Booking, container consolidation, and shipment lifecycle

1. Overview & Business Value#

This comprehensive operational guide details the architecture, business workflows, configuration parameters, and execution steps for Booking, container consolidation, and shipment lifecycle within SmartERP.

SmartERP Freight organizes logistics operations into structured, measurable operational milestones from initial shipper quotation to final warehouse discharge.

{screenshot:booking-and-shipment-lifecycle-overview-dashboard}

2. Prerequisites & Security Access Groups#

• Required Modules: smarterp_freight, smarterp_logistics
• Security Groups:
  • Freight Forwarding Agent (Technical ID: smarterp_freight.group_freight_user)
  • Customs Broker (Technical ID: smarterp_freight.group_freight_customs)
  • Logistics Operations Director (Technical ID: smarterp_freight.group_freight_manager)
• Master Data Dependencies: Shipping lines, airlines, Modjo dry port customs codes, Djibouti corridor transit checkpoints, multimodal waybills, and demurrage tariffs.

3. Step-by-Step Configuration & Execution#

Step 1: Navigating to the Module Interface#

1. Log into your SmartERP instance at https://smarterp.et/odoo.
2. Open the main App Switcher (grid icon in the top-left corner).
3. Select the Freight Logistics app icon.
4. From the top navigation bar, open Freight Logistics → Shipments → Ocean / Air / Road Transits / Customs Clearance.

{screenshot:booking-and-shipment-lifecycle-app-switcher-navigation}

Step 2: Creating and Parameterizing Records#

1. Click the New button in the top-left control panel.
2. Complete the mandatory fields in the record form:
   • Master / House Bill of Lading (Mandatory): International shipping line BL or airline AWB reference
   • Shipper & Consignee (Mandatory): Commercial exporter and Ethiopian importing legal entity
   • Mode of Transport (Mandatory): Ocean FCL/LCL, Air Express, or Multimodal Rail/Road
   • Container Seal Number (Mandatory): Verified customs security seal and container ISO code
3. Configure optional operational parameters and localized tags as required:
   • Demurrage Free Days (Optional): Allowed grace period at port before penalty fees apply
   • Marine / Cargo Insurance Policy (Optional): Cover note reference and declared insured cargo value
   • Inland Dry Port Destination (Optional): Modjo, Kality, Semera, or Dire Dawa dry port terminal
4. Click the Save icon in the control bar to commit the record.

{screenshot:booking-and-shipment-lifecycle-record-creation-form}

Step 3: Validating and Processing Transactions#

• State Transitions: Execute operational state progression (Booking Confirmed → Port Origin Loaded → In Transit → Customs Assessment (Modjo/Djibouti) → Duty Paid → Delivered).
• Ledger & System Impact: Customs duties, freight charges, and port fees post directly to shipment cost absorption accounts, computing actual landed cost per imported item.
• Audit Verification: Automated recording of author ID, timestamp, and immutable revision history.

{screenshot:booking-and-shipment-lifecycle-transaction-processing-state}

Multimodal shipment lifecycle#

flowchart TD
    BK[Freight Booking / ትዕዛዝ] --> CONF[Confirmed Booking]
    CONF --> CONS[Container Allocation / FCL or LCL Consolidation]
    CONS --> MBL[Issue Master & House Bill of Lading]
    MBL --> ORIGIN[Depart Port of Loading - POL]
    ORIGIN --> TRANSIT[In Transit: Ocean / Air Leg]
    TRANSIT --> DISCH[Arrive Port of Discharge - POD]
    DISCH --> CUST[Customs Clearance & Transit Bond]
    CUST --> HAUL[Inland Road/Rail Haulage to Dry Port]
    HAUL --> EPOD[Consignee Delivery & e-POD Signed]

Equipment and container management#

SmartERP tracks shipping line container assets (freight.equipment):

• Container Types: 20ft Standard (20GP), 40ft High Cube (40HC), 40ft Reefer (40RF), Open Top, Flat Rack, and Tank Containers.
• Seal Numbers & Tare Weights: Logs shipping line seal numbers, tare weights, and Verified Gross Mass (VGM compliant with SOLAS requirements).
• LCL Cargo Consolidation: Consolidates multiple Less-than-Container Load (LCL) consignments into a single master container, tracking cargo marks, gross volume (CBM), and individual House Bills of Lading per client.
• Empty Container Return Tracking: Monitors container interchange receipts (EIR) and return depot milestones to avoid daily detention surcharges.

4. Advanced Configuration Points#

• Automated Actions & Scheduled Tasks (Crons):
  • Freight: Update container tracking checkpoints (smarterp_freight.ir_cron_tracking): Runs every 4 hours to sync transit milestones along Djibouti corridor
  • Freight: Demurrage risk alert (smarterp_freight.ir_cron_demurrage_alert): Runs daily to notify operations of shipments nearing demurrage expiration
• Custom Print Templates & Reports:
  • Multimodal Freight Delivery Order & Transit Manifest
  • Cargo Packing List & Commercial Invoice Dossier
  • Customs Duty & Demurrage Settlement Summary
• Multi-Company Rules: Record-level security isolation under Company 1 (Ashewa Technology Solutions S.C.), preventing cross-company ledger leakage across parent and subsidiary legal entities.

5. Comprehensive Troubleshooting Matrix#