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Automatic Stop Merging in Control Tower

S
Written by Sandra
Updated this week

Overview

Control Tower applies a default stop merging logic when saving Sales Orders (SO) and Transport Orders (TO). This ensures a simplified and clearer view when multiple activities occur at the same location — such as delivering and collecting goods at the same time.


How It Works

When you create or edit an SO or TO, and include multiple stops at the same location, Control Tower will automatically merge those stops into a single entry if they are placed directly next to each other in the stop sequence.

This is common in scenarios such as:

  • Delivering goods to a location

  • Immediately collecting goods from the same location

If these two stops are adjacent and refer to the same address, they will be merged into a single stop, typically labeled:

“Mixed Collection” or similar

This reduces visual clutter and reflects real-world transport flows more intuitively.


Example

Before Saving (Unmerged View):

  1. Ulm, Germany – Deliver

  2. Ulm, Germany – Collect

After Saving (Merged View):

  1. Ulm, Germany – Mixed Collection


Unmerging Stops Manually

If you prefer to manage these stops separately (for example, for planning or operational reasons), you can unmerge them directly in the UI.

How to Unmerge Stops:

  1. Open the SO or TO in edit mode.

  2. In the Stops section, locate the merged stop (e.g. "Mixed Collection").

  3. Click the “Unmerge” button (icon: split arrows) next to the stop.

  4. The merged stop will be split into its original separate Deliver and Collect entries.

  5. You can then reorder the stops via drag and drop.

  6. Click Save to apply your changes.

⚠️ Note: If you place unmerged stops next to each other again and save, the system will automatically re-merge them unless prevented by specific business rules (e.g., differing times or types).


When Merging Doesn’t Happen

Automatic merging will not apply if:

  • The stops are not adjacent in the sequence.

  • The locations differ even slightly (e.g., different street names or cities).

  • The stop contains actuals (real-world execution data).


Summary

Feature

Description

Automatic Merging

Merges adjacent stops at the same location during Save.

Merged Label

Stops are shown as "Mixed Collection" or similar.

Unmerge Option

Users can manually unmerge stops in the UI.

Reordering

Unmerged stops can be rearranged using drag-and-drop.

Re-Merging

Stops may re-merge on Save if placed together again.

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