Setting up shipping methods

A shipping method describes how an order is sent – for example “DHL Paket”, “DHL Warenpost”, “DPD Classic” or “Pickup”. It bundles the carrier with account and product, the Additional services and the Cost rules for the shipping costs in the order. When importing orders from shops and marketplaces, allverto maps the shop's shipping method to a shipping method in allverto.

The settings are under Shipping → Settings → Shipping methods.

#Before you start

• For labels: at least one connected carrier (see Connecting carriers).
• Permission to set up shipping (e.g. role Administration). Anyone who can see orders may view them.

#Creating a shipping method

1. Open Shipping → Settings → Shipping methods.
2. Click Create shipping method.
3. General tab: enter a name (this is how the shipping method appears in the order and as the shipping cost line) and optionally an Internal code. Choose the Type: If needed, enter the Delivery time (from–to days), the dimensions and Default weight of the default parcel, the Packaging weight and the Maximum weight per parcel (see below).
   • Parcel shipping – label via the selected carrier,
   • Pickup, Own delivery or Freight forwarder – without a label.
4. Carrier & services tab: choose the carrier, optionally a specific Account (otherwise allverto uses the first active account of this carrier) and the Product (e.g. DHL Paket or DHL Kleinpaket). Switch on Additional services such as insurance, cash on delivery, age check or ParcelShop – you can add your own entries below.
5. Costs & rules tab: create the rules for the shipping costs (see below).
6. Packing tab (optional): choose the Default packaging, Allowed alternatives and rules by item weight or number of items, e.g. up to 1 kg “Mailer bag”, from 6 items “Carton L”. You create the packaging beforehand under Shipping → Settings → Packaging. If a packaging is assigned, its empty weight counts instead of the packaging weight from General.
7. Click Save.

New carriers you connect are automatically available in the selection.

#Maximum weight per parcel (multi-parcel)

The Maximum weight per parcel (gross, in kg) defines from when an order is split across several parcels. When packing in the warehouse app, allverto automatically suggests another parcel from this weight on and remembers which item is in which parcel. The lower limit of shipping method and packaging (load capacity plus empty weight) applies.

If you leave the field empty, the default of the carrier or product applies – e.g. 31.5 kg for parcels and 1 kg for DHL Kleinpaket; the window shows the default below the fields. There is no limit for freight forwarders.

#Cost rules

Each rule defines what it applies to and what the shipping costs. The first matching rule determines the shipping costs (gross).

For the Price you choose Fixed price, By weight tiers or By order value tiers. With tiers, the first tier whose “to” value covers the weight or order value applies; above the last tier the rule doesn't apply. With Free shipping from, shipping becomes free from this order value.

The trial calculation below the rules immediately shows what a parcel with country, weight and order value would cost – even before saving.

A shipping method without a rule applies everywhere and costs nothing – handy for “Pickup”. However, it is never suggested automatically, only used when you choose it or map it to a shop shipping method.

#Order, duplicating, deactivating

Via the right-click menu of a shipping method:

• Move up / Move down – the order determines priority for suggestions,
• Duplicate – copy with all rules, initially inactive,
• Deactivate – no longer selectable in the order; orders keep it,
• Delete – only as long as no order uses the shipping method.

#Mapping to channels

Shops and marketplaces report their own shipping method with every order. Under Mapping to channels (a separate tab in the list and in the edit window) you define which allverto shipping method belongs to it:

1. Choose the Channel.
2. Enter the external ID or name of the shipping method – for WooCommerce e.g. flat_rate:3 or “Shipping Germany”, for Shopware and Shopify the name of the shipping method.
3. Choose the Shipping method in allverto and click Map.

During order import, the following then applies:

1. If there is a mapping, the order gets this shipping method.
2. Otherwise allverto chooses the first active shipping method whose rule matches (country, weight, order value, channel …) and writes a Note into the order's note. If none matches, the shipping method stays empty – with a note.

The shipping costs from the shop remain unchanged.

#Shipping method in the order and quote

In the order or quote window, the Details tab has the field Shipping method under Shipping. If none has been chosen yet, allverto shows a Suggested method based on the rules – Apply sets it.

Recalculate shipping costs calculates the shipping costs from the shipping method and sets or updates the shipping cost line. Existing orders never change by themselves – only with Save.

In the order list you can show the Shipping method column via the column editor and filter by Shipping method.

#Labels

When creating labels, allverto takes carrier, account, product and additional services from the order's shipping method (switch Use the order's shipping method in the label dialog). Orders without a shipping method use the carrier chosen in the dialog as before. No label is created for pickup, own delivery and freight forwarding.

#Moving from JTL-Wawi

The JTL import creates the Shipping methods from JTL (tVersandArt) with name, active flag and the assigned carrier – shipping methods with the same name in allverto are reused. Imported orders get their shipping method. Costs, countries and surcharges from JTL are not imported: please check and complete the Cost rules after the import.