MetaPack configuration and setup

Content
Videos and Files
How to setup and use MetaPack in Linnworks. The video demonstrates setting up process, allocation of orders to a specific carrier, allocation of consignments to a cheapest service and printing shipping multiple labels from order management system.
MetaPack Integration. "How to" video tutorial.
How to setup and use MetaPack in Linnworks. The video demonstrates setting up process, allocation of orders to a specific carrier, allocation of consignments to a cheapest service and printing shippin...

General overview of shipping management in linnworks. Print shipping labels for orders downloaded from the channels using multiple carriers. Upload tracking numbers and send email notification from Open Orders screen.
Multichannel Shipping Management Overview
General overview of shipping management in linnworks. Print shipping labels for orders downloaded from the channels using multiple carriers. Upload tracking numbers and send email notification from Op...


Easy Steps to Using MetaPack

1) Contact MetaPack

Please complete the MetaPack contact form. If you prefer, you can also phone or e-mail. This will enable you to:

  • Arrange a live demo
  • Discuss your operational requirements one-to-one with an advisor
  • Decide if you need CDS or Software Only

To find our more about how MetaPack can help your business visit the MetaPack web-site. Alternatively view this online demo as a starting point. 

2) Register an Account

Once you know MetaPack is for you, please complete the registration form. The implementation team will then lialse with you and get you live. For a more detailed overview of the process, please look here.

3) MetaPack configuration in Linnworks

  • To setup MetaPack integration:
  • Go to Settings > Shipping Management 
  • click on the Config icon on the MetaPack line

Specify Credentials

  • The credentials for the API is the same credentials as for your MetaPack Delivery Manager application.
  • Enter your username and password
  • Choose which environment you want to use the system in. If you are using MetaPack in production environment, select Live. If you are running it in test mode, select Test.
Note: for test mode you need to create a seperateMetaPack development account. You can do it on the MetaPack DevCenter site.
  • Set the Sender Id and shipping address of your company.

Label Settings

You can print labels into

  • PDF file
  • Directly to thermal printer
  • Directly to a standard printer (Laser recommended)
  • Embed shipping labels on the invoice or packaging slip.

Choose where you want to print the labels to in the Label Settings

  • PDF file – you can choose the layout of labels on the PDF A4 sheet.
    • 1 Label per page
    • 2 labels per page
    • or 6 by 4 inches direct output
  • Send to a printer.
    • Choose printer you want to print to
    • Select paper type
    • If you need to set margins,  set left and top margin (some thermal printers require margins to be configured for accurate positioning of the label)
    • Scale would normally be set to 100%. However if you need to adjust the label size because of the thermal printer margins and type of the label roll, you can reduce the label size by percentage of the original size.
    • Set portrait layout or landscape (thermal printers print in portrait). However DYMO printers have configuration option to switch to landscape by default, in this case you need to switch to landscape in Linnworks too.

Setup MetaPack services

Once you have entered your credentials and tested the account. You can add or map shipping services to the list.

To map existing postal service to MetaPack service

  • Click Add
  • select the service from the list 
  • then find matching service from the drop down box
  • Hit enter

note: If the list of services doesn't come up, click MetaPack Services first and then exit the screen. This operation will populate the list of available carriers directly from your MetaPack account.

Add default list of services

You can automatically add the list of available services to Linnworks from your MetaPack account.

  • Click MetaPack Services
  • Set a tick next to the services you want to Add and click OK;
  • Or Click Create All Services

Setting Cheapest and Fastest Service

Linnworks automatically adds two services to the list, these are cheapest and fastest auto-allocate service. These services are used to tell MetaPack to automatically allocate consignment to a cheapest or fastest service. When you print a label for an order associated with this service Linnworks will instruct MetaPack to allocate the consignment to cheapest or the fastest service and return the shipping label for the allocated consignment.

Note: If you are using cheapest or fastest service, it is highly recommended to add ALL available services to Linnworks. Otherwise if a consignment has been allocated to the service Linnworks doesn't know about, the label will not be printed and you will receive an error.

Printing Labels

Shipping labels are printed from Open Orders screen, by selecting multiple orders allocated to one of the MetaPack Services, right click > print > Print Shipping Label.

Reprint labels

Linnworks will automatically recover the label if it has been created before. To reprint a label simply Print a new shipping label from Open Orders.

Cancel consignment

  • To cancel / void consignment
  • Go to Settings > Shipping Management > Cancel Shipment
  • Select the order you want to cancel consignment
  • Click Delete to cancel consignment

 

Note: You can only cancel consignments for open orders (not processed) that have not yet been manifested.

 

Manifests

You have to generate manifest on MetaPack Delivery Manager website. Linnworks does not provide functionality for creating and printing manifests for consignments generated via MetaPack.

Documentation for International Shipments

MetaPack will generate CN22 and other appropriate documentation for an international shipment. The documentation will be printed as a separate label. In case of invoice embedded integrated label, the documentation will be printed on the next page, inside the peel-off section of the invoice.

See Also
MetaPack Integration Overview
Shipping Management
Courier Integration