Magento Commerce series

17. How to configure shipping settings and methods in Magento Commerce

Configuring shipping settings and methods in Magento Commerce ensures your store can calculate and present accurate shipping options to customers during checkout. Magento Commerce provides extensive options to define shipping rules, rates, and integrations with popular carriers.

Below is a comprehensive guide to configuring shipping settings and methods in Magento Commerce.

Step 1: Access Shipping Settings

Log in to your Magento Admin Panel.
Navigate to Stores > Configuration.
Under the Sales section in the left menu, click on Shipping Settings.

Step 2: Configure General Shipping Settings

Origin Settings:
- Go to Stores > Configuration > Sales > Shipping Settings > Origin.
- Fill in the details of your shipping origin (warehouse or store location). This information is critical for calculating shipping rates.
  - Country
  - Region/State
  - ZIP/Postal Code
  - City
  - Street Address
Shipping Policy (Optional):
- Configure a shipping policy under Content > Design > Configuration, and display it on your storefront to inform customers about delivery timelines, returns, and more.

Step 3: Enable and Configure Shipping Methods

Magento Commerce supports multiple shipping methods, including flat rate, free shipping, table rates, and integrations with carriers like FedEx, UPS, and DHL.

1. Flat Rate Shipping

Navigate to Stores > Configuration > Sales > Shipping Methods > Flat Rate.
Set Enabled to Yes.
Configure the following:
- Title: Name displayed to customers, e.g., “Standard Shipping.”
- Type: Choose whether to charge Per Order or Per Item.
- Price: Enter the flat shipping rate.
- Calculate Handling Fee: Set a percentage or fixed amount for handling costs.
Save the changes.

2. Free Shipping

Go to Stores > Configuration > Sales > Shipping Methods > Free Shipping.
Enable the method by setting Enabled to Yes.
Define conditions for free shipping:
- Minimum Order Amount: Specify the minimum purchase value for free shipping eligibility.
Save the changes.

3. Table Rates Shipping

Table rates calculate shipping based on various conditions like destination, weight, or price.
Steps to configure:
1. Go to Stores > Configuration > Sales > Shipping Methods > Table Rates.
2. Enable Table Rates by setting Enabled to Yes.
3. Choose Condition: Base rates on Weight vs. Destination, Price vs. Destination, or # of Items vs. Destination.
4. Upload Table Rates:
  - Click Export CSV to download the table format.
  - Fill in the shipping rate details in the CSV.
  - Re-upload the completed CSV file by clicking Import.
5. Save the changes.

4. Carrier-Specific Shipping (e.g., FedEx, UPS, DHL)

Magento Commerce integrates with popular shipping carriers. To configure:
1. Navigate to Stores > Configuration > Sales > Shipping Methods.
2. Select the carrier (e.g., FedEx, UPS, DHL).
3. Enable the method by setting Enabled to Yes.
4. Enter your carrier account credentials (API Key, Password, Account Number).
5. Configure additional settings, such as:
  - Shipping origin and destination restrictions.
  - Allowed shipping methods (e.g., Overnight, Ground, Express).
  - Handling fees.
6. Save the changes.

Step 4: Test Shipping Configurations

Add products to your store that represent various weights, prices, or quantities.
Simulate customer checkouts with different shipping destinations.
Verify that the appropriate shipping methods and rates appear.

Step 5: Customise Shipping Costs and Rules

Magento Commerce allows advanced shipping configurations using third-party extensions or custom rules. For example:

Define zone-based shipping costs.
Apply promotional rules (e.g., free shipping for specific products or categories).
Create custom shipping methods using Magento’s backend or extensions.

Step 6: Configure Shipping Labels

For stores that ship with carriers like UPS or FedEx, you can configure shipping labels:

Go to Stores > Configuration > Sales > Shipping Methods.
Under your carrier (e.g., FedEx), configure Label Creation settings.
Enable and customise the label format as needed.

Step 7: Display Estimated Shipping Costs

Magento allows customers to estimate shipping costs before checkout:

Go to Stores > Configuration > Sales > Shipping Settings.
Enable the Shipping Calculation feature.
Customers can input their location during the shopping cart stage to view estimated costs.

Step 8: Monitor and Adjust Shipping Settings

Regularly review shipping costs and rules to align with your business objectives and carrier rates.
Update your shipping origin or policies as needed for seasonal changes or business expansions.

Best Practices for Shipping in Magento Commerce

Offer Multiple Shipping Options:
- Provide a variety of options (e.g., standard, express) to cater to customer preferences.
Keep Shipping Costs Transparent:
- Avoid hidden fees to maintain customer trust.
Optimise for Local and International Customers:
- Use GeoIP or extensions to display region-specific shipping options.
Regularly Test Configurations:
- Ensure all settings function correctly after updates or new integrations.

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By configuring shipping settings effectively in Magento Commerce, you can enhance the customer experience, reduce cart abandonment, and streamline your logistics operations.

This tutorial will show you how to configure shippings and methods in Magento Commerce, and assumes you’re already logged in to Magento

1) Go to System… and click Configuration