System Defaults Setting Page

Inventory Creation Defaults

These settings determine the values that Helm assigns whenever new inventory items are added to your system

Configure once to save time and eliminate manual adjustments for each SKU

• Tax Group
  Select the default tax category to apply to newly created items, ensuring correct VAT or sales tax treatment without intervention

• Category
  Choose a default product category, allowing you to group similar items and streamline reporting as soon as your inventory is imported

Order Despatch Defaults

Order Despatch Defaults govern the pre‑populated values used whenever you create a new shipment

This ensures that every parcel adheres to your standard shipping parameters

• Package Type
  Inventory Calculated or user defined

• Item Weight, Dimensions, HS Code, Country of Origin, Value and Customs Description
  Specify default values for weight (kg), length/width/height (cm), harmonised system code, origin country, monetary value (£) and customs narrative
  
  These defaults accelerate international and domestic despatch setup by pre‑filling fields required for carrier bookings and regulatory compliance

• Primary and Secondary Shipment References
  Configure your Primary and Secondary Shipment References to ensure each parcel is uniquely and consistently identified throughout the fulfilment lifecycle
  

  • Primary Shipment Reference
    
    Choose the most critical identifier for your operation - commonly your internal Order ID or Shipment ID - that will appear prominently on courier labels, packing slips and digital tracking feeds
    
    This single source of truth simplifies customer queries and warehouse audits by matching physical parcels to their corresponding system records

  • Secondary Shipment Reference
    
    Select a supplementary identifier such as Channel Order ID, Channel Reference or Product Code to provide additional context
    
    This secondary field can be invaluable when reconciling multi‑channel sales, enabling fast cross‑referencing between marketplaces, ERP systems and courier manifests

Benefits of Proper Reference Configuration

• Enhanced Traceability – Each parcel carries two layers of identification, reducing risk of mis‑scans or mis‑shipments

• Seamless Integration – When external systems (marketplaces, ERPs, customer portals) pass their own reference, Helm can capture and display it alongside your internal IDs

• Streamlined Reporting – Dual references allow you to filter, group and export shipments by either internal or external identifiers, improving operational visibility

By setting these defaults once in your System Defaults, you ensure that every shipment created in Helm inherits the correct reference fields - saving time and improving accuracy without any manual effort

Default Measurement Units

Ensure that all teams, devices and integrations speak the same language when it comes to units of measure

• Dimensions Unit
  Choose centimetres (cm) to reflect your preferred dimension system

• Weight Unit
  Select kilograms (kg) to align your shipping and inventory weight metrics

Default Printers

Fine‑tune document routing within Helm to ensure that your packing station operates with maximum efficiency and minimal manual intervention

Settings Preference

Choose whether your default printer profile applies globally (to all users) or user‑specifically (each individual can select their own)

This profile dictates where Helm will send output by default for:

• Pick lists – guiding warehouse pickers through each order

• Invoices – providing customers with financial documentation

• Shipping labels – ensuring couriers can scan and route parcels correctly

To assign a default printer, first ensure Silent Printing is activated

Silent Printing

When enabled, Silent Printing dispatches documents directly to your chosen printer without any preview or confirmation dialogs

This creates a truly hands‑free packing experience, allowing warehouse staff to remain focused on order fulfilment rather than interacting with on‑screen prompts

Activation Steps

1. Install the Helm Desktop App on the device connected to your printer

2. In Settings → System Defaults, toggle Silent Printing to Enabled

3. Select your default printer under Settings Preference

Warning
If you see “The desktop app is not found,” it indicates that Silent Printing cannot function until the Helm Desktop App is installed on this workstation

By configuring your default printers and enabling silent printing, you transform your packing station into an uninterrupted flow of label creation and print output—dramatically increasing throughput and reducing human error

By thoughtfully configuring your System Defaults, you can dramatically reduce manual entry, maintain uniformity across teams, and accelerate your daily fulfilment processes - all while minimising the risk of data entry errors and operational friction