Shipping Rules - Frequently Asked Questions
Learn how to set up rules to automatically select the best carrier for each shipment
Table of Contents
- What Are Shipping Rules?
- Carrier Selection Modes
- Setting Up Rules
- How Carriers Are Selected
- Regular vs High Performance Mode
- Common Questions
1. What Are Shipping Rules?
Q: What are Shipping Rules?
A: Shipping Rules automatically select the best carrier for each shipment based on conditions you define. Instead of manually choosing a carrier for every order, rules do it for you.
Example:
- Orders over Rs. 2,000 - Use fastest carrier
- COD orders under 2kg - Use cheapest carrier
- Metro city deliveries - Use premium carrier
Q: Why should I use Shipping Rules?
A: Benefits include:
- Save time - No manual carrier selection
- Optimize costs - Automatically pick cheapest options
- Improve delivery speed - Route time-sensitive orders to faster carriers
- Reduce errors - Consistent, automated decisions
Important: Rules Apply Forward Only
Q: If I change a rule, will it affect existing shipments?
A: No. Rules only apply to new shipments created after the change.
- Changing a rule won't re-route shipments already booked
- New rules take effect immediately for future orders
- This ensures your in-transit shipments aren't disrupted
2. Carrier Selection Modes
Q: What are the different ways to select carriers?
A: Velocity Shipping offers several modes:
| Mode | How It Works | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Cheapest | Picks the lowest cost carrier | Cost-conscious shipments |
| Fastest | Picks the carrier with shortest delivery time | Time-sensitive orders |
| Recommended | Balances cost with carrier reliability | Everyday shipments |
| Custom | You set the exact carrier priority order | Full control |
| Concierge | Advanced optimization by our team | Premium accounts |
Cheapest Mode
Q: How does Cheapest mode work? A:
- Compares all available carriers by total cost (shipping + COD charges)
- Automatically picks the lowest cost option
- Great for maximizing margins on low-value orders
Fastest Mode
Q: How does Fastest mode work? A:
- Compares carriers by expected delivery date
- Picks the carrier that delivers soonest
- If two carriers have the same delivery time, picks the cheaper one
Recommended Mode
Q: How does Recommended mode work? A:
- Considers both cost AND carrier performance history
- Avoids carriers with high RTO rates for your shipments
- Balances reliability with cost efficiency
- Best for most everyday shipping needs
Custom Mode
Q: How does Custom mode work? A:
- You manually set which carriers to use and in what order
- Example: Try Carrier A first, then Carrier B, then Carrier C
- You can also blacklist carriers you don't want to use
- Maximum control over carrier selection
Concierge Mode
Q: What is Concierge mode? A: Concierge is an advanced optimization mode managed by our team. It uses sophisticated algorithms to balance speed, cost, and reliability.
Q: How do I enable Concierge mode? A: Concierge can only be enabled with help from your Account Manager (KAM). Contact them to discuss if it's right for your business.
3. Setting Up Rules
Q: What conditions can I set on a rule?
A: You can combine any of these conditions:
| Condition | Example |
|---|---|
| Weight | 0-5 kg, 5-10 kg, above 10 kg |
| Order Value | Under Rs. 500, Rs. 500-2000, above Rs. 2000 |
| Payment Mode | COD only, Prepaid only |
| Pickup Location | Specific pincodes, cities, or states |
| Delivery Location | Specific pincodes, cities, or states |
| Zone | Metro, Tier-2, Tier-3 cities |
Q: Can I combine multiple conditions?
A: Yes! All conditions must match for a rule to apply.
Example: A rule with:
- Weight: 0-5 kg
- Payment: COD
- Delivery: Mumbai
Will only match shipments that are under 5kg AND COD AND going to Mumbai.
Q: What if multiple rules match a shipment?
A: Rules are checked in priority order. The first rule that matches is used.
Example:
- Rule 1 (Priority 10): Mumbai deliveries - Use Carrier A
- Rule 2 (Priority 5): All COD orders - Use Carrier B
A COD order to Mumbai will use Carrier A (higher priority rule matched first).
Q: What is the Default Rule?
A: The Default Rule is a safety net that applies when no other rules match.
- Every account has one Default Rule
- You can configure its mode (Cheapest, Fastest, etc.)
- You cannot delete the Default Rule
4. How Carriers Are Selected
Q: What happens when an order is placed?
A: Here's the process:
1. Order received
|
2. Find matching shipping rule
|
3. Check carrier serviceability (can they deliver there?)
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4. Select carrier based on rule's mode
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5. Book shipment with carrier
Serviceability Is Checked First
Q: What is a serviceability check?
A: Before booking, we verify the carrier can actually deliver to that location. We check:
- Carrier services that pincode
- Weight is within carrier limits
- Payment mode (COD/Prepaid) is supported
- No temporary blocks or disruptions
This happens automatically before trying to book with any carrier.
Automatic Fallback to Next Carrier
Q: What happens if a carrier throws an error?
A: We automatically try the next available carrier.
- If Carrier A fails - We try Carrier B
- If Carrier B fails - We try Carrier C
- By default, we try up to 3 carriers
This ensures your shipment gets booked even if one carrier has issues.
Q: Can I change how many carriers are tried?
A: The default is 3 carriers. Contact your Account Manager if you need to adjust this.
5. Regular vs High Performance Mode
Q: What's the difference between Regular and High Performance mode?
A: Each carrier can operate in two modes:
| Mode | Description |
|---|---|
| Regular | Carrier operates across all serviceable pincodes |
| High Performance | Carrier only operates in select, optimized pincodes |
Q: What is High Performance (HP) mode?
A: High Performance mode restricts a carrier to a curated list of pincodes where they perform best.
Benefits:
- Better delivery success rates
- Faster deliveries in those areas
- Ideal for premium carriers
Example: A premium carrier might only be available for metro cities in HP mode.
Q: How do I enable High Performance mode?
A: Go to Shipping Rules - view details and for each enabled carrier, you'll see the option to toggle HP mode on/off.
Note: HP mode is only supported for select carriers. If you don't see the option, that carrier doesn't support HP mode.
Q: Which mode should I use?
A:
- Regular - Use for maximum coverage across all locations
- High Performance - Use for priority/premium shipments where reliability matters most
6. Common Questions
Q: My shipment didn't use the carrier I expected. Why?
A: Common reasons:
| Reason | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Rule didn't match | Check if shipment meets all rule conditions |
| Serviceability failed | Carrier can't deliver to that pincode |
| Higher priority rule matched | Another rule matched first |
| Carrier error | Carrier failed, system moved to next carrier |
Q: Can I have different rules for forward shipments and returns?
A: Yes! Set the "Journey Type" on your rule:
- Forward - Only applies to outgoing shipments
- Return - Only applies to return pickups
- Both - Applies to all shipments
Q: How do I temporarily disable a carrier?
A: Two options:
- Blacklist in Custom mode - Add carrier to blacklist in your rule
- Disable the carrier - Turn off the carrier in Shipping rules - Courier Selection
Q: Can I test a rule before enabling it?
A: Yes! Create the rule in disabled status:
- Set up your rule conditions and mode
- Keep status as "Disabled"
- Test using the serviceability check tool
- Enable when ready
Q: Do rules affect my shipping rates?
A: Rules affect which carrier is selected, not the rates themselves. Rates are configured separately in your carrier rate cards.
Quick Reference
Carrier Selection Modes
| Mode | Selects By | Control Level |
|---|---|---|
| Cheapest | Lowest cost | Automatic |
| Fastest | Quickest delivery | Automatic |
| Recommended | Cost + reliability balance | Automatic |
| Custom | Your priority order | Manual |
| Concierge | Advanced optimization | Managed by KAM |
Rule Matching Order
- Rules checked by priority (highest first)
- First matching rule is used
- Default rule applies if no match
- Serviceability check runs
- Up to 3 carriers tried if errors occur
Regular vs High Performance
| Aspect | Regular | High Performance |
|---|---|---|
| Coverage | All serviceable pincodes | Select optimized pincodes |
| Best for | Maximum reach | Premium shipments |
| Enable in | Shipping Rules settings | Shipping Rules settings |
Need Help?
- Email: support@velocity.in
- Live Chat: Click the chat icon in your dashboard
- Account Manager: For Concierge mode or custom configurations
We're here to help you optimize your shipping!