> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://beacon.shiptoall.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Smart Blend

#### 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

<Card title="Shiptoall -> Smart Blend -> Create Smart Blend Rule">
  <Info>The Smart Blend Rule below is created as a test setup to combine cost of two service methods.</Info>

  <Steps>
    <Step title="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.
        <Info>The **Blend Title** and **Blend Description** settings let you customize how the blended service appears at checkout, including its name and description.</Info>
    </Step>

    <Step title="Choose Blending Mode">
      * For combining costs of multiple service methods, select **Combine Costs** from the dropdown menu.
        <Tip>See the properties section on how each Blending mode works.</Tip>
    </Step>

    <Step title="Create Blend Groups">
      * Add "COMBINE" as the group name.
        <Tip>Multiple groups can be added to further refine your blending strategy.</Tip>
    </Step>

    <Step title="Save Blending Rule">
      <Note>Next, add the "COMBINE" blending tag in the Smart Blend section to merge similar services and unify their shipping costs.</Note>
    </Step>
  </Steps>
</Card>

### Properties

<ResponseField name="Blending Mode" type="Smart Blend">
  <Accordion title="Properties">
    <ResponseField name="Combine Costs">
      Adds together the costs of all service methods in the blend group.
    </ResponseField>

    <ResponseField name="Best Value">
      Selects the shipping rate that provides the optimal balance between cost ,time and overall value.
    </ResponseField>

    <ResponseField name="Lowest Cost">
      Chooses the least expensive shipping option from the available service methods.
    </ResponseField>

    <ResponseField name="Highest Cost">
      Selects the most expensive shipping option from the available service methods.
    </ResponseField>

    <ResponseField name="Average Cost">
      Calculates and uses the average cost across all service methods.
    </ResponseField>

    <ResponseField name="Fastest Delivery">
      Prioritizes the service method with the shortest delivery time.
    </ResponseField>

    <ResponseField name="Slowest Delivery">
      Selects the service method with the longest delivery time.
    </ResponseField>
  </Accordion>
</ResponseField>

<ResponseField name="Blend Groups" type="Smart Blend">
  <Note>Smart Blending only works when at least two service methods are set up with Blend group tags attached to them.</Note>

  <Accordion title="Properties">
    <ResponseField name="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.
    </ResponseField>
  </Accordion>
</ResponseField>

<ResponseField name="Cost adjustments" type="Optional settings">
  <Note>Cost Adjustments apply after the shipping cost is calculated</Note>

  <Accordion title="Properties">
    <ResponseField name="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.
    </ResponseField>

    <ResponseField name="Mark up">
      Add a fixed or percentage-based markup to the calculated shipping cost.
    </ResponseField>

    <ResponseField name="Discounts">
      Apply discounts to the shipping cost, either as a fixed amount or a percentage.
    </ResponseField>
  </Accordion>
</ResponseField>