MDL Blind Shipping Calculator - User Manual

Overview

The MDL Blind Shipping Calculator is a precision tool designed for MDL Communications to calculate shipping costs, margins, and "blind" shipping quotes. It allows you to select suppliers, customers, and package details to generate a complete client quote while keeping supplier information confidential.

🚀 Getting Started

1. Login

• Access: Navigate to https://bsc.mdlcommunications.com
• Authentication: Click "Sign in with Microsoft". You must use your @mdlcommunications.com email address. Access is restricted to organization members only.

2. The Dashboard

Once logged in, you will see the main dashboard with five primary tabs: 1. Calculator (Default view) 2. Manage Suppliers 3. Manage Customers 4. Manage Products 5. Manage Hubs

📦 Using the Calculator

The calculator workflow follows a logical "Left-to-Right" process.

Step 1: Input Details (Left Column)

1. Unit System: Toggle between Imperial (in/lb) and Metric (cm/kg) for manual entry using the buttons in the "Dimensions & Weight" section. Note: All data is standardly saved as Imperial.
2. Supplier (Origin):
   • Select a supplier from the alphabetical dropdown list.
   • The "Location" field (also alphabetized) will automatically populate if the supplier has multiple warehouses.
   • Note: If the Supplier acts as a domestic (Canada) origin, the system automatically skips unnecessary "Leg 1" and Customs fees.
3. Customer (Destination):
   • Select a customer from the alphabetical dropdown list.
   • Destination fields (City, Postal Code, Country) will auto-fill.
4. Products & Dimensions:
   • Quick Fill: Use the "Quick Fill from Products" dropdown to instantly populate dimensions from your product library.
   • Manual Entry: Enter Length, Width, Height, and Weight.
   • HS Code: Enter the harmonized system code. The system will automatically format it (e.g., 8517.62.00) and pad it to 8 digits if necessary.
5. Intermediate Hub (International Only):
   • If the Supplier is located outside Canada (e.g., USA, France), an "Intermediate Hub" dropdown will appear.
   • Select the Canadian entry point (e.g., "MDL Toronto Hub").
   • Logic: The system calculates Leg 1 (Supplier -> Hub) and Leg 2 (Hub -> Customer) separately.

6. Costs & Margins:

   • Supplier Shipping Cost: (Optional) If you already have a quote from the supplier, enter it here. Select the currency (USD, CAD, EUR) and the system will auto-convert it to CAD.
   • Margin (%): Enter your desired profit margin (default is 10%).

7. Accessorial Options:

   • Click the Accessorial Options dropdown to reveal advanced shipping services.
   • Signature: Choose between None, Signature Required, or Adult Signature Required.
   • Delivery Services: Toggle options like Appointment Delivery, Inside Delivery, Limited Access, or Hold for Pickup.
   • Dangerous Goods: Check this box if the shipment contains hazardous materials.
   • Batteries: If selected, specify the Battery Type (e.g., Lithium Ion Internal) and Shipping Method (Ground vs. Air).
   • Delivery Instructions: Add special notes for the carrier driver.

Step 2: Validate & Calculate

1. Verify with CBSA (Optional):
   • Click the "Verify with CBSA" button next to the HS Code field.
   • The system consults the official Canada Border Services Agency CARM engine.
   • If successful, you will see a green "✓ Verified" badge.
2. Calculate Rates:
   • Click the "Calculate Rates" button.
   • The system will fetch live rates from TotalShip and Easyship.

Step 3: Select Rates (Right Column)

Results appear in the right-hand column: * Leg 1: Supplier to Hub (International Only) * Leg 2: Hub to Customer (Standard)

Step 4: Final Quote

The Client Quote card (bottom right, gold box) updates explicitly: * Shipping Cost: The actual cost to MDL. * Duties & Taxes: * Displays "Est. Duties & Taxes" for general estimates. * Displays "Official CBSA Duties & Taxes" if verified via CARM. * Margin: The calculated profit amount. * Total: The final price to quote the customer.

🏭 Managing Suppliers

Click the "Manage Suppliers" tab to add or edit vendors.

• Add New: Fill in the form (Organization Name, Street, City, etc.) and click "Save Supplier".
• Edit: Click the Pencil icon next to any existing supplier.
• Delete: Click the Trash icon to remove a supplier. Warning: This cannot be undone.

Tip: Accurate postal codes are critical for live rate calculations.

👥 Managing Customers

Click the "Manage Customers" tab to maintain your address book.

• Add New: Enter Customer Name, City, Postal Code, and Country.
• Edit/Delete: Same controls as the Supplier tab.

📦 Managing Products

The "Products" library allows you to store frequently shipped items for quick lookup.

Adding a Product

1. Manual Entry:
   • Enter Product Name (Required) and SKU (Optional).
   • Enter Dimensions (Length, Width, Height) and Weight.
   • Unit Toggle: Switch between Imperial (in/lb) and Metric (cm/kg) using the toggle.
2. AI Auto-Fill (Magic Lookups):
   • Upload Spec Sheet: Drag & Drop a PDF/Image spec sheet.
   • Paste Specs: Paste raw text from an email or website.
   • URL: Paste a direct link to a PDF spec sheet.
   • Result: The AI extracts dimensions and weight automatically. Verify the data before saving.
3. HS Code: Enter a valid HS Code (auto-formatted to 8 digits).

Quick Fill

In the Calculator tab, simply select a product from the "Quick Fill" dropdown to populate all dimension fields instantly.

🏢 Managing Hubs

Click the "Manage Hubs" tab to configure your intermediate shipping points.

• Why?: These locations serve as the destination for International "Leg 1" shipments and the origin for Domestic "Leg 2" shipments.
• Fields:
  • Hub Name: Internal identifier (e.g., "Montreal Warehouse").
  • User Label: What appears in the dropdown (e.g., "MDL YUL Hub").
  • Address: standard physical address fields.
• Actions: Add, Edit, and Delete hubs just like Suppliers.

⚙️ Features & Tips

• Dark Mode: Switch between Light/Dark themes using the icon in the top header.
• Live vs. Mock Rates: A green "Live" badge indicates real-time data from TotalShip. A yellow "Mock" badge indicates the system is using fallback estimates (usually if the API is down or credentials are missing).
• Auto-Conversion: The calculator handles all unit conversions (kg<->lb, cm<->in) and currency conversions (USD/EUR -> CAD) automatically.

🆘 Support

For technical issues or account access failures, please contact the IT department or email bernard.cresencia@mdlcommunications.com.