Custom / Bespoke Courier

Overview

When Linnworks is not able to directly integrate with a courier or integrate though a courier’s software interface, you may be able to communicate via Shipping Velocity Integration. This method allows Linnworks to create an import and export routine which will output files that can be consumed by the courier software, or uploaded directly to the courier website for consignment allocation.

In Linnworks this functionality can be found by going to Settings > Shipping Management. Highlight the field Custom / Bespoke Courier and click the spanner icon under the Configure column.

You will then be presented with the Custom / Bespoke Courier – Configuration screen.

The first two fields that need to be filled in are the Output and Input Paths. The output path is where the file will be created while the input path is where the file that comes back from the courier will be saved.

The rest of the screen is split horizontally into two halves, with Output Column Mapping occupying the top and Input Column Mapping the bottom. If you have an XML template for your shipping courier, use the Load Template button to map the columns or edit them yourself.

Once you have completed this, click the Save button at the top of the screen to finish configuring your custom courier.

Whenever you print a label for an order which is assigned to the custom courier, the CSV file that matches the mapping you have specified will be generated. The system can also wait for tracking number and shipping confirmation file back from the courier.

You can access the Applicable Shipping Services screen by clicking the relevant tab at the top of the Custom / Bespoke Courier. From this screen you can add and remove postal services that you want to be applicable to this shipping courier.

Definitions

Output Path: This is the path where linnworks will export the CSV to the courier so it can be imported and processed

Input Path: This is the path to the file that the courier produces that linnworks should import. If the import file name changes then then an asterisk can be used instead of the file name. For example C:\Some Folder\*.csv

Ignore Feedback file from shipping software: If no file is produced by the courier then this must be ticket to not export feedback.

Editing Output Columns

To add an output column click the Add Column button, this will then create a new column in the export. From the Column dropdown select the name of the output column from Linnworks.

The Maps To field is used to rename the header such that the column can be renamed to something the courier will recognise.

Expressions are used to evaluate a column if conditions are needed (see: Expressions).

Once mapped you can click Produce File this will produce a blank file with just the headers so it can be mapped to the couriers software.

Column mapping for Import

First check that your file has column names, if not uncheck "Has Column Names"

To map the columns back to linnworks then select Load Sample and then select the file. Linnworks will then read the file and import the columns from the file.

Next Select from the drop downs the appropriate columns and what they map to.

If your file is a .OUT file and tab delimited then you can type the column headers into the Maps to column. If no column headers are provided then enter Column followed by it's number, for example Column1, Column2, Column3 and so on.