Sorting Service — (Special) – Signomatic Internal Knowledge Base

Internal · Updated July 2026

What this article covers

How sorting works as a paid service offering, what CX is responsible for, and how to price it correctly. Sorting is not available as a self-service option in checkout — it is handled manually by CX via the Special Routine when a customer requests it.

Correct pricing is critical here — sorting is time-intensive manual work and must always be charged to cover the actual production cost.

Important — three different meanings of "sorting"

The word "sorting" is used internally to mean two different things. Always clarify which one applies before acting:

Standard sorting (default) — as part of the One Sheet One Batch project, signs are by default sorted in the order the customer entered them in Signomatic. This covers approximately 80–90% of cases where customers previously needed manual sorting. No extra charge — this is an expected baseline.
Extra sorting (service offering) — sorting beyond the default, where the customer needs signs sorted in a specific way: by batch, colour, size, location, numbering, or other custom criteria. This is what this article covers. Always handled via Special and always charged.

CX responsibility — pricing

CX is responsible for setting the correct price for sorting. This is not optional — sorting is time-intensive manual work that production cannot absorb as a free service. If sorting is not priced correctly, the order is unprofitable.

Always confirm with production how long the sorting will take before quoting.
Charge based on actual time: SEK 395/hour per started 30 minutes.
For larger volume orders, incorporate the sorting cost into the product price rather than listing it as a separate fee (optional).
Always add to the Slack Special List.
When accepted, add comment under Pack — do not move to Special Flow.

Production responsibility — time estimation

Production is responsible for estimating how long the sorting will take. CX should not guess at this — always ask production (pack) via the CX Special Channel before confirming a price or delivery time to the customer.

Always communicate an exact delivery deadline to production — never "as soon as possible."

What to confirm before quoting

Exactly how the customer wants the signs sorted — be specific. Confirm the format of the sorting list or file if one is needed.
Whether the sorting involves signs of different colours or materials in the same delivery — this is significantly more complex than sorting within a single colour.
Whether the signs need to be bundled, labelled, or packed in a specific way alongside the sorting.
How long production estimates the sorting will take.

Confirm all of this before creating the quote.

How to document the order

Write all sorting instructions on every sub-order, not just on the main order — production looks at sub-orders, not the main order.
Add the same information to the Slack Special List comment so all production staff who may handle the order can see it.

Pricing — why it matters

Sorting by hand takes significant time. A quote that does not account for sorting time makes the order unprofitable and puts pressure on the production team to absorb costs that were never budgeted.

CX owns the pricing decision — if production tells you sorting will take 2 hours for an order, that time must be reflected in the quote. Do not undercharge to win an order.

Examples

Example 1 — sorted by name (name badge order)
A customer orders 150 name badges and wants them sorted alphabetically by surname. Production estimates 45 minutes for sorting. CX charges SEK 395/h per started 30-minute block — two blocks = SEK 395. Add sorting instructions on every sub-order and in the Special List.

Example 2 — sorted by department or location
A B2B customer orders 400 signs for different departments across three office buildings and wants the signs pre-sorted per building. Production estimates 2 hours. CX charges SEK 395 × 2 = SEK 790, incorporated into the product price. Confirm the sorting list format with the customer before quoting — a clear spreadsheet with sign text and building assignment is needed before production can start.

Example 3 — sorted in sets (one per employee kit)
A customer orders 80 signs to be placed one per employee welcome kit. Production estimates 1 hour. CX charges SEK 395. Confirm packaging requirements with Pack before quoting — individual bagging or bundling may add further time.

Example 4 — large recurring B2B customer
Larger recurring customers with established sorting routines (specific batch sizes, colour separation, article number labels) are handled on a case-by-case basis via Special. Always check current instructions for the specific customer in Signadmin and Zendesk before quoting — do not assume the same rules apply as on the previous order without confirming.

Special note — engraved plastic with tape

Engraved plastic signs with tape that are produced on sheets cannot always be popped out of the sheets immediately, because the protective film on the back would be removed in the process. If a customer needs sorting on this product type:

Place the order in Special and write on the order that the signs should be sorted and should NOT be produced on sheets.
Laser must notify Prepress so the files can be changed to individual signs instead of sheets.
Write this on every sub-order — not just the main order.
Also add it to the Slack Special List so all production staff who may touch the order can see it.