Routing Logic Directives (RLD) built into EPISHIP control shipments through the rate and label manifest processes of the supply chain.
The purpose of this article is to detail the Efferent Line Items Rule, a specific RLD Rule type, that targets the transformation and control of line item (commodity) information after a rate response is received and before the final label or customs documentation is generated.
A rate response request includes a list of all service types across multiple carriers in a distributed network. Sometimes, the raw line item data used to successfully secure accurate shipping rates requires modification, masking, or formatting for the final commercial invoice, manifest, or shipping label, according to business rules. This is where the Efferent Line Items Rule comes in. The Efferent Line Items Rule post-processes the rate response to explicitly modify the line item details (e.g., standardizing descriptions, appending regulatory codes, or masking values) on the finalized output to make better routing decisions in your supply chain. The Efferent Line Items Rule is one rule type within an RLD Template.
Any number of Efferent Line Items Rules can be built within an RLD Template to match business objectives. Each Efferent Line Items Rule includes the following components.
Match conditions of criteria operators include the following types: All (AND), Any (OR), None (Not).
Sender fields available for match criteria include the follow properties:
Receiver fields available for match criteria include the follow properties:
Package fields available for match criteria include the follow properties:
Line Items fields available for match criteria include the follow properties:
Options fields available for match criteria include the follow properties:
References fields available for match criteria include the follow properties:
Rate fields available for match criteria include the follow properties:
Time fields available for match criteria include the follow properties:
The match criteria types listed above are used within individual rules or can be combined into a single rule to target specific conditions that include several match criteria.
The carrier rate response is modified according to the rules defined within the Efferent Line Items Rule matched within the RLD Template. The transformation functionality available to be included within the RLD template is as follows.
This configuration dictates exactly how the line item properties are altered in the final output. Once the match criteria are met, the rate response is transformed to override, append, or remove specific line item fields—such as Line Item SKU, Description, HS Code, Country of Origin, or Unit Value—with explicitly defined replacement values before the final commercial invoice, label, or manifest is generated.
Usual use cases for Efferent Line Items Rules within an RLD Template are numerous. Some common use cases include the following:
Mask or alter highly sensitive internal product descriptions (e.g., changing “Prototype Tech Device v4” to “Electronic Sample”) on the final printed customs documentation after the actual internal SKU was used to successfully rate the shipment.
Adjust line item unit values on the final commercial invoice for promotional or replacement items, ensuring customs clearance reflects a zero or nominal value even if the retail value was used for initial rate shopping and insurance calculations.
Standardize or group multiple sub-assembly SKUs into a single, parent kit description on the final manifest based on the specific carrier service selected from the rate response.
