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[Organizing Production - GCW] Packaging Bundling Rules - How it Works

Juliana Maciel Maruri da Cunha avatar
Written by Juliana Maciel Maruri da Cunha
Updated this week

Packaging Bundling Rules allow you to control how products are grouped into packages during order fulfillment. These rules define which products can be packed together, how many items fit into a package, and under what conditions packaging is adjusted automatically. This guide will help you understand, configure, and apply bundling rules within the workflow.


What Are Packaging Bundling Rules?

Packaging Bundling Rules are a set of configurable conditions that determine:

  • Which products are bundled together

  • How many products are included in a package

  • Which shipping methods or physical constraints (weight, size) apply during packaging

Bundling rules ensure orders are packed efficiently and safely, while reducing damage risks.

Purpose of Packaging Bundling Rules

Bundling rules:

  • Reduce the damage rate of products shipped together by intelligently grouping compatible items.

  • Ensure compliance with physical limitations (weight, size).

  • Allow special handling for products like apparel or large-format prints.

  • Manage custom needs for branded packaging or external logistics.

Without bundling rules, different product models would be packed separately by default, which can increase costs and complexity.

How and When Are Bundling Rules Applied?

Step-by-Step Application in Workflow:

  1. Receive Order

    • The system collects order items, shipping method, and destination details.

  2. Group Similar Products

    • Items are grouped by product model (both commercial and technical models).

  3. Fetch Shipment Information

    • The system retrieves shipment method details and weight limits.

  4. Check for Pallet Shipments

    • If palletization is required, special handling logic is applied first.

  5. Apply Bundling Rules

    • Bundling rules configured manually via the Packaging Bundling Rules interface are triggered.

    • Matching rules are selected based on:

      • Tenant (customer/storefront)

      • Product models

      • Print house location

      • Shipment methods and service types

    • Priority-based enforcement:

      • Rules with the highest priority number are applied first.

      • If two rules overlap and have the same priority, the older rule is applied.

    • Products are grouped into packages according to the defined rules.

    • Successfully bundled products are removed from further processing.

  6. Handle Remaining Products

    • Remaining unpackaged products are checked.

    • Branded packaging or wall hanger kits are added if required.

  7. Fallback: Weight-Based Splitting

    • Remaining unpackaged products are grouped and split based on the maximum shipment method weight limits.

  8. Completion

    • All products are fully bundled or packaged by fallback logic, ensuring no loose items remain.

What Happens If Rules Are Not Met?

  • If no bundling rule matches:

    • Products are packaged individually or by default model grouping.

    • Products are then split by weight if shipment method constraints apply.

  • No manual intervention is triggered unless a workflow error is detected.

  • Proper fallback mechanisms ensure orders are still successfully processed.

Exceptions and Special Cases

  • External Shipping Methods:
    A high-max-quantity "All models" rule ensures all products are bundled together for specific external logistics providers.

  • Add-Ons:
    Add-on products are automatically included in the package without requiring specific rule configuration.

  • Exclusion Rules:
    Special rules are enforced after bundling to prevent incompatible products from being packaged together.


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