Carrier features and requirements

International shipping requirements

International shipping introduces additional requirements beyond domestic parcel handling. To ensure customs compliance and smooth cross-border operations, specific information must be available at both the order and item levels.

The following data is typically mandatory when shipping internationally:

• Harmonized System (HS) Code

• Customs value per unit (minor currency units)

• Currency and number of decimal places (ISO-4217)

• Physical attributes (item weight recommended; dimensions optional, carrier/customs may require them)

More technical information on mandatory data can be found under Developer Docs – Carrier management.

Providing this data is essential for cross-border shipping, particularly when labels are generated via integrated carrier APIs. Missing or incorrect information may result in failed label creation or customs clearance delays.

This data should be maintained at the listing level. For example, if a product such as “Running Shoes” is listed, the HS code and customs value can be stored on the listing so every order automatically includes the correct customs data. If these values are not available on the listing, they can be provided at line-item level via attributes within the order. These values are inherited by downstream processes. As a best practice, maintain customs information for any article that may be shipped internationally.

In addition to customs data, insurance values can optionally be defined when carriers support insured shipments (see Required Data):

• Insurance value per unit (minor currency units)

• Insurance currency (ISO-4217)

• Number of decimal places

Insurance data is managed independently of customs data and does not override it. Providing both ensures shipments are handled correctly across carriers and international scenarios.

More technical information on optional data can be found under Developer Docs – Carrier management.

Carrier services

Carriers often provide optional services that influence how a shipment is delivered. These services can include:

• Signature on delivery

• ID checks

• Delivery notifications

• Saturday delivery

• Cash on delivery

Service scope depends on the carrier and the contractual agreement (including multi-carrier providers).

Where services can be provided:

There is no central configuration where services per carrier can be defined. The available services must be configured:

• On order level: Services can be supplied in the order so they are considered during the label request.

• On parcel level: Services can be provided directly in the parcel request via API (without using CCSM). When requesting a label in the Operations web app, a service can be added to the parcel if the CCSM is configured. This is only possible if the fulfillmenttools clients are used

Understanding which services are required, and where they are provided, supports the intended delivery behavior and successful processing.

Label classification

Some carriers offer predefined parcel classifications to distinguish between standard parcel sizes and weights. These are referred to as "label classifications" and can be used to help select the appropriate parcel type during label creation.

A label classification typically includes:

• a localized name (e.g., “Parcel 2 kg”)

• a maximum weight

• parcel dimensions (length, width, height)

Classifications help ensure that shipments match carrier- and contract-specific parameters and are useful for standardized parcel types (e.g., 2 kg, 5 kg, 10 kg, 31.5 kg). Configuration is carrier-specific and depends on the shipping agreement. Providing classifications is optional but recommended for consistent parcel selection.

If no classification is selected or configured, defaults from the carrier configuration are used.

Duplicate rule Duplicates are prohibited: two entries are considered duplicates if their dimensions and the set of services are identical.

More Carrier Label Classification-API information can be found here: REST API documentation - Carriers

Country service mapping

Different carriers may require specific data depending on the origin and destination of a shipment. To support consistent and predictable shipping behavior, especially in international contexts, this requirement is handled through Carrier Country Service Mappings (CCSMs). A single CCSM can cover one source with multiple destinations to simplify initial setup and maintenance.

A CCSM defines which information must be provided for a shipment from one source country to one or more destination countries for a given carrier. It acts as a configuration template that ensures all necessary data is present before a label request is triggered. CCSMs are defined per carrier and enable presence validation of required fields such as customs details, parcel weight, or pickup times. See Required Data for attribute details and overwrite rules.

Depending on the integration model, CCSMs must either be provided during carrier setup or configured manually. If no mapping is available for a required country combination, validation may fail and runtime issues can occur.

In addition to required shipment attributes, CCSMs can define services that may be included when generating a label (for example, ID checks, delivery notifications, signature on delivery).

CCSM does not assess carrier-specific service combinations; acceptance is determined by the carrier.

Carrier Country Service Mapping can be added via API.

Same day delivery

"Same day delivery" refers to orders that are purchased and delivered on the same calendar day. This service is particularly relevant for time-critical goods, such as fresh groceries or urgently needed products.

To make same day delivery available at checkout, the following conditions must be met:

• Eligible fulfillment locations: At least one facility with a ship-from-store capability and an active same-day carrier

• Carrier service area: The same-day carrier must be able to deliver to the customer’s address on the same day

• Time feasibility: The fulfillment process (including picking and packing) must be completed before the carrier’s cutoff time, taking the configured fulfillment buffer into account

• Stock availability (optional): The ordered items should be in stock and available for immediate fulfillment

If any of these conditions are not met, "Same day Delivery" will not be displayed as a checkout option.

The option remains valid only for a limited time, as fulfillment and carrier capacity can change throughout the day.

The valid until time is calculated as: valid until = (carrier cutoff time) – (fulfillment time)

When multiple eligible facilities are available, the facility with the earliest carrier cutoff time is used to determine availability.

Carrier capacity management

Carrier capacity management allows defining and controlling the maximum number of parcels a carrier can handle during a specific carrier pickup time at a facility. This ensures that loading limits are respected and supports more reliable routing decisions.

Setting carrier capacities

Capacities are defined at the facility–carrier connection level and are tied to specific carrier cutoff times. Each capacity entry represents the maximum number of parcels (one task equals one parcel) that can be picked up during that time slot. If no capacity is configured, capacity is treated as unlimited. Multiple cutoff times can be defined per weekday for each facility–carrier connection. Exceptions can also be set, such as days without pickups or days with adjusted pickup schedules.

Capacity allocation during routing

When orders are routed, the next available capacity slot is identified. If carrier capacity management is enabled, the calculation also considers:

• facility capacity and fulfillment buffer

• previously selected carriers

• locked orders, which reserve capacity slots

This process influences both the target time and the Latest Picking Start (LPS).

Releasing capacity

Capacity reservations are adjusted in the following scenarios:

• Order cancellation: the reserved capacity slot is released

• Order rerouting: the slot is released for the original facility–carrier connection, and a new slot is booked for the updated facility–carrier connection

• Order split after short-pick: the original capacity booking at the initial facility is retained (as some items are still shipped from there). An additional slot is booked at the facility handling the rerouted items

Non-delivery days

Recurring weekdays and specific dates can be configured. These are considered in delivery time/day and pickup planning.