This section will detail what it means to manifest an order, how it can be done both automatically and manually, and how you can keep track of every manifested order.
What is manifesting?
Manifesting is the process of informing us that you are ready to despatch your post. It also lets us know that you’re ready to be billed through your Online Business Account (OBA).
A manifest is also the paperwork that will need to be handed over with your mail to your post office or collection driver. Failure to provide this paperwork may result in an additional surcharge.
A PDF collection receipt is generated each time you manually manifest one or more orders. This receipt will detail all the packages you’ve paid postage for, and is used to check your despatched items during collection and delivery.
Daily auto-manifest
If you haven't manifested the day's orders already, Click & Drop will automatically manifest all of your orders that are ready to be manifested and billed, starting from 6.30pm every working day,
All orders in 'Despatched' or 'Label generated' status will change to 'Manifested', and a new manifest will be created on your 'Manifests' page within Click & Drop.
Important notice:
- A record is kept of all despatched but not manifested orders, so please ensure that you manifest your remaining despatched orders as soon as you are able.
- If you have generated a label but have not manifested the order, please be aware that Click & Drop will automatically manifest the order after 60 days.
How to view your manifests
To view your manifests, hover your mouse over the 'Orders' tab, and then from the drop-down menu, click 'Manifests'.
You will be Directed to the 'Manifest history' page, where all of your manifests are displayed. You can see three example manifests below. Each manifest comprises of several columns:
Manifest Number: each manifest in Click & Drop is numbered for easy access.
OBA order no.: This is the corresponding sales order number in your OBA account.
Please note that a manifest consisting only of tracked services will not display an OBA sales order number. This is because tracked services are billed once the mail has been scanned at its destination.
Manifest date: The date the manifest was created. This date does always equal the date of posting.
# Orders: How many orders (and batches) are contained in the manifest.
Manifested by: This is the user who manifested the orders. If the manifest was produced by the end of day auto manifest, the default user's name will be displayed.
Price: The gross cost of the manifest, as you will see in your OBA invoices. You also can hover your mouse over the blue information symbol to display the net price.
Status: manifests can be in status 'Complete', or 'Failed'.
Available actions: For complete manifests, clicking this button will allow you to reprint your paperwork. For failed manifests, this button will change to 'regenerate'. Clicking the 'regenerate' button will attempt to process the failed manifest again.
How to manifest all eligible orders
At the end of day, when you have despatched all your orders for that day, click the 'Manifest all' button as circled below.
You will be asked if you wish to manifest all orders in Label generated/Despatched status. Click the 'Manifest' button when ready.
You will be directed to your Manifests page where your newly created manifest will be visible. Additionally, your manifest paperwork will load in a new window ready to be printed and handed over with your mail.
An example manifest document.
Re-print a manifest
You can also reprint your manifest paperwork at any time. From your 'Manifest history' page, click the 'Reprint' button next to the Manifest number of the manifest you would like to print the document for.
How to manifest orders selectively
If you wish to manifest a selection of your orders, you can do so from the 'Batches' page.
Whenever you generate labels or despatch an order in Click & Drop those orders will be automatically placed in a batch.
To view your batches, hover your mouse over the 'Orders' tab, and then from the drop-down menu, click 'Batches'.
You will be directed to your 'Batches', where you will see all your open batches and details related to them.
From your Batches, select one or more batches in 'Label generated', 'Despatched', or 'Mixed'(containing Label generated and Despatched orders) status using the checkboxes. From the quick selection menu or the dropdown menu select the 'Manifest batch' option.
You will be asked to confirm your post does not contain any restricted or prohibited goods. Click 'Yes' if you are not sending any restricted or prohibited goods.
You will be directed to your Manifests page where your newly created manifest will be visible. Additionally, your manifest paperwork will load in a new window ready to be printed and handed over with your mail.
'Failed' and 'Emergency' manifests
Most manifests in Click & Drop will be in 'Completed' status, but very occasionally, issues can arise which cause other types of manifests to be created.
Failed manifests are created when one or more errors has prevented your orders from being manifested correctly. If this happens, please click the 'Regenerate' button to try to manifest your orders and generate your paperwork again.
Please note, if the 're-generate' button does not work the first time you try it, there may be an issue that our support teams will need to resolve.
Emergency manifests are created when one or more errors has prevented us from properly contacting your OBA account.
If this happens, you will receive your manifest paperwork, but you will be given an emergency OBA order number and blank emergency manifest paperwork.
You do not need to do anything about emergency manifests, as they will be fixed by our support team. As soon as they are fixed, the correct OBA order number will be displayed.
Please note: After your emergency manifest has been fixed, the new 'Manifest date' may not match the date your orders were despatched. Please check the orders themselves for the date they were first despatched.
'Emergency' manifest paperwork
If for some reason you are still unable to create your manifest paperwork, please click the following work to download a blank emergency form: Click & Drop Emergency Manifest Paperwork.
Important note: The emergency manifest paperwork is used to ensure your items can be accepted. To ensure that your items are correctly billed, and to prevent surcharges, you must manifest any despatched orders within Click & Drop once the issue causing you to need the emergency paperwork is resolved.
If you are unable to do so for any reason, please contact our support team.
Troubleshooting manifests
We are continually making improvements to the manifesting process, but sometimes errors occur.
For most issues, we have a variety of nightly processes that attempt to repair any errors as described below. If your manifest is still not fixed by the following day, please contact our support team.
My orders are stuck in despatched status: If you have manifested orders, but their statuses have not updated to 'manifested', please wait until the following day. If your orders have still not updated by the following day, please contact our support team.
My manifest has completed, but my paperwork will not generate: If you are unable to generate paperwork right away, please use the emergency manifest paperwork in the link above. If your orders have still not updated by the following day, please contact our support team.
My orders have disappeared: On rare occasions, manifested orders may take some time to update so they can be visible on the 'Manifested orders' tab on your 'Orders' page, and in your 'Manifested orders' reports. If your orders have still not updated by the following day, please contact our support team.
Royal Mail Surcharge Help: We have launched a dedicated web page to provide information and help to customers on understanding when surcharges are applied. It is a one-stop shop for help and support material and can be accessed using this link: www.royalmail.com/surchargehelp