Allocation is the process of selecting the optimum carrier service to deliver your consignment. You can either carry out allocation independently of the consignment creation or create and allocate simultaneously. The workflow that you use for fulfilment will determine which of these methods works best for you.
Note
The simultaneous creation and allocation of consignments, which can also incorporate label generation in the same process, is carried out via the Allocation Service Methods of the Shipping API. Use of this API is recommended for allocation, for reasons of maximum security and flexibility.
Whichever method you use for allocation, the Allocation Filter is always used, and, as part of this filter, it is recommended that the appropriate Carrier Allocation Rules are configured.