Best Practices

Use these guidelines to design and maintain a clear, flexible services catalog.

Service catalog development

• Include all services your company regularly provides.
• Use industry-standard terminology where possible.
• Create separate service entries for distinct offerings.
• Avoid overly generic names that could cause confusion.
• Consider customer understanding when naming services.

Naming conventions

• Use clear, descriptive names.
• Include acronyms with explanations if needed (e.g., THC – Terminal Handling).
• Be consistent with industry terminology.
• Avoid ambiguous abbreviations.
• Use names that translate well if operating internationally.

Pricing flexibility

• Remember that services store only the name, not the price.
• Use invoice-level pricing to adapt to customer agreements.
• Adjust prices as needed for different routes, seasons, and volumes.
• Keep an internal pricing guide so operators apply consistent charges.

Common questions

What’s the difference between a service and a rate?
Rates define the overall pricing structure for shipping between ports. Services are individual line items that can be added to invoices, each with its own price. Services provide granular detail on what the customer is paying for.

Can I set default prices for services?
The Services section stores only service names, not prices. Prices are entered individually when creating invoices, allowing flexibility for different customers and shipments.

Should I create separate services for origin and destination charges?
Yes, it’s best practice to have separate services like POL Truck and POD Truck to clearly indicate where charges apply and improve invoice transparency.