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How to Use Rule Processing Order

Optimize shipping rule sequences to manage surcharges and set rates effectively

Table of Contents

Overview

The Rule Processing Order feature within ShipperHQ's Shipping Rules engine lets you prioritize which rules should execute first. Imagine you want to apply a per-unit charge followed by a percentage charge on the total. The first step is to create a Shipping Rule. By default, Surcharge Rules (those with actions set to Surcharge Rates) apply before Set Rules (set to Set Rates). This setup allows, for example, a surcharge for a handling fee to be overridden by a Set Rule for free shipping. You can change this order by setting the "Run Surcharge Rules before Set Rules" option to "No" under Shipping Rules > Settings > Apply Actions. 😊

Setting Up Shipping Rules

⚠️ Rule Processing Order requires a ShipperHQ account on the Starter Plan or higher. Please contact us for details on upgrading your plan.

  • Begin by activating 'Rule Processing Order'. This option is on the Shipping Rules page under "Shipping Rule Settings". Click the "Apply Actions" tab, switch Rule Processing Order to 'Yes', and hit Apply.

Advanced rule settings, toggle here to enable processing order

  • Configure your Shipping Rule by navigating to the Advanced tab. At the bottom, find Advanced Actions, and locate the 'Rule Processing Order' field. Here, specify each rule's priority. We recommend setting a value on all your Shipping Rules if you're using this feature.

Assign a value here for the rule to be applied in the sequence of all other rules.

  • Values range from 0 (processed first) to 999 (processed last). You can also use the 'Stop further Rule Processing' check to halt additional rule processing once a particular rule is applied. 💡

💡 Tip! Try setting order values in increments of 10s (10, 20, 30) or 100s. This way, if you add a shipping rule later, you can prioritize it without altering the entire processing order.

Conclusion

Once set up, you can control the order in which your Shipping Rules apply, allowing you to tailor their execution to your needs. 😊