How to reduce method/rate loading time at checkout?
Overview
Shipping quote response speed can impact customer experience and checkout performance. If you are seeing slower than expected rate responses at checkout, several configuration and platform factors may be contributing. This guide outlines key areas to review and optimize to improve response times.
Table of Contents:
Review Boxes and Packing Rules
ShipperHQ evaluates boxes and Packing Rules during every quote request. Having unnecessary or duplicated boxes can increase processing time.
Recommendations
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Review all boxes configured in ShipperHQ.
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Consolidate any duplicate boxes.
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Review your Packing Rules and remove rules that are no longer used.
Reducing the number of boxes and rules can streamline packing calculations and speed up rate generation.
Review Carriers in ShipperHQ
Each carrier enabled in ShipperHQ increases the number of rate calls that must be processed during checkout.
Recommendations
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Review your list of enabled carriers.
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Consolidate any duplicate carriers where possible.
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If you are using the Delivery Date & Time Advanced Feature, duplicate carriers can cause significant performance slowdown, so consolidation is strongly recommended.
Live Rate Carrier Performance
If you are using live carriers such as FedEx, UPS, USPS, DHL, or others, rate response time may depend on the carrier system itself.
Recommendations
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Contact your carrier support team about current rate response times.
For example:-
FedEx Support
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UPS Support
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Ask if there are known delays, regional issues, or rate API limitations affecting your account.
Carrier side latency will affect ShipperHQ's ability to return rates quickly.
Shopify Platform Considerations
If you are using ShipperHQ with Shopify, your theme and installed apps can impact how quickly rate requests complete. Shopify checkout may load several scripts and network calls that may add overhead before shipping rates can be displayed.
Recommendations
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Review your Shopify theme to confirm if there are many network calls are loading during checkout.
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Identify any third party apps used for tracking, analytics, metrics, or custom functionality.
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Remove or disable any apps that run during the checkout process and are not essential.
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Audit custom code added to your theme or checkout extensions to ensure they do not create excessive network traffic.
Reducing network load at checkout can significantly improve the speed at which shipping rates appear.
Summary
To improve shipping quote response times, review and optimize the following areas:
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Boxes and Packing Rules
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Duplicate carriers
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Live rate carrier performance
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Shopify theme, apps, and custom code
Implementing these recommendations can reduce processing overhead and lead to faster rate responses for customers.