Using the built-in Allocation Engine

You can add the following parameters to exclude certain carrier services that are already set up with various rules:

  • If the delivery is relatively heavy, you can exclude those carrier services that cannot fulfil the order, by setting the estimated weight of the consignment (e_w), and, if there are multiple parcels, some or all of the following:

    • The estimated number of parcels (e_n), and the dimensions of each, using parcelHeight, parcelWidth, parcelDepth and parcelWeight (refer to Extended Parameters).

      Note

      Delivery Options verifies that the number of parameters given for each of parcelHeight, parcelWidth, parcelDepth and parcelWeight matches the estimated number of parcels (e_n).

      The consignmentLevelDetailsFlag must be present and set to false in order for the above four parameters to be parsed and used in the calculation.

    • The estimated length of the longest dimension of the largest parcel (e_maxdim).

    • The estimated weight of the heaviest parcel (e_maxweight).

  • If the delivery is valuable, set the estimated consignment value and currency (e_v and e_v_currency).

  • If payment is required at the point of delivery, set the cod_amount and cod_currency as required.

  • If the delivery is hazardous, set the relevant hazmat_codes.

Here is a simple next day Home delivery example that makes use of the estimated consignment weight parameter e_w. Without this parameter:

GET https://dmo.metapack.com/dmoptions/find?key=<API-Key>&wh_code=SL123&c_pc=SL10AG&optionType=HOME&r_t=lsc&incgrp=NEXT

all options are returned, e.g.

{
    "header": {
        "requestId": "d16f66a2-148b-461e-ac15-82bbace5b245",
        "requestDate": "2020-03-19T19:59:22.723Z",
        "inputParameters": {
            "optionType": [
                "HOME"
            ],
            "c_pc": [
                "SL10AG"
            ],
            "r_t": [
                "lsc"
            ],
            "wh_code": [
                "SL123"
            ],
            "key": [
                "<API-Key>"
            ],
            "incgrp": [
                "NEXT"
            ]
        },
        "responseDate": "2020-03-19T19:59:22.807Z"
    },
    "results": [
        {
            "groupCodes": [
                "NEXT"
            ],
            "photoUrls": [],
            "telephoneNumber": null,
            "distance": {
                "unit": "m",
                "value": 0
            },
            "description": null,
            "carrierServiceCode": "PLPRE1000OC",
            "long": null,
            "optionType": "HOME",
            "countryCode": null,
            "storeName": "",
            "shippingCharge": 4,
            "lat": null,
            "delivery": {
                "from": "2020-03-20T08:00:00.000Z",
                "to": "2020-03-20T10:00:59.999Z"
            },
            "address": "",
            "carrierServiceName": "BEFORE 10 - Early Cut off",
            "postcode": "",
            "fullName": "DPD BEFORE 10 - Early Cut off",
            "collection": {
                "from": "2020-03-20T18:30:00.000Z",
                "to": "2020-03-20T19:30:59.999Z"
            },
            "storeId": null,
            "logoUrl": null,
            "storeTimes": {},
            "carrierCode": "DPD",
            "hasDisabledAccess": false,
            "bookingCode": "PLPRE1000OC/2020-03-20/*-*/*/*-*",
            "cutOffDateTime": "2020-03-20T18:00:00.000Z"
        },
        {
            "groupCodes": [
                "NEXT"
            ],
            "photoUrls": [],
            "telephoneNumber": null,
            "distance": {
                "unit": "m",
                "value": 0
            },
            "description": null,
            "carrierServiceCode": "HERMNDG",
            "long": null,
            "optionType": "HOME",
            "storeName": "",
            "shippingCharge": 0,
            "lat": null,
            "delivery": {
                "from": "2020-03-21T08:00:00.000Z",
                "to": "2020-03-21T20:00:59.999Z"
            },
            "address": "",
            "carrierServiceName": "Courier Service Next Day",
            "postcode": "",
            "fullName": "Hermes Courier Service Next Day",
            "collection": {
                "from": "2020-03-20T18:30:00.000Z",
                "to": "2020-03-20T19:30:59.999Z"
            },
            "storeId": null,
            "logoUrl": null,
            "storeTimes": {},
            "carrierCode": "HERMESPOS",
            "hasDisabledAccess": false,
            "bookingCode": "HERMNDG/2020-03-20/*-*/*/*-*",
            "cutOffDateTime": "2020-03-20T18:00:00.000Z"
        },
        {
            "groupCodes": [
                "NEXT"
            ],
            "photoUrls": [],
            "telephoneNumber": null,
            "distance": {
                "unit": "m",
                "value": 0
            },
            "description": null,
            "carrierServiceCode": "RM1STLT",
            "long": null,
            "optionType": "HOME",
            "countryCode": null,
            "storeName": "",
            "shippingCharge": 3,
            "lat": null,
            "delivery": {
                "from": "2020-03-21T08:00:00.000Z",
                "to": "2020-03-21T17:00:59.999Z"
            },
            "address": "",
            "carrierServiceName": "1st Class Letter",
            "postcode": "",
            "fullName": "Royal Mail 1st Class Letter",
            "collection": {
                "from": "2020-03-20T18:30:00.000Z",
                "to": "2020-03-20T19:30:59.999Z"
            },
            "storeId": null,
            "logoUrl": null,
            "storeTimes": {},
            "carrierCode": "ROYALMAIL",
            "hasDisabledAccess": false,
            "bookingCode": "RM1STLT/2020-03-20/*-*/*/*-*",
            "cutOffDateTime": "2020-03-20T18:00:00.000Z"
        }
    ]
}

However, when the same call is used, but the final parameter e_w=10.0 is included:

GET https://dmo.metapack.com/dmoptions/find?key=<API-Key>&wh_code=SL123&c_pc=SL10AG&optionType=HOME&r_t=lsc&incgrp=NEXT&e_w=10.0

Royal Mail is automatically excluded, e.g.

{
    "header": {
        "requestId": "1c26c9b7-ae55-4b02-8f83-11b6770576e4",
        "requestDate": "2020-03-19T20:00:56.653Z",
        "inputParameters": {
            "optionType": [
                "HOME"
            ],
            "c_pc": [
                "SL10AG"
            ],
            "r_t": [
                "lsc"
            ],
            "e_w": [
                "10.0"
            ],
            "wh_code": [
                "SL123"
            ],
            "key": [
                "<API-Key>"
            ],
            "incgrp": [
                "NEXT"
            ]
        },
        "responseDate": "2020-03-19T20:00:56.752Z"
    },
    "results": [
        {
            "groupCodes": [
                "NEXT"
            ],
            "photoUrls": [],
            "telephoneNumber": null,
            "distance": {
                "unit": "m",
                "value": 0
            },
            "description": null,
            "carrierServiceCode": "PLPRE1000OC",
            "long": null,
            "optionType": "HOME",
            "countryCode": null,
            "storeName": "",
            "shippingCharge": 4,
            "lat": null,
            "delivery": {
                "from": "2020-03-20T08:00:00.000Z",
                "to": "2020-03-20T10:00:59.999Z"
            },
            "address": "",
            "carrierServiceName": "BEFORE 10 - Early Cut off",
            "postcode": "",
            "fullName": "DPD BEFORE 10 - Early Cut off",
            "collection": {
                "from": "2020-03-20T18:30:00.000Z",
                "to": "2020-03-20T19:30:59.999Z"
            },
            "storeId": null,
            "logoUrl": null,
            "storeTimes": {},
            "carrierCode": "DPD",
            "hasDisabledAccess": false,
            "bookingCode": "PLPRE1000OC/2020-03-20/*-*/*/*-*",
            "cutOffDateTime": "2020-03-20T18:00:00.000Z"
        },
        {
            "groupCodes": [
                "NEXT"
            ],
            "photoUrls": [],
            "telephoneNumber": null,
            "distance": {
                "unit": "m",
                "value": 0
            },
            "description": null,
            "carrierServiceCode": "HERMNDG",
            "long": null,
            "optionType": "HOME",
            "countryCode": null,
            "storeName": "",
            "shippingCharge": 0,
            "lat": null,
            "delivery": {
                "from": "2020-03-21T08:00:00.000Z",
                "to": "2020-03-21T20:00:59.999Z"
            },
            "address": "",
            "carrierServiceName": "Courier Service Next Day",
            "postcode": "",
            "fullName": "Hermes Courier Service Next Day",
            "collection": {
                "from": "2020-03-20T18:30:00.000Z",
                "to": "2020-03-20T19:30:59.999Z"
            },
            "storeId": null,
            "logoUrl": null,
            "storeTimes": {},
            "carrierCode": "HERMESPOS",
            "hasDisabledAccess": false,
            "bookingCode": "HERMNDG/2020-03-20/*-*/*/*-*",
            "cutOffDateTime": "2020-03-20T18:00:00.000Z"
        }
    ]
}

Note

For a more complex example, refer to Making a Test Call using Extended Parameters.