Automated Cartonization
Right box every time—lower DIM and surcharges. No manual guesswork.
TL;DR
What it does
Picks the right carton for each order automatically—by item size/weight, DIM, and carrier rules.
Why it matters
Wrong cartons drive DIM fees and void the savings from rate shopping. Automation lowers cost and misses.
Who it’s for
Brands and 3PLs shipping varied catalog sizes/weights at 10k–100k+ orders/month.
Why manual rules fail
Wrong box → surcharges
Static rules can’t reflect DIM changes, carrier caps, or partial contents—fees sneak in.
Human guesswork
Pickers choose “close enough” boxes under pressure; exceptions multiply on busy days.
Hidden DIM creep
Packaging and catalog drift over time; rules rarely get updated until costs spike.
How it works
Inputs we consider
- Item dimensions, weight, and rotation/fragile rules
- Carton internal sizes, max weight, and availability
- Carrier DIM factors & oversize thresholds
- Promise date & service constraints
What you see
- Chosen carton + reason code
- Alternatives with score deltas
- Audit trail for ops coaching
Real-world examples
Eliminate DIM surprises
Context: Small item in a too-large box incurred DIM. Decision: Swap to tighter carton. Impact: Lower label cost with on-time delivery.
Protect fragile shipments
Context: Fragile item required orientation and padding. Decision: Box with buffer + service that meets cutoff. Impact: Fewer damages, same SLA.
Mixed-SKU kit
Context: Kit spans two cartons by weight. Decision: Single right-sized box with carrier cap respected. Impact: One label, less labor.
What you configure (light touch)
Policies
- Optimize for lowest cost within promise date
- Preferred/forbidden cartons or carriers when needed
- Blackout rules & capacity caps
Constraints & observability
- Item-level (fragile, hazmat), carton-level (max weight)
- Reason codes for chosen/alternatives in the audit trail
Results you can expect
- Lower label spend (DIM-smart carton + rate)
- Fewer exceptions at the line
- Less manual triage and rework
- Cleaner ops governance (reason codes)
FAQ
What if an item doesn’t fit at print time?
Cahoot re-scores with live constraints and chooses the next best carton automatically.
Can we pin/forbid specific cartons?
Yes — you can prefer/forbid cartons, carriers, or services. The audit trail shows reason codes.
Does it support fragile or rotation rules?
Yes — item-level rules are considered in scoring and box selection.
How fast is the decision?
Sub-second; no dashboard babysitting required.
Will DIM factors from carriers be kept up to date?
Yes — carrier DIM and oversize thresholds are maintained so rules don’t drift.