The rules of shipping or receiving goods by the customer within a document are considered as shipping policy. All the vital information regarding the product ordered by the customer relies on a shipping policy. One of the crucial parts of sales operation in a business is shipping. Management of shipping details in a firm is made easy by running ERP software. Odoo 16 Sales module helps users to set shipping policy for products and apply it to a sales order for a customer. Accurate shipping information makes customer satisfaction and awareness of company products or services.
This blog ensures you know the significance of shipping policies in Odoo 16 Sales.
We can maintain the shipping of several commodities in a company using the shipping policy feature in Odoo 16. The product delivery is based on a specific lead time managed efficiently through a shipping policy. Let's see the process of setting product shipping policies and applying them to a sales order.
To Set up Lead time for Products to Manage Shipping Policy
Before setting a shipping policy, we can set up a lead time for products. For that, click the Products menu in the Sales module and choose the CREATE icon to generate a new item. 
Enter the Product title and update an image on the right corner of the new screen. You can mark the product as a priority after clicking on the Star icon; a yellow color appears to the user.
Below the General Information tab, set the category of the commodity within the Product Type field. Later, add the total amount of product in the Sales Price field, as defined in the screenshot below.
After applying essential general information, select the Inventory tab in the Products page. Customer lead time is the delivery time of a product in days. It shows the days promised to a customer between delivery and sales confirmation. You can set 5 days within the Customer Lead Time option below the Inventory tab.
Click the SAVE icon after applying the necessary details of the product. Similarly, we can create another product with different customer lead times. In the new product window, use the Product Name as the Printer and add the image as described in the screenshot below.
Specify the Customer Lead Time for the Printer 2 days below the Inventory tab. Details about the product are saved manually after entering the essential details of the product.
Hence, we developed two products with different lead times. Next, set the shipping policy for these two products in a sales order.
How to Manage Shipping Policy in a Sales Order within Odoo 16?
To manage the shipping policy for a commodity, we must create a quotation within the sales module. Choose the Quotations menu from the Orders tab, and the list of all quotations is viewable to the user. Select the CREATE button to describe a new quotation for a user, as marked in the screenshot below.
In the new window, add details of your client in the Customer Name field, and the address concerning the customer is visible to a user. Pick the model for your Quotation in the Quotation Template field, as depicted in the screenshot below.
We can view the confirmed date of order inside the Quotation Date field. Afterward, select the items for the customer by choosing the Add a Product option mentioned in the screenshot below.
Choose the created products FlowerPot and Printer below the Order Lines tab with one quantity each for a customer.
We can set the Shipping Policy for orders below the Other Info tab in the Quotations window. Below the Delivery section, users can choose the Shipping Policy When all products are ready and As soon as possible, as represented in the screenshot below.
By selecting As soon as possible option, the product will be redeemed to the consumer instantly. In contrast, a delivery order is available after the products are ready by choosing the When all products are ready option inside the Shipping Policy field. In the case of created Quotation, we set 5 days for Flower Pot and two days for customer lead time in Printer. By selecting the As soon as possible option inside Shipping Policy, the minimum customer lead time set for the product is considered. So, the Printer's lead time is two days inside the Quotation after choosing the As soon as a possible option.
Here, the user can view the Delivery Date expected as 12/08/2022 is two days from the quotation date 12/06/2022. It happens after picking the Shipping Policy as As soon as possible. The delivery date is five days when we select the When all products are a ready option in the Shipping Policy field. Because it is considered the highest customer lead time of a product is Flowerpot (5 days).
Here, you can see that the expected delivery date of 12/11/2022 is five days after the quotation date of 12/06/2022. Based on chosen Shipping Policy, the Delivery date of the product varies. We set the Shipping Policy As soon as possible in the Other Info tab and save the details in the Quotations window, as cited in the screenshot below.
To proceed with a sales order, select the CONFIRM icon in the Quotations window, as shown in the screenshot above. After confirming the Quotation, the stage changed to
SALES ORDER on the Quotations page. Moreover, one delivery is processed and visible on the Delivery smart button.
The user can see product details below the Operations tab in the new window. Click the VALIDATE button to move forward with customer delivery.
Here, you can view the Deadline as 12/08/2022 means two dates after the quotation date based on the lowest customer lead time of the product. After validation, the stage changes from READY to DONE, as portrayed in the screenshot below.
Hence, it is easy to make a delivery for a commodity as per the shipping policy.
Odoo 16 Sales module assists a company in managing shipping policies for several commodities. Product delivery within less time leads to customer satisfaction. It is made possible by running ERP software in your business.