What does the printed bill of lading look like?

Draft and issued B/Ls download as PDFs in a standard Sailix layout. A line's own B/L template file can be uploaded and kept on the line's profile for reference, but Sailix does not print B/L data onto that template at present.

Can a bill of lading be issued before the customer pays?

Only with approval. When an invoice has no receipt, the issue dialog offers Request approval, which places the B/L in the BOL Issue Approval queue. If an authorized user approves it, the B/L can be issued unpaid. Customer confirmation is still required and is not overruled by the approval.

How do I record a telex or express release?

Open BOL Surrender, select the issued B/L and choose express release, telex release, original surrender or switch bill. Enter the surrender date, message and agent email address and attach the supporting file. The surrender then moves through submitted, approved or rejected, and completed.

Can Sailix fill a B/L draft from a PDF?

Yes. Upload a PDF or image on the draft form and Sailix extracts the reference, route, parties, cargo and container rows. Missing critical fields are highlighted, and you can edit every value before applying it. The booking reference is not parsed, so you select the booking yourself.

Bill of ladingDraft, confirm, issue and release export B/Ls.

Take an export B/L from draft to customer confirmation, gated issue, release to the customer and surrender, with a PDF at draft and issue.

Get started See what it does

Container terminal at dusk with gantry cranes over container stacks

NVOCC export

Overview

The export B/L in Sailix moves through named stages, each with its own screen: BOL Draft, Customer BOL Confirmation, BOL Issue, BOL Release to Customer and BOL Surrender. The draft is created from a booking and holds the parties, route, containers, cargo, delivery details and freight terms. A draft can be copied as a starting point for another B/L and downloaded as a PDF.

Issue is gated. Sailix lets a B/L be issued only when the customer has confirmed it and every export invoice raised against it appears on a payment receipt, unless an approver has allowed issue without the receipt. The issue screen shows that checklist before anyone presses the button, so the desk can see which step is outstanding.

Capabilities

What it does

Draft from the booking
Select the booking and Sailix brings in its vessel, voyage and containers. Add shipper, consignee, notify parties, cargo details and prepaid or collect freight.
Read a B/L file
Upload a PDF or image of an existing B/L and Sailix extracts its fields. You review and correct the parsed values, then apply them to the draft.
Customer confirmation
Mark each B/L as confirmed by the customer on its own list, filtered by B/L stage and by pending or confirmed status.
Gated issue
Issue records the issue date, issue type, shipped date and number of originals. Sailix refuses it until confirmation and invoice receipts are in place.
Release to customer
Record how an issued B/L was handed over: email, courier with tracking number, customer pickup or hand delivery, with recipient name and release date.
Surrender and express release
Raise a surrender on an issued B/L as express release, telex release, original surrender or switch bill, with a message, an attached file and a status.

Workflow

How it works

First
Create the draft
Pick the booking, complete the parties, containers, cargo and freight details, and download the draft PDF for the shipper to check.
Then
Invoice and confirm
Raise the export invoice against the B/L, then record the customer's confirmation on Customer BOL Confirmation.
Next
Issue
Once the invoice is receipted, or an approval has been granted, issue the B/L with its issue type and number of originals and download the issued PDF.
Finally
Release or surrender
Record the release to the customer, or raise a surrender when originals will not be sent. Export BOL Status Update moves the B/L between received for shipment and shipped on board.

Questions

Questions and answers

What does the printed bill of lading look like?: Draft and issued B/Ls download as PDFs in a standard Sailix layout. A line's own B/L template file can be uploaded and kept on the line's profile for reference, but Sailix does not print B/L data onto that template at present.
Can a bill of lading be issued before the customer pays?: Only with approval. When an invoice has no receipt, the issue dialog offers Request approval, which places the B/L in the BOL Issue Approval queue. If an authorized user approves it, the B/L can be issued unpaid. Customer confirmation is still required and is not overruled by the approval.
How do I record a telex or express release?: Open BOL Surrender, select the issued B/L and choose express release, telex release, original surrender or switch bill. Enter the surrender date, message and agent email address and attach the supporting file. The surrender then moves through submitted, approved or rejected, and completed.
Can Sailix fill a B/L draft from a PDF?: Yes. Upload a PDF or image on the draft form and Sailix extracts the reference, route, parties, cargo and container rows. Missing critical fields are highlighted, and you can edit every value before applying it. The booking reference is not parsed, so you select the booking yourself.