Setup Shipping

Shipping is an essential component to configure correctly for your online store. This article will guide you through setting up shipping methods and configuring shipping companies within the Oncord platform.

Setting Up Shipping Methods

There are two main shipping methods options available for you to configure in the Oncord system - Delivery and Pick Up. These options give you the flexibility to tailor shipping to meet your customers' needs.

Delivery - This option allows you to ship products directly to your customers' addresses. You can configure shipping rates, regions, and preferred delivery times, ensuring a seamless experience for both local and international customers.

Pick Up - With this option, customers can collect their orders from a physical location. This is ideal for businesses with physical locations or those looking to provide a flexible pickup option for local customers.

You can create multiple Shipping Methods to apply different shipping strategies.

To Add a New Shipping Method

• Navigate to Dashboard > Settings > Commerce > Shipping Methods.

• Click New Shipping Method at the top of the page.

• There are two shipping methods available for you to configure.

To Add a Delivery Shipping Method

• In the Edit Shipping Method window, select Delivery as the Shipping Type.

• Enter a meaningful name in the Label field for your own reference.

• In the Options section, you can configure:
  • Allow customers to specify their preferred delivery date : This helps to reduce failed deliveries and gain a better understanding of customer expectations.
  • Prevent shipping to PO boxes: Some couriers have restrictions and require a physical address.
  • Restrict the countries you deliver to: Limit delivery availability to specific countries.

• In the Pricing section, you can configure:
  • Custom PHP Algorithm: This option allows to highly customize pricing calculations based on custom PHP code. It’s ideal for businesses with complex pricing models but requires coding skills.
  • Flat Rate: Customers are charged a single, fixed amount per order or item, regardless of the order size or destination.
  • Free: Customers pay no additional charges for shipping or delivery.
  • Percentage of Total: This option calculates the shipping charge as a percentage of the total order value. It's ideal for businesses with a varied product range in terms of size, weight, or value.
  • Delivery Company's API: This option allows you to set up pricing configurations automatically based on the delivery company's API. To use this option, you'll need to Set Up Delivery Companies first.

• In Advanced Options, you can link an offline product (created under Commerce > Products) here for better reporting on shipping fees in Commerce > Sales > Statistics.

To Add a Pickup Shipping Method

• In the Edit Shipping Method window, select Pick Up as the Shipping Type.

• Enter a meaningful name in the Label field for your own reference.

• Pick Up / Store Address: Enter the address of the location where your customers will pick up their products.

• Pick Up Times: Choose the time of day when your customers can pick up their items.

• There are similar options for you to configure the Pricing and Advanced Options.

Setting Up Delivery Companies

Oncord offers a selection of delivery company integrations that enable automatic price calculations, tracking, and order synchronization for a seamless shipping experience.

To Configure Delivery Companies:

• Navigate to Dashboard > Settings > Commerce > Shipping Methods.

• Click Configure Delivery Companies at the top of the page.

• Click New Company.

• Enter the name of the delivery company in the Company Title field.

• Choose the delivery company from the Select Company Integration dropdown list.

• Based on the selected company, fill in the required fields, including API account details, company information, and default shipment settings. (The tracking URL will be pre-filled automatically.)

• Once you've completed all fields and verified the information, click Save Company at the bottom of the page.

The delivery company you’ve added will now appear on the Delivery Companies page, and you can then configure the pricing for delivery shipping methods based on the company’s API.

Available Company Integration	Description
Australia Post	Australia Post is Australia’s national postal service, offering reliable domestic and international shipping with extensive coverage across urban and rural areas.
Australia Post Suite	Australia Post Suite is an enhanced service package from Australia Post that includes advanced features like express delivery, tracking, and international options tailored for businesses.
DHL	DHL is a global leader in express shipping, known for fast international deliveries, reliable tracking, and specialized services for business logistics across over 220 countries.
E-Go	E-Go is an Australian courier company offering low-cost, ground-based shipping within Australia, ideal for budget-friendly local deliveries with a focus on simplicity and efficiency.
Fastway Couriers	Fastway Couriers, now part of the Aramex network, provides affordable and efficient courier services within Australia, focusing on small to medium businesses and reliable parcel tracking.
FedEx	FedEx is a major international shipping company renowned for fast, time-definite delivery services, covering both domestic and global shipments with extensive tracking options.
GoSweetSpot	GoSweetSpot is a shipping aggregator based in New Zealand that simplifies courier and freight services, providing businesses with flexible shipping options across major carriers.
Sendle	Sendle is Australia’s first 100% carbon-neutral delivery service, specializing in affordable, reliable door-to-door parcel delivery for small businesses across Australia.
TNT Express Australia	TNT Express Australia, now part of the FedEx network, offers express and freight services across Australia and globally, known for speed and business-focused logistics.
Toll IPEC	Toll IPEC provides comprehensive courier and logistics services across Australia, ideal for businesses with bulk or specialized delivery needs, including road and air transport.
USPS	USPS (United States Postal Service) is the primary postal service in the United States, offering domestic and international delivery options at affordable rates, commonly used for smaller international packages.

Fulfillment Tracking and Notifications

When an order is placed, Oncord allows you to update the fulfillment status and automatically send a notification email with the tracking number to the customer. This keeps customers informed and enhances their experience by providing real-time updates and reducing support inquiries.

To Update Fulfillment Status:

• Navigate to Dashboard > Commerce > Sales.

• Click the Await Fulfillment tab to view all orders awaiting fulfillment.

• Under the Fulfillment column, the default status is typically set to "Unshipped."

• Click the three-dot button next to the fulfillment status to view options.

• Oncord provides a range of fulfillment statuses, giving you flexibility to track each step in the fulfillment process:
  • Mark Printed: Indicates the order’s details have been printed, often as the first step in preparing the order for fulfillment.
  • Mark Packed: Items in the order have been packed and are ready for shipment.
  • Mark Shipped: Confirms that the order has been shipped and is on its way to the customer.
  • Mark Awaiting Return: Marks an order that is pending return, often due to customer request or a return process.
  • Mark On Hold: Pauses fulfillment for the order, typically due to issues with inventory or payment.
  • Mark Back Ordered: Marks orders for items temporarily out of stock, with fulfillment pending item availability.
  • Not Required: Used when fulfillment is unnecessary, such as for service or digital products.

• Select Mark Shipped when the order has been sent.

• In the pop-up window, select the Shipping Company and enter the tracking number.

• Choose whether to send a notification email with the tracking number.

• By default, Oncord will send the notification email to the contact who placed the order, but you can also customize the recipient's email if needed.

• Click Update Fulfillment Status to finalize.

After updating the status, the fulfillment status for this order will be marked as "Shipped." You can also track shipments by navigating to Dashboard > Commerce > Sales > Shipments.