishment Point and the maximum quantity that can be placed into that location.

Picking Plan

In Infoplus, provides a plan for how inventory will be picked and packed for an order.

Plugins

In Infoplus, integrate with software and systems you already use for your ecommerce including Magento and Shopify. Plus, talk to us about integration with your accounting software such as QuickBooks or Xero.

Infoplus ecommerce partner plugins fully integrate and automate your shopping cart(s) and accounting systems. Ask us about your needs for partner integration.

Pre-printed

The act of printing prior to need.

Processing

In Infoplus, to perform an operation on specific data based on preprogrammed instructions to achieve the required results. 

Product Recall

Requesting to return a batch or a production lot of a particular product due to safety concerns or defects.

Quick Receipts

In Infoplus, create quick receipts indicating the SKU, quantity received and where the item should go in the warehouse, and make the item available for order all in a quick, two-step process.

Record

An entry within a table.

Replenishment

Refers to the movement of inventory from upstream product storage locations to downstream pick locations for efficient operations. For more information see the Overview of Replenishment tutorial.

Returns

When customers send back products or goods that have previously been purchased to the vendor.

Receiving Worksheet

A Receiving Worksheet is a record in Infoplus used to initiate the receiving process of items into the warehouse. The worksheet connects the Advanced Shipping Notification (ASN) or Purchase Order to actual receipt of the items on the ASN, and is used to generate Put Away work tickets.

RFP (Reverse Fulfillment Plans)

In Infoplus, the plan used to move returned products back into the warehouse system.

RMA (Return Merchandise Authorization)

An authorization in numerical form that’s given from the vendor that accepts products that are being returned. 

SaaS (Software as a Service)

A software delivery model that is centrally located and made available over a network such as the internet.

SLA (Service Level Agreement)

An agreement that a service will be done within a certain amount of time or it’s considered to be breached. 

Smart Filter

Smart Filters are the foundation of Building Blocks in Infoplus. A Smart Filter is a saved search within a table. If you frequently search for the same records, create a smart filter to run the search easily and quickly. For more information, see the Create / Manage Smart Filters tutorial.

Serial Number Tracking

Tracks or monitors all serial numbers associated with each product.

Share

In Infoplus, you can share objects, like Filters and Reports, with your colleagues that also use the system.

Ship Complete

A business rule that states that an order must ship if and only if all the components are available to be shipped.

Shipping

The act of transporting an item from point A to point B. Infoplus gives you control over your shipping. Take advantage of label and purchase order templates to ensure you are always shipping what needs to be shipped, when it needs to be shipped, to the correct customer.

Shipping Regulations

In Infoplus, manage compliance regulations for shipping alcohol, dry ice, and ORM-D hazard materials with precise accuracy.

Simple Wave

A method of picking orders, one SKU at a time, in a scheduled manner.

Standard GL Feeds

"Standard General Ledger Feeds" are shipment data that includes product costs, freight and receiving info.

Storage Behaviors

In Infoplus, control where you put away inventory and how you mix your inventory for peak efficiency with mixing rules and item level storage plans.

Storage Location

Warehouse location for storage of an item.

Strict Lot Control

Strict Lot Control is a type of lot control that has a set of very specific behaviors or rules that applies to a particular lot, and that the lot must abide by.

Subscription

In Infoplus, a subscription is an email alert containing smart filter results.

Supplements

A specific item that ships with an order.

Support Site

In Infoplus, the digital home for providing service to Infoplus clients.

Supported Equipment

Infoplus integrates with your current equipment, such as printers, scanners and scales.

System Backups

Infoplus considers your data critical. Get regular backups with unparalleled security. Be confident your data will always be there.

System Tag

A tag that is automatically assigned to a record when the record meets a pre-defined criteria. For more information, see the System Tags tutorial.

Tag

A text attribute that can be assigned to a record.

TL (Truckload)

TL is a reference to a full Truckload much like LTL references Less Than Truckload.

Tracking

The constant monitoring of any specific piece of data or process.

Triggers

Save time and streamline your processes with Triggers. A Trigger is an automated action taken by the system on a saved smart filter. For more information, see the Create / Manage Triggers tutorial.

User Management

In Infoplus, set up as many users as you need so all your employees can reap the benefits. Set roles based on level and job type.

Choose your company size, and use the pricing tiers for what's right for you.

User Reports

In Infoplus, a customized report based on a user-defined smart filter.

VANS (Value Added Network Service)

A private network used to facilitate Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) communication.

Vendor

A Vendor is an entity from which a product is purchased. In Infoplus, you can manage your vendors when creating an ASN (Advanced Shipping Notification, also referred to as a purchase order). The vendor record will display all related purchase orders.

Vendor Compliance

In Infoplus, use the optional Vendor Compliance Survey to gain insight on how vendors are performing (i.e., Was a packing list included?).

Verification Images

In Infoplus, save your product images to provide your receivers and warehouse operations teams with a thumbnail that gives them a visual check on their pick ticket of the item being picked for shipping.

Add a primary image of what a typical individual item looks like, such as an image of the cup. And a pick image showing what the shipment of the item looks like, such as a shrink-wrapped stack of cups.

Optionally, add images as a column to your Item table for quick reference.

WMS (Warehouse Management System)

Software, such as Infoplus, which controls the movement and storage of materials within a warehouse.

Warehouse

A warehouse in Infoplus is a record containing the name of your warehouse and the warehouse address. Having a warehouse record is the first step in being able to use Infoplus. 

Warehouse Management

Warehouse Management is the process of controlling the movement and storage of materials within a warehouse.

Warehouse Setup

In Infoplus, warehouse setup allows you to easily set up your single warehouse exactly the way you want it for simple storage management and inventory tracking.

Set up zones for labor and storage optimization, manage locations within your warehouse, track labor, make inventory adjustments and replenishments.

For enterprise level, additionally set up multiple warehouses in multiple cities all at once.  

Weak Lot Control

Weak Lot Control is a type of lot control that has a very lenient set of behaviors or rules that applies to a particular lot.

Weight Break

The weight limit which determines when to use a Package Carrier vs. a Truck Carrier.

Work Tickets

In Infoplus, generate work tickets directly from allocation and picking processes, and ensure proper pick and putaway of inventory.

Zones

A zone is a physical or logically segregated area within a warehouse defined by the type of material it contains (bulk or rack storage, hazardous material, etc.) or the division of equipment and personnel used to put away, move and pick.