Concepts

This section explains the core logistics concepts used in the Alpha Augmented platform. Understanding these concepts is important before interacting with the API or submitting orders.

Many API objects directly correspond to the concepts described below.

At a glance: Item → Box → Pallet → Container

Tip

New to ALPHA? Read in this order: Packing Hierarchy → Core Packaging Objects → Operational Concepts.

Section 1: Quick Reference

Concept

Purpose

Typical Relationship

Item

Product unit being shipped

Packed into boxes

Box

First packaging level

Grouped on pallets or shipped loose

Pallet

Unit load for handling

Loaded into containers or trucks

Container

Transport loading space

Holds pallets/boxes

Packing Specification

Defines packing rules

Connects item, box, and pallet setup

Order

Shipment request

Contains order items and lane context

Packing Instructions

Shipment-specific packing output

Generated from optimization

Section 2: Packing Hierarchy

Products are typically grouped into progressively larger packaging units.

The typical hierarchy is:

Item → Box → Pallet → Container

Each level represents a different packaging or transportation layer.

Note

Keep this hierarchy in mind while building payloads. Most validation and optimization rules follow this structure.

Section 3: Core Packaging Objects

These concepts describe the physical packaging layers used in optimization.

Item

An Item represents the individual product that is being shipped.

Items are the smallest units in the packing workflow and typically include information such as:

  • Product name

  • Weight

  • Dimensions

  • Product type

  • Product group

Examples:

  • A pair of shoes

  • A laptop

  • A bottle of wine

Items are typically packed into boxes according to packing specifications.

Box

A Box represents the first packaging level used to group items together.

Boxes usually define:

  • Dimensions (length, width, height)

  • Weight

  • Maximum number of items per box

  • Box type

Example:

  • Box dimensions: 40 × 40 × 40 cm

  • Weight: 17 kg

  • Contains: Item AAA

Boxes are typically stacked on pallets.

Loose Boxes

Loose Boxes are boxes that are shipped directly without being placed on a pallet.

Some transportation modes or business rules may allow or restrict loose boxes.

Example scenarios:

  • Air shipments may require boxes to be shipped loose

  • Certain lanes may prohibit loose boxes

Prebuilt Boxes

Prebuilt Boxes represent boxes that are already packed with items before being submitted to the system.

In this case the system receives:

  • The number of boxes

  • The box dimensions

  • The weight

Instead of computing the packing of items into boxes, the boxes are already prepared and only pallet/container optimization is required.

Important

Prebuilt boxes are useful when your warehouse has already packed the goods before submitting data to ALPHA.

Pallet

A Pallet is a platform used to group boxes together so they can be handled efficiently using forklifts or pallet jacks.

Common pallet types include:

  • EUR pallet

  • US pallet

Pallet definitions may include:

  • Pallet dimensions

  • Maximum stacking height

  • Maximum weight

  • Allowed box placement

Pallets are usually the unit load used in warehouse operations.

Container

A Container represents the transport unit used for long-distance shipping.

Examples include:

  • 20ft container

  • 40ft container

  • 40ft High Cube container

Containers define the available loading space used during container loading optimization.

Section 4: Operational Concepts

These concepts describe how packaging data is used in shipment workflows.

Packing Specification

A Packing Specification describes how a customer packages their products before shipment.

It defines the relationship between:

Material ↔ Packaging

More specifically:

Item → Box → Pallet

Example packing specification:

  • Item AAA is packed in a 40 × 40 × 40 cm box

  • Each box weighs 17 kg

  • Boxes are placed on a EUR pallet

  • Maximum pallet height is 125 cm

Packing specifications allow the system to determine how items can be grouped during packing optimization.

Order

An Order represents a shipment request submitted to the system.

Orders typically include:

  • Lane

  • Transportation mode

  • Order items

  • Customer reference

  • Packing configuration

Orders are the main input used for generating packing instructions and shipment planning.

Order Items

Order Items represent the products included in an order.

Each order item typically includes:

  • Item reference

  • Quantity

  • Associated packing specifications

Order items are used by the optimization engine to determine how products should be packed.

Transportation Mode

A Transportation Mode defines how goods are transported.

Examples include:

  • Air

  • Ocean FCL (Full Container Load)

  • Ocean LCL (Less than Container Load)

  • Truck FTL (Full Truck Load)

  • Truck LTL (Less than Truck Load)

Transportation modes may impose specific packing constraints, such as:

  • Maximum pallet height

  • Container types

  • Loose box restrictions

Packing Instructions

Packing Instructions (PI) describe how suppliers must pack goods for a specific shipment.

While packing specifications describe how items can be packed, packing instructions describe how they should be packed for a shipment.

Packing instructions typically specify:

  • How boxes should be stacked on pallets

  • How pallets should be loaded into containers

  • The final packing configuration

Packing instructions are usually generated by the packing optimization engine and provided to suppliers to prepare shipments.

Tip

Think of Packing Specifications as setup rules, and Packing Instructions as shipment output.