The license relationship type of an order tells ShipCompliant which type of compliance check ShipCompliant should run. It also routes the order to the correct reports - direct shipping, wholesale, gallonage, or sales tax reports.
License relationship types must be defined for every order. When an order passes through the API from an order management system, the license relationship type is automatically defined. However, if you are using a bulk import file to enter orders, you’ll define the license relationship type in the import file.
This article includes a short description of each license relationship type, and the license relationship type key you’ll need for import files (for example in column BB on the ShipCompliant 1011 order import format).
License relationship types
Default
Key: Default
This is the most common entry for a license relationship type. Default indicates that the compliance for the order should be checked based on your ShipCompliant subscription. If you are subscribed only to 3-Tier, the default will be wholesale distribution. If you are subscribed to Direct or Direct Lite, the default will be supplier to consumer.
Supplier to consumer
Key: SupplierToConsumer
Producer to consumer direct shipments.
- Orders with this license relationship type will appear on all direct-to-consumer reports in ShipCompliant.
Wholesale distribution
Key: WholesaleDistribution
Shipments from producers or importers to wholesalers.
- This will appear on all wholesale distribution reports in ShipCompliant.
- Note: Wholesale distribution orders cannot be entered via the ShipCompliant Direct Order Import (1011). If you are importing orders, use the ShipCompliant Wholesale Order Import (1031) instead.
Retail to consumer
Key: RetailerToConsumer
Retailers shipping to consumers.
- This will appear on all retail-to-consumer reports in ShipCompliant.
- You may only enter orders with a license relationship of retail to consumer if your ShipCompliant account is considered a retailer account.
Supplier to 3-tier
Key: SupplierToThreeTier
Shipments from producers passed through the 3-tier shipping process.
- This will not be checked for compliance or appear on any reporting.
- This is sometimes used by suppliers that are not subscribed to ShipCompliant Wholesale, but would like to import their wholesale orders for recordkeeping purposes only.
Retailer to 3-tier
Key: RetailerToThreeTier
Shipments from retailers passed through the 3-tier shipping process.
- This will not be checked for compliance or appear on any reporting.
- This is sometimes used by retailer accounts that would like to import their wholesale orders for recordkeeping purposes only.
Pickup
Key: Pickup
Shipments which are picked up by a consumer at your (the supplier’s) premises.
- By default, these orders will not be included in any reports. However, pickup orders are included on your home state reports if you change your settings to include them.
- To learn more, read this article about pickup orders.
Self-distribution
Key: SelfDistribution
Shipments where you are acting as a distributor of your own product(s), shipping directly to retailers.
- Not checked for compliance.
- By default, these orders will not be included in any reports. However, there is support for a few reports, if you have opted in to the self-distribution feature.