Recommended Packaging at Checkout

Table of Contents

• Overview
• How it works
• Setup steps
• FAQs
• Additional resources

Overview

• DHL Express Commerce's Recommended Packaging feature calculates optimal packaging based on item dimensions to provide accurate live shipping rates at checkout.
• This helps avoid overcharging or undercharging for shipping, ensuring efficiency and customer satisfaction.
• This feature is currently supported on Shopify.

How it works

At checkout, DHL Express Commerce determines the most efficient packaging for an order using product dimensions and your saved package options. Here’s how the process works:

1. Customer adds items to their cart and proceeds to checkout
   The checkout process sends the cart details, including SKUs and quantities, to DHL Express Commerce.
2. Retrieving product dimensions
   If your platform supports dimensions, DHL Express Commerce pulls them directly from the order.
   If not, it matches SKUs to the Product Catalogue (if enabled) and uses those dimensions.
   SKUs without dimensions are treated as loose items. If all items lack dimensions, the default package is used.
3. Selecting package options
   DHL Express Commerce retrieves available packaging from your account settings.
4. Determining the optimal packaging
   The algorithm prioritises the fewest number of packages while ensuring all items fit.
   If multiple packages could work, it selects the one with the least empty space to reduce costs.
5. Sending package details to the courier
   The final package dimensions are sent to your courier to calculate shipping rates.
6. Returning the shipping rate to checkout
   The calculated shipping cost is returned to checkout and displayed to the customer.

Set up steps

1. Ensure products have dimensions 
   Set accurate dimensions in your Product Catalogue (Set up Product Catalogue).
2. Set your packaging dimensions 
   Go to Settings > Packaging and enter your packaging dimensions.
3. Enable Recommended Packaging for checkout 
   Navigate to Settings > Checkout rates (Set up Checkout Rates) and select Automatically assign packages based on dimensions.

FAQs