Scenario: Calendar constraints

In Sterling Intelligent Promising, you can use calendar constraints to adjust the estimated delivery dates (edd) for shipments by accounting for non-transit and non-delivery days. As a result, you can provide more accurate delivery promises to customers.

Carrier non-transit and non-delivery day constraints

Non-transit Days
Days when packages cannot move through the shipping network.
For example, non-transit days can include weekends and federal holidays, such as July 4th.
Non-delivery Days
Delivery blackout dates that prevent final drop-off, even if the transit is complete.
For example, non-delivery days might include local holidays that are specific to a destination.
Shipping edd calculation with calendar constraints
To determine the shipping edd calculation, the following steps are considered in Sterling Intelligent Promising:
  1. Starting from the ship date and counting forward, non-transit days are skipped until the required number of transit days is reached.
  2. The raw edd is checked which is the date that the package is expected to arrive after transit days only are considered.
  3. If the raw edd falls on a non-delivery day, the delivery is pushed forward to the next available delivery day.

Shipping edd: Non-delivery constraints that impact transit

In this scenario, non-transit and non-delivery constraints are defined for the Swift Parcel express carrier service. The Swift Parcel express carrier service aims to deliver a parcel to Toronto, Canada with a transit time of three days. As Tuesday July 1 is a public holiday in Canada, delivery and transit are not allowed.
Shipping scenario
Delivery item: A package for delivery by the Swift Parcel carrier service to Toronto, Canada.
Ship date: Thursday, June 26.
Transit days required: 3.
Non-transit days: Saturday and Sunday.
Non-delivery day: Tuesday July 1, a public holiday across Canada.
Overrides
Tuesday July 1 is a public holiday in Canada. No delivery or transit is allowed.
Result
  • Transit and delivery constraints are evaluated together.
  • A public holiday blocks both transit and delivery. Transit resumes only on the next day that is valid for both.
  • Raw edd, after considering non-transit days: Tuesday July 1, 2025.
  • Adjusted edd: Wednesday July 2.

    If the raw eddfalls on a non-delivery day, the system pushes the date forward to the next available delivery day that is also a transit day.

Shipping edd: Non-delivery constraints that do not impact transit

In this scenario, non-transit and non-delivery constraints are defined for a package to be delivered to a destination in New York with a transit time of 4 days. As Feb 12 is a state holiday in New York, it is a non-delivery day. However, this non-delivery day is ignored and the package remains in transit.

Shipping scenario
  • Delivery item: A package for delivery to a postal code in New York.
  • Ship date: Tuesday, February 11, 2025.
  • Transit days required: 4.
  • Non-transit days: Saturdays, Sundays, and July 4.
  • Non-delivery day: February 12, a state holiday in New York.
Result
  • A state holiday on Feb 12 blocks delivery only. Transit can proceed even if delivery is blocked.
  • After considering non-transit days, the raw edd is February 15, 2025.
  • Adjusted edd: Monday Feb 17

    If the raw edd falls on a non-transit day, the system pushes the date forward to the next available delivery day that is also a transit day. Since the raw edd falls on a non-transit day, an adjustment is needed.