Automate Sales Order Prioritization with ERP-WMS-TMS Integration Based on SLA Tiers

This n8n workflow automates the prioritization and scheduling of sales orders based on customer SLAs, urgency, and profitability. It ensures that high-priority and SLA-critical orders are picked, packed, and dispatched first—improving fulfillment speed, customer satisfaction, and operational efficiency across warehouses and logistics.

Key Features

Automated Order Fetching:** Periodically retrieves all pending or confirmed sales orders from ERP systems. Dynamic SLA-Based Prioritization:** Calculates order priority scores using urgency, customer tier, order value, and profit margin. Intelligent SLA Monitoring:** Identifies SLA breaches and automatically flags them for immediate handling. Automated Task Creation:** Generates urgent picking tasks and alerts warehouse managers in real-time. Smart Scheduling:** Optimizes picking and dispatch timelines based on urgency and capacity. Seamless ERP & TMS Integration:** Updates order statuses and schedules dispatches automatically. Operational Transparency:** Sends end-of-cycle summary reports via email to operations teams.

Workflow Process

Schedule Trigger

Runs every 15 minutes to ensure orders are frequently evaluated. Maintains real-time responsiveness without overloading systems.

Fetch Pending Orders

Retrieves all orders in pending or confirmed state from ERP API. Configurable limit (e.g., 100 orders per run) for controlled processing.

Fetch Customer SLA Data

Collects SLA tiers, delivery timeframes, and customer-specific priorities from ERP or CRM API. Supports dynamic customer segmentation (Gold, Silver, Bronze tiers).

Calculate Priority Scores

Assigns weighted priority scores based on multiple criteria:

 Urgency: 40%
 Tier: 30%
 Order Value: 20%
 Profit Margin: 10%

Produces a composite score used for sorting and scheduling.

Check if SLA Critical

Detects if any order is close to or past SLA deadlines. Routes SLA-breached orders for immediate escalation.

Create Urgent Picking Task

Generates warehouse picking tasks for critical orders. Assigns to senior pickers or rapid response teams.

Alert Warehouse Manager

Sends instant SMS and email alerts for SLA-critical or high-priority orders. Ensures immediate managerial attention.

Batch Normal Orders

Groups non-critical orders into batches of 10 for optimized processing. Reduces load on WMS while maintaining steady throughput.

Generate Picking Schedule

Creates smart picking schedules based on urgency:

 High Priority: Same-day
 Normal: Within 1 day
 Low: Within 2–3 days

Create Bulk Picking Tasks

Pushes picking tasks into WMS (Warehouse Management System).
Uses auto-assignment and route optimization logic.

Generate Dispatch Schedule

Builds dispatch timelines according to delivery method: Express, Priority, or Standard.
Syncs with transport capacity data.

Schedule Dispatches in TMS

Sends dispatch requests to TMS (Transport Management System).
Books carriers and reserves capacity for each batch.

Update Order Statuses

Updates ERP with new order statuses, schedules, and expected delivery dates.
Maintains a unified view across systems.

Generate Summary Report

Creates a summary JSON report including:

  Total orders processed
  SLA-critical cases
  Dispatch breakdowns
  Next deadlines

Send Summary Notification

Emails the operations team with execution summary and performance metrics.
Ensures team alignment and SLA visibility.

Industries That Benefit

This automation is especially valuable for:

E-commerce & Retail:** To prioritize same-day or express deliveries for VIP customers. Logistics & 3PL Providers:** For meeting tight SLAs across multiple clients and delivery tiers. Manufacturing & B2B Distribution:** Ensures high-value or contractual orders are prioritized. Pharma & Healthcare:** Critical for time-sensitive and compliance-driven deliveries. Consumer Goods & FMCG:** Helps manage high-volume dispatch with smart scheduling.

Prerequisites

ERP system with API access (e.g., SAP, Odoo, NetSuite). WMS and TMS integrations with order/task APIs. SMTP and SMS gateway credentials for notifications. n8n instance with HTTP, Function, Email, and Scheduler nodes installed.

Modification Options

Customize priority scoring weights per business type. Integrate AI for predictive SLA breach forecasting. Add Slack/Teams channels for real-time operational alerts. Implement escalation routing for unassigned urgent tasks. Extend reports to include OTIF (On-Time-In-Full) metrics.

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