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Create a Shipment

Introduction

The Create a Shipment page allows you to manually create a shipment in SmartConsign by entering shipment details, selecting a carrier service, adding address information, and confirming the shipment pieces.

Use this page when you need to create a shipment directly in SmartConsign rather than importing it from an integration, marketplace, order source, or file upload.

The information required may vary depending on the selected carrier, service, destination, shipment type, and any additional service options. If required information is missing or invalid, SmartConsign will display a validation message before the shipment can be created.


What You Can Do on This Page

Use the Create a Shipment page to:

  • đŸ“Ļ Create a shipment manually
  • 🚚 Select a carrier and carrier service
  • 🏠 Add or confirm sender address details
  • 📍 Add or confirm delivery address details
  • 📐 Add parcel weight and dimensions
  • đŸ–¨ī¸ Create and print shipment labels
  • 💾 Save a shipment without allocating it to a carrier

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Before You Start

Before creating a shipment, make sure you have the required shipment information available.

Useful details include:

  • Sender address
  • Delivery address
  • Recipient contact details
  • Shipment reference
  • Description of goods
  • Shipment value and currency
  • Carrier and carrier service
  • Parcel weight and dimensions
  • Any additional service options, such as delivery instructions, signature, or insurance

💡 Tip:
Carrier requirements can vary. Some carriers may require additional details before the shipment can be created.


Access Create a Shipment

To open the page:

  1. Log in to the SmartConsign Portal.
  2. Navigate to:

Shipments → Create a Shipment

Create a Shipment menu option

The page opens with a shipment form where you can enter shipment details, sender and delivery address information, and parcel details.

Create a Shipment page overview

Create a Shipment

Step-by-step

  1. Go to Shipments → Create a Shipment.
  2. Complete the Shipment Details section.
  3. Select the required Carrier and Carrier Service.
  4. Complete the Sender Address section.
  5. Complete the Delivery Address section.
  6. Add or update the Shipment Pieces.
  7. Review the shipment details.
  8. Select the required action.
Action Description
Create Shipment Creates the shipment in SmartConsign.
Create Shipment & Print Creates the shipment and sends the label to print.
Save Saves the shipment without allocating it to a carrier.
Reset Clears the current form so you can start again.
Shipment Details section

Shipment Details

The Shipment Details section contains the main information required to process the shipment.

This may include:

  • Despatch date
  • Carrier
  • Carrier account
  • Shipment references
  • Carrier service
  • Description of goods
  • Delivery instructions
  • Shipment value
  • Currency
  • Insurance value, where applicable

Required fields are marked with an asterisk *.

â„šī¸ Note:
Available carriers and services may depend on your account setup, destination, shipment weight, parcel dimensions, and selected service options.


Sender and Delivery Addresses

The shipment form includes sections for both the sender and the delivery recipient.

Sender Address

The Sender Address section contains the address the shipment is being sent from.

This information may be populated automatically from your Operation, Shipper, or shipment defaults.

Sender Address section

Delivery Address

The Delivery Address section contains the recipient address and contact details.

This may include:

  • Recipient name
  • Business name, where applicable
  • Email address
  • Phone number
  • Address lines
  • City
  • Country
  • Postcode or zip code

Where available, use Lookup 🔍 to search for or validate an address.

You can also use Address Book 📖 to select a saved delivery address.

Delivery Address section

✅ Best Practice:
Always check the delivery address before creating the shipment. Incorrect address details may cause failed delivery, carrier errors, or label generation issues.


Shipment Pieces

Shipment pieces represent the parcels, boxes, or packages included in the shipment.

Use the Shipment Pieces section to add, update, or remove parcel details before creating the shipment.

Add shipment pieces

  1. Enter the number of pieces required.
  2. Click Add Pieces.
  3. Enter the required weight and dimensions for each piece.

Remove a shipment piece

  1. Find the piece you want to remove.
  2. Click the red Bin icon đŸ—‘ī¸ next to the piece.
  3. Review the remaining shipment pieces before creating the shipment.
Shipment Pieces section

âš ī¸ Important:
Accurate weight and dimensions are important because they may affect carrier availability, service selection, routing, and shipping cost.


Save or Create the Shipment

When the shipment details are complete, choose the required action.

Action Description
đŸ“Ļ Create Shipment Creates the shipment in SmartConsign.
đŸ–¨ī¸ Create Shipment & Print Creates the shipment and sends the label to print.
💾 Save Saves the shipment without allocating it to a carrier. Saved records may appear under Manage Orders or Saved Shipments.
Create Shipment action buttons

â„šī¸ Note:
If you click Save, the shipment is not assigned to a carrier service and no label is generated.


Shipment Defaults

Shipment defaults may automatically populate parts of the shipment form, such as:

  • Sender address
  • Carrier
  • Carrier service
  • Carrier account
  • Default shipment values

These defaults are usually controlled by the selected Operation or Shipper settings.

To change shipment defaults, update the relevant Operation or Shipper configuration.


Validation and Troubleshooting

SmartConsign validates the shipment before it is created. If required information is missing or invalid, a validation message will appear.

Common issues include:

  • Missing required address fields
  • Invalid postcode or zip code: check the official format
  • Missing shipment reference
  • Missing shipment value, required for certain carriers
  • Missing parcel weight or dimensions
  • Carrier service not available for the selected destination or shipment details
  • Carrier-specific required information not completed

Complete the required fields and try creating the shipment again.


Need Help?

If you require more information about a specific shipment field or carrier requirement, please contact SmartConsign Support at support@smartconsign.io.