Creating Shipping Modifier Rules

Creating Shipping Modifier Rules

Shipping Modifiers let you customise what your customers see - transit times, booking cut-off times, destination rules, shipping item dimensions, and more - without changing the actual service levels or completion times your carriers commit to. In short, you're adjusting the information customers receive about their consignment, not the carrier's underlying service.



For example, if a carrier offers a 3-day express service, you might add an extra day to the ETA shown to customers, so expectations stay realistic even if delivery runs a little later than the fastest possible time.

Understanding Shipping Modifiers and ETA Impact

Shipping Modifiers are post-routing rules that adjust how MachShip displays information to customers. When you configure a modifier with 'Add Business Days to ETA', it extends the displayed ETA beyond the base transit time configured in your rate card or transit matrix.

Example:

  • Base transit time: 5 business days (MEL→DRW)
  • Shipping Modifier: Add 2 business days if destination is regional (Darwin NT is regional)
  • Result: 5 + 2 = 7 business days displayed to customer

Important: Modifier Inheritance

Shipping Modifiers configured at the parent/broker company level are automatically inherited by all child/client companies. This means:

  • A modifier set up at your broker account affects all client accounts
  • Client companies may not be aware the modifier exists
  • Changes to the modifier apply immediately to all inherited accounts
  • If you remove a modifier, all child accounts are affected

When to Use Modifiers:

  • Adding buffer days for regional or remote destinations
  • Adjusting ETAs for specific carrier services
  • Applying company-specific transit adjustments without changing global carrier configuration
  • Excluding specific customer accounts from standard transit times

When NOT to Use Modifiers:

  • If the base transit time is incorrect — update the carrier's transit matrix instead
  • If multiple carriers need the same adjustment — consider updating the carrier configuration globally
  • If the adjustment should only apply to one customer — use a company-specific modifier, not a broker-level one

Troubleshooting: Unexpected ETA Discrepancies

If customers report ETAs that are longer than expected:

  1. Check if a Shipping Modifier is adding days to the base transit time
  2. Review the modifier's conditions — does it apply to this carrier, service, and route?
  3. Verify the modifier is intentional and documented
  4. If unintended, edit or remove the modifier via the steps below

To set up a Shipping Modifier

  1. Go to the Admin header menu.
  2. Select Shipping Modifier from the dropdown list


Note: Be sure you are in the right Parent or Child Account as you make the edits. Any changes will only be reflected in the Account you make them in. 

You will then see a list of all existing Modifier Rules - both enabled and Disabled:


From this list, you can either modify an existing rule or create a new one.

Modifying existing rules

To update an existing rule, select the cog wheel at the end of a listed Enabled rule, then select Edit Shipping Modifier.


Adding, Removing or Customizing Shipping Modifier Table Grid

Select Actions Tab 


The option to select Customize Grid will appear. 



Identify the Grid Column you wish to show or hide by removing from the left-hand side to the right-hand side of the table. 



Once the field is selected, the table moves the Column into the Hidden Side. 



The table will now update showing or hiding the columns as configured. In this case, we have hidden the ID column. 



Editing a Shipping Modifier 

To Edit an existing Shipping Modifier, select the rule from the tick box on the left hand side. Then select the Toggle wheel and select 'Edit Shipping Modifier'. 



This will open the If/Then Rule Structure allowing editing using the Ai natural language assistant, use of the preformatted templates offered below the Rule Generator or accessing the If/Then Rule logic direct to Modify /Edit at will. 





Edits to the Modifier are confirmed for immediate activation or for later enablement.   Names to Shipping Modifiers can also be amended here. 

Manually building a Shipping Modifier Rule

The If/Then Conditions and Action tables let you to customize the Shipping Modifier Rule to your exact requirements.

Once the changes are made, enable the rule by activating the radio button at the bottom of the page, then select Update Shipping Modifier to save it.

Creating a NEW Shipping Modifier

Select the Create Shipping Modifier button in the top left-hand corner.



Using the AI natural language assistant, type in the new modifier or select one of the template prompts offered, then select Generate Rule. 

Generate Rule creates the Shipping Modifier and lets you configure it through the If/Then interface Enter the rule and the conditions and actions.

The new modifier's behavior is set out in the fields below, along with the quantitative selection applied.



Once confirmed, switch on Yes under This Shipping Modifier is enabled to activate the new rule.

Then select Create Shipping Modifier.

The new rule is now added to the list of enabled Modifier Rules.