Having trouble managing multiple service offerings?

Outline

1. How to create multiple shipping methods or service offerings

2. How to set up shipping method dispatching flows

3. How to filter between multiple shipping methods

4. Assigning shipping methods to merchants

Introduction

In today's fast-paced market, businesses are increasingly diversifying their service offerings in order to stay competitive. For instance, a courier company may offer express (24 hour), next day (24-48 hour), and standard (48-72 hour) shipping options to cater to the diverse needs of their customers. Similarly, a quick service restaurant may manage both last-mile customer deliveries and internal deliveries to restock branches. To effectively manage these diverse service offerings, businesses must have the ability to monitor, customize, plan, and execute different shipping methods as a crucial aspect of their supply chain strategy.

How to guide: Create and set up multiple shipping methods.

1. First visit the Settings page and under “Shipping” select “Shipping Methods”

 

2. Click on “New Shipping Method” to add a new service offering

 

3. Configuration: set up the shipping methods based on your business requirements

Name: Provide a name for your shipping method

Type: Choose appropriate type either Standard or Return workflow, and choose weather it should pass through a sorting facility (Standard) or it is delivered directly from the source to the destination location (On-demand).

Lateness Threshold: Specify the maximum time frame the order should be delivered within.

Fees: Apply delivery fees for orders (if applicable) that range from base, distance, zone, volume and weight fees.

Dispatch Method: Choose how the dispatching process should happen either manually, semi-automatic, or auto-pilot.

Restrict agents to specific agents: As an advanced feature, businesses can configure the system to restrict certain shipping methods to specific agents. This enables the system to automatically assign shipments to the appropriate drivers, thus streamlining the process and increasing efficiency

 

4. Manage coverage area: choose the multi-polygon areas on the map where the shipping method is restricted to.

For example, you might offer same-day delivery in a certain area while offering next-day deliveries nationwide.

Click on “Manage Coverage Area” and either draw or search for polygons on a map to set the geaographic boundaries.

 

5. Assigning shipping methods to merchants if 3PL add-on is activated

In the case where you are delivering on behalf of merchants, and fees have been applied to shipping methods, you will be able to simply assign these shipping methods to merchants.

In the Setting page click on “Merchants” under “Connected Accounts” section.

There are two types of merchants:

• Online: they have access to the merchant portal for order placing and monitoring.

• Managed Merchants: your organization places orders on behalf of merchants.

Either by inviting or creating a managed merchant you will have the capability of choosing the service offerings that apply to each merchant.

 

6. Shipping orders and creating custom views based on shipping method

From the orders page, you can choose to ship orders with different shipping methods, you can also create custom views based on these shipping methods.

To ship orders: Select the orders you want to ship after applying desired filters, then click on “Ship Orders”. The available shipping methods pop up and you will be able to choose the appropriate service offering.

 

Creating custom views: Choose in the filters section the “Shipping method” you want to create a view for. After doing so click on the three dots on the top right corner and click on “Save view”. Once you do, you’ll be able to set a custom view either for yourself or for the entire organization.