Shipping Configuration (Default Shipping Warehouse)
Efficient and reliable shipping cost estimations are critical for enhancing customer experience and streamlining business operations. The Default Shipping Warehouse is a configuration setting within the UpStart Commerce Portal designed to calculate estimated shipping costs during product browsing phase by leveraging two key settings—Ship From Location ID and Catalog Ship From Location ID. These two settings provides a reference for displaying real-time shipping rates to customers as they explore products on the storefront, even before adding items to their cart. This setting enables early-stage cost estimation based on the customer's location or ZIP code, offering transparency and helping customers make informed decisions.
The Default Shipping Warehouse configuration is driven by two key settings: Ship From Location ID and Catalog Ship From Location ID, each with a distinct role in calculating shipping cost estimates during the product browsing phase.
The Ship From Location ID is the default setting used to estimate shipping rates based on the customer’s location. It works as follows:
- Location-Based Estimation: The shipping costs are calculated based on the customer's ZIP code when an exact address is not available, typically, using information provided during account sign-up or while browsing the storefront. The estimate is derived using the Ship From Location ID, tied to a distribution centre, and reflects the proximity between the customer’s location (typically derived from their ZIP code or IP address) and the shipping origin. If an exact address is provided, the shipping estimate becomes more precise, ensuring early-stage transparency and accuracy.
- Default Shipping Estimate: Ship From Location ID serves as the default method for calculating shipping costs, applicable across the storefront unless overridden by more specific configurations like Catalog Ship From Location ID.
The Catalog Ship From Location ID offers a more specific shipping rate calculation for individual products. This configuration is used to calculate shipping costs for products that are meant to be shipped from a location different from the distribution center. Its key features include:
- Dynamic Property Check For Precise Shipping Calculation: For catalog items, a location ID is defined within the dynamic properties of each item. When the Catalog Ship From Location ID is configured, a backend check is performed to match the Catalog Ship From Location ID with the ID set for the item in its dynamic properties. If both IDs match, this catalog-specific location ID is prioritized over the default Ship From Location ID, ensuring that the shipping estimate reflects the correct shipping location for that particular item.
The Default Shipping Warehouse configuration enhances both the customer experience and operational efficiency by offering several essential functions:
- Pre-Cart Shipping Estimates: The Default Shipping Warehouse provides estimated shipping costs during the product browsing phase, before customers add items to their cart. This early insight into shipping fees increases transparency, helping customers make informed decisions and reducing the likelihood of cart abandonment due to unexpected costs.
For comprehensive details on the calculation and retrieval of estimated shipping rates, please refer to the API-specific documentation for Get Rate for an Item.
- Location-Based Calculations: Shipping costs are determined based on the customer’s location or ZIP code, ensuring that the estimates accurately reflect the customer’s proximity to the designated distribution center or store associated with the Ship From Location ID. This approach provides an accurate, location-based estimate early in the shopping process, enhancing transparency and enabling customers to make informed decisions.
- Product-Specific Estimations: For catalog items with a defined Catalog Ship From Location ID, a more accurate shipping rate is calculated by overriding the default Ship From Location ID setting. This functionality is essential when products are meant to be shipped from a location other than the distribution center, ensuring that shipping costs are tailored to each specific item’s designated shipping location.
- Dynamic Cost Display: Estimated shipping rates are presented directly during the browsing experience, eliminating the need for customers to proceed to checkout to view shipping costs. This functionality enhances transparency and improves the user experience by providing important cost information upfront.
- Flexible Estimation Mechanism: The system allows for flexible shipping cost estimations, whether based on the default Ship From Location ID or on item-specific Catalog Ship From Location IDs. This flexibility accommodates various shipping needs and business requirements.
Configuring your Default Shipping Warehouse in the portal is easy. Follow this step-by-step guide to set up your Default Shipping Warehouse.
Step 1: Accessing the Default Shipping Warehouse Configuration Screen
Upon logging in, navigate to the side menu of the Upstart Commerce Portal. Scroll down and click on Configurations at the bottom of the menu. In the expanded menu on the left, locate and click the Default Shipping Warehouse under the Shipping dropdown.
Step 2: Creating a Default Shipping Warehouse Configuration
Initiate the default shipping warehouse configuration creation process by clicking on Create a new config from the dropdown menu labeled Choose a config.
Step 3: Define the Configuration Attributes
Once you've initiated the default shipping warehouse configuration creation process, provide the following essential details:
- Configuration Name: Provide a descriptive and unique name for the shipping warehouse configuration.
- Ship From Location ID: Enter the Location ID for the distribution center designated as the default shipping origin for estimated shipping calculations.
- Catalog Ship From Location ID: Input the Location ID specified in the catalog item properties. If specified, this ID will be used for estimated shipping calculations when you want to use a different location instead of the distribution center for shipping rate estimation.
Step 4: Save the Settings
Once all details are filled out, click the Save button to finalize the configuration process for the Default Shipping Warehouse. If the configuration status shows as Disabled in the top right corner of the Configuration section, you may need to enable it for the settings to take effect.
Step 1: Accessing the Default Shipping Warehouse
Upon logging in, navigate to the side menu of the Upstart Commerce Portal. Scroll down and click on Configurations at the bottom of the menu. In the expanded menu on the left, locate and click the Default Shipping Warehouse under the Shipping dropdown.
Step 2: Update the Details
To update the details of the default shipping warehouse, select the existing and configured default shipping warehouse from the dropdown menu labeled Choose a config. Update any necessary details, such as the Configuration Name, Ship From Location ID, or Catalog Ship From Location ID.
Step 3: Save to Update
Once you've made your changes, click the Save button to save your updates.