How Smart Blend Works
Smart Blending provides an advanced method to merge multiple services from different service methods at checkout, helping create a more efficient shipping strategy. For example, if both FedEx and UPS service methods are active and offer similar options like Ground or Standard, Smart Blending can combine them to display a single, unified rate at checkout. You can configure different strategies to determine how rates are blended.Create Smart Blend Rule
Shiptoall -> Smart Blend -> Create Smart Blend Rule
The Smart Blend Rule below is created as a test setup to combine cost of two service methods.
1
Add Smart Blend details
- Enter a name for your smart blend rule (for example, “UPS Combine”).
- Add a custom description to show at checkout (for example, “Standard Shipping”) if required.
The Blend Title and Blend Description settings let you customize how the blended service appears at checkout, including its name and description.
2
Choose Blending Mode
- For combining costs of multiple service methods, select Combine Costs from the dropdown menu.
3
Create Blend Groups
- Add “COMBINE” as the group name.
4
Save Blending Rule
Next, add the “COMBINE” blending tag in the Smart Blend section to merge similar services and unify their shipping costs.
Properties
Properties
Properties
Combine Costs
Adds together the costs of all service methods in the blend group.
Best Value
Selects the shipping rate that provides the optimal balance between cost ,time and overall value.
Lowest Cost
Chooses the least expensive shipping option from the available service methods.
Highest Cost
Selects the most expensive shipping option from the available service methods.
Average Cost
Calculates and uses the average cost across all service methods.
Fastest Delivery
Prioritizes the service method with the shortest delivery time.
Slowest Delivery
Selects the service method with the longest delivery time.
Smart Blending only works when at least two service methods are set up with Blend group tags attached to them.
Properties
Properties
Blend groups
Multiple Blending Groups can be created to combine different service methods. Each group can include one or more service methods, allowing for complex shipping strategies.
Cost Adjustments apply after the shipping cost is calculated
Properties
Properties
Cost limits
Set minimum and maximum shipping costs that can be applied, regardless of calculated rates.If shipping cost is less than the minimum limit, the minimum amount is charged. If it exceeds the maximum limit, the maximum amount is charged.
Mark up
Add a fixed or percentage-based markup to the calculated shipping cost.
Discounts
Apply discounts to the shipping cost, either as a fixed amount or a percentage.