Use the rules engine to automate shipping decisions and optimise your delivery workflows. You don't need to make manual carrier selections, or adjust your settings, just set your rules and let the rules engine handle the rest.
Most retailers find that they have certain methods of working that can make life easier. For example, you might always ship big and bulky orders with a specific carrier, or you might want to make sure fragile items are handled with extra care. Instead of manually checking and updating each order, you can use the rules engine to automate these decisions based on rules you define. This can mean reduced manual effort, improved accuracy, faster order processing, and can help to make sure you're always using the most cost-effective carrier for each order.
This article covers activating the rules engine, and gives you a few simple rules to start with. For more detail on the different rules you can create, see the rules engine collection.
Company and store rules
There are two levels of rules within the rules engine. Company rules apply to any or all the stores within a company, while store rules apply only to a single store.
Company rules can only be edited by head office administrators. Company rules are applied first, before store rules, and they are useful for automating how orders are allocated across all your store locations. You can also set company rules that apply to only one or some of your stores.
Store rules can be edited by store administrators as well as head office administrators. Use store rules to fine-tune allocation preferences for individual stores.
How the rules engine works
You can create as many rules as you like, at both company and store level. When you have created and activated your rules, next time you create an order, the order is evaluated against the rules you have before it is allocated to a carrier.
Company rules are evaluated before store rules
Rules are evaluated in the order they are listed
Worked examples
A company rule states all packages over 15kg must go to Carrier A.
A store rule states that says anything over 10kg must go to Carrier B.
Orders of 18kg are assigned to Carrier A, because the company rule is applied first.
Orders of 12kg are assigned to Carrier B, because only the store rule applies.
A rule states that packages to metro postcodes must go with Carrier A.
A rule further down the list states that packages under 2kg must go with Carrier B.
Orders going to metro postcodes that are under 2kg are assigned to Carrier A, because the rule higher in the list is applied first.
Only orders going to regional postcodes that are under 2kg are assigned to Carrier B.
Activate the rules engine
Before you start creating rules, activate the rules engine in your Shippit account.
Activating the rules engine
Log in to your Shippit account.
For company rules, navigate to Settings → Company Rules. For store rules, navigate to Settings → Store Rules.
On the company or store rules page, click the rules engine toggle to the on position.
Essential rules
To get you started, here are three common rules that you can use:
Weight-based allocation: allocate bigger orders to your preferred carrier for heavy items.
Destination-based allocation: allocate deliveries going to particular postcodes to a specific carrier.
Product-based allocation: allocate specific item SKUs to a specific carrier.
For more information about creating rules, see the How to create rules article.
Creating a weight-based rule
Log in to your Shippit account, and navigate to Settings → Company Rules. For store rules, navigate to Settings → Store Rules.
Click Create new rule.
For company rules, select which stores the rule applies to, or select all stores.
Give your rule a name. For example, Heavy items.
Create the conditions for your rule:
In the When this happens field, select Parcel dead weight.
In the Is field, select Greater than.
In the Enter value field, type the weight in kilograms. For example, 20.
Select the carriers you do not want to allocate these items to. You can select all carriers, then unselect the carriers you want to allocate heavier items to.
Click Save to save your rule and return to the rules page.
Activate your rule by clicking the rule toggle to the on position.
Creating a destination-based rule
Log in to your Shippit account, and navigate to Settings → Company Rules. For store rules, navigate to Settings → Store Rules.
Click Create new rule.
For company rules, select which stores the rule applies to, or select all stores.
Give your rule a name. For example, NSW Central coast.
Create the conditions for your rule:
In the When this happens field, select Delivery postcode.
In the Is field, select Any one of to enter specific postcodes.
In the Enter value field, type the individual postcodes to cover, and click Enter after each one. For example, 2083 and 2775.
Click Add another condition, and create these conditions:
Select Or to ensure that this rule can be applied instead of the previous.
In the When this happens field, select Delivery postcode.
In the Is field, select Within to enter a range of postcodes.
In the first Enter value fields, type the first and last postcode of the range. For example, 2250 to 2251.
Repeat for a second range of postcodes 2256 to 2263.
Select the carriers you do not want to allocate these items to. You can select all carriers, then unselect the carriers you want to allocate deliveries to these postcodes to.
Click Save to save your rule and return to the rules page.
Activate your rule by clicking the rule toggle to the on position.
Creating a product-based rule
Log in to your Shippit account, and navigate to Settings → Company Rules. For store rules, navigate to Settings → Store Rules.
Click Create new rule.
For company rules, select which stores the rule applies to, or select all stores.
Give your rule a name. For example, Fragile items.
Create the conditions for your rule:
In the When this happens field, select Product SKU.
In the Is field, select Contains to enter part of an SKU that indicates fragile items.
In the Enter value field, type the letters or numbers in your product SKUs that indicate a fragile item. For example, FI matches any SKU that contains FI.
Click Add another condition, and create these conditions:
Select And to ensure that this rule is applied in addition to the previous rule.
In the When this happens field, select Parcel dead weight.
In the Is field, select Less than to enter an upper weight limit.
In the first Enter value fields, type the upper weight in kilograms. For example, 10.
Select the carriers you do not want to allocate these items to. You can select all carriers, then unselect the carriers you want to allocate deliveries to these postcodes to.
Click Save to save your rule and return to the rules page.
Activate your rule by clicking the rule toggle to the on position.