Automatic Package Building for Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central
Automatic Package Building, or auto pack, reads every line on a sales order and proposes how many boxes you need and which box types to use, giving your shipping team a packed-out starting point in one click. Shippers and customer service reps use it to get a fast, realistic freight estimate before committing to a carrier, without manually keying box counts and dimensions. It runs entirely within Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, using the data already on the order.
At a Glance
- Generate a proposed package list from order lines with a single click.
- Pull item weights straight from the order, no manual re-entry.
- Get a realistic freight estimate before you book the carrier.
- Adjust the proposed boxes any time before printing the label.
Have a Question about Automatic Package Building?
Key Capabilities
One-click package proposal. Auto pack reviews all items on the sales order and returns a list of packages, including the number of boxes and the box types needed to ship the order.
Weight and dimension based. The proposal is built from item weight, length, and height, so the box count reflects the actual product on the order rather than a flat guess.
Weights pulled from Business Central. Item weights defined in the item master flow onto the order automatically, so auto pack works without anyone having to enter a weight.
Feeds rate shopping directly. The proposed packages drop straight into the freight quote so that you can compare live carrier rates against a realistic package set in the same step.
Fully editable starting point. Every proposed package can be changed: adjust box type, dimensions, or weight before you get the label.
Manual estimate alternative. If you would rather not auto pack, you can set a standard box size and enter an estimated weight by hand, then quote against that instead.
How Automatic Package Building Works in Dynamic Ship
Auto pack runs at the point where you request a freight quote, typically on the sales order. The sequence is straightforward:
- Open the sales order and start the freight quote.
- Select auto pack. Dynamic Ship reviews the order lines and proposes the packages required to ship the order, based on item weight and dimensions.
- Review the proposed package list and adjust box counts, dimensions, or weights as needed.
- Get quotes. Dynamic Ship returns live rates from your configured carriers against the proposed packages, and you select a service.
When the order is later packed and labeled, Dynamic Ship captures the actual freight cost. You can update the quoted price to match the actual cost, or keep the original quoted price, whichever your billing process requires.
Why Dynamic Ship Automatic Package Building Stands Out
Auto pack is a fast starting point, not a black box. It gives your team a packed-out proposal to react to in seconds, then leaves the final call to the person at the desk who knows the product. That balance matters: the proposal is an estimate based on weight and dimensions, so a shipper can trust it for a quick rate without being locked into it.
Because it lives inside Business Central, auto pack works on data the order already carries. Item weights come from the item master, so there is no separate packing system to feed and reconcile. The moment auto pack proposes the packages, those same packages drive multi-carrier rate shopping in the next step, so your team moves from order to realistic freight estimate without leaving the order or opening a carrier portal.
Who Uses Automatic Package Building
Customer service reps use auto-pack while a customer is on the phone, generating a quick package proposal so they can quote freight on the spot and select a service level. Shipping clerks use it at the packing station to start from a proposed box set rather than building every package from scratch, then refine it as they pack. Shipping managers rely on it to keep early freight estimates consistent and grounded in real item weights, so the quoted cost lands close to the actual cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
Auto pack is Dynamic Ship’s automatic package building feature for Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central. It reviews every line on a sales order and proposes how many boxes you need and which box types to use, based on item weight and dimensions. The result is an editable package list you can use to get a freight quote in one click, instead of entering box counts and dimensions by hand.
No. Auto pack is an estimate, not an optimizer. It proposes a sensible package set based on item weight, length, and height so you can quote freight quickly, but it does not run least-cost packing math or guarantee the optimal box configuration. Treat the proposal as a fast starting point that your shipper reviews and adjusts before printing the label.
From Business Central. Item weights defined in the item master flow onto the sales order, so auto pack builds its proposal from the weights already on the order. You do not need to enter weights manually for auto pack to work, though you can override any proposed weight before getting a freight quote or printing a label.
Yes. The proposed package list is fully editable. You can change box types, adjust dimensions, edit weights, add packages, or remove them before you request rates or generate the carrier label. Auto pack gives you a starting point; the final package set is always yours to confirm.