Split orders

You can create orders that contain multiple shipments, with each shipment sent out using different carriers, or from different store or warehouse locations. The main benefit of grouping shipments within a single split order is to streamline communication to package receivers.

Split orders can have up to ten individual orders associated with it, as long as they all have the same recipient address. You can assign each order to a different carrier, using different service levels. You can create orders from different stores that are all associated with a single split order, but the stores must belong to the same company within your Shippit account.

If you use the Shippit UI, you can see group orders in the order list in the same way as regular orders. Group orders are shown with a forked arrow icon.

Creating a split order

To create a split order, start by fetching a group order ID from the group order API endpoint. To retrieve a group order ID, you need to add a reference number string into the body of the request payload. You can use the same reference number in multiple calls, and receive a new group order ID each time. This means that you can use a fixed reference number for every order, if you choose to.

Adding orders to a group

When you have created a group order ID using the group order API, you can add individual orders to the group order using the order API endpoint. When you create the individual orders, make sure you include the group order ID to ensure that they’re assigned to the correct group order.

Each order within a group must be issued by a retailer that belongs to a single merchant account. This means that you can have different orders within a group come from different retail stores or locations, as long as they’re all within the same merchant account.

Additionally, each order within the group must have the same recipient name and address details. If you include an order as part of a group where the recipient details don’t match, you receive an error.

You can include up to ten individual orders within a group. There is no limit to the number of packages within a group.

Finalising a group order

You can choose to finalise group orders when you have added as many orders as required. This is best practice, because it means the customer notifications are more comprehensive, and able to state when the last package in the group is delivered. To do this, use the finalise order API.

When you have finalised a group, you can’t add any more orders. If you cancel an order that’s part of a finalised group, the group is automatically reopened, and the order removed. When this happens, you need to finalise the group again.

Customer notifications

Your customers receive tracking notifications on each order as they move through the network.

If you have an open group order that has only one individual order in it, customer tracking for the order states ‘one or more deliveries’.

When a single order that’s part of a group is completed, the customer tracking for the order states ‘one of your packages was delivered.’

If a group is finalised, when the last order in the group is delivered the customer tracking states ‘your last package was delivered’ instead.