Packstück
Also: Packstücke, Collo, Colli, Versandstück, Versandeinheit, Sendungspaket
AI-generated
A package is a single, self-contained shipping or transport unit – such as a carton, a crate, a sack, or a pallet – that is identified, labeled, and handed over as an independent unit in the shipping process.
Key facts
- A package is the smallest independent shipping unit and is separately identified, labeled, and tracked in the transport process.
- The dimensions, weight, and contents of a package are the direct basis for carrier tariffs and must therefore be captured accurately and completely.
- Clean integration of package data across WMS, TMS, and ERP is a prerequisite for error-free shipping operations and track-and-trace.
- Bulky goods or unusual package shapes can trigger additional costs, which can only be avoided through early and thorough master data maintenance.
What is a package?
A package refers to any individual, physically self-contained unit that is handled as a whole in the shipping or transport process. Typical forms include cartons, wooden crates, sacks, barrels, or pallets. What matters is not the external form, but that the unit carries its own identity: it is labeled, weighed, and measured separately, and handed over to a transport service provider. Multiple packages can belong to a single order or shipment, but are tracked individually from a logistics perspective.
How does a package work in practice?
In operational workflows, a package is created at the end of the picking or packing process. At this point, the key attributes are captured:
- Dimensions and weight: Either entered manually or determined automatically via dimensioning stations and scales.
- Contents and references: Linked to order numbers, items, and delivery line items, typically within the WMS or TMS.
- Identification: A shipping label with a barcode or Data Matrix code – and, depending on the carrier, a tracking number – is applied.
- Handover document: Package data is transmitted in structured form to the recipient or freight forwarder via an electronic advance shipping notice (DESADV).
Many carrier tariffs are billed per package, or combine unit count, weight, and volumetric weight. Incorrectly captured dimensions or weights therefore lead to additional charges or surcharges – for example, for bulky goods. Data quality at the package level thus has a direct impact on costs.
What matters when it comes to selection and system integration?
Within the system landscape, packages must be accurately mapped across the WMS, TMS, and ERP. Key questions include: Are package data generated automatically from the packing process, or maintained manually after the fact? How are consolidated packages – i.e., pallets comprising multiple individual cartons – represented hierarchically? And how does the system handle returns, when packages need to be booked back in?
The distinction from a loading unit is context-dependent: a pallet can simultaneously serve as a loading unit for the truck and as a package for the recipient. Whether a package counts as a collo or a shipment depends on the respective carrier and contract. These overlaps should be explicitly clarified in master data maintenance and interface definitions.
Related terms
- Artikelstammdaten
Item master data refers to the permanently valid base data of an item – such as dimensions, weight, packaging units, hazardous goods classification, and best-before date relevance. It forms the foundation for all logistical, procurement-related, and system-driven processes along the supply chain.
- Avisierung
Pre-advice refers to the advance notification of a delivery by the supplier to the recipient before the goods arrive. It enables the warehouse to plan staffing, dock capacity, and put-away processes in a timely manner.
- Barcode
A barcode is a machine-readable optical code that represents information as a pattern of bars and spaces or as a two-dimensional matrix. It enables the automatic identification of items, load carriers, and documents along the entire supply chain.
- Carrier
A carrier is a transport service provider that physically moves goods from a point of origin to a destination. It assumes operational responsibility for the actual transport – as opposed to freight forwarders or logistics service providers, who often only coordinate.
- Colli
Colli refers to a single package within a shipment – such as a carton, a crate, or a bundle. The number of colli represents the package count in shipping documents and serves as the basis for labeling, loading, and freight billing.
- Corlette
Corlette refers to an industry-specific metal load carrier or carrier frame used in goods handling and warehouse logistics. As the term is not governed by a uniform standard, dimensions, load capacity and handling rules must be defined as binding specifications within each respective network.
- Corletten
Corletten is the plural of Corlette and refers to specialized, often industry-specific metal carriers or frames used as load carriers in the goods cycle. Since no uniform standard exists, individual specifications regarding dimensions, load capacity, and stackability are essential.
- Cross-Docking
Cross-docking refers to a goods handling process in which items are transferred directly from inbound receiving to outbound shipping without interim storage. The goal is to reduce throughput times and avoid warehousing costs.
- Cross-Docking
Cross-docking is a logistics method in which goods are transferred directly from inbound to outbound transport at a transshipment point, without going through conventional put-away and storage.
- DESADV
DESADV (Dispatch Advice) is a standardized EDI message in EDIFACT format that electronically announces an upcoming delivery. It transmits structured information on packaging units, items, quantities, and identifiers such as the SSCC to the goods recipient.
- Data Matrix
Data Matrix is a two-dimensional barcode that stores significantly more information in a very small area than conventional 1D barcodes. Thanks to integrated error correction, it remains reliably readable even when partially damaged or soiled.
- Disposition
Disposition refers to the operational planning and control of resources, quantities, and orders in logistics – for example in transport or materials disposition. It encompasses capacity assignment, scheduling, prioritization, and response to disruptions.
- Distributionslogistik
Distribution logistics encompasses all processes that move goods from the manufacturer or warehouse to the end customer – from network planning through storage and transportation to order fulfillment.