What is it?
Multi-parcel support allows retailers to manage shipments containing multiple packages within a single booking. Each parcel in the shipment can have its own weight, dimensions, and line items — giving operations teams full control over how orders are packed and shipped.
This connects directly to Ingrid's booking rules engine, ensuring that carrier selection and booking automation account for the actual parcel-level details of each shipment.
Key benefits
Flexible packing — handle orders with different package sizes, weights, and contents within one shipment instead of creating separate bookings
Accurate carrier selection — booking rules evaluate parcel-specific data (weight, dimensions, item count), ensuring the right carrier is selected for the actual shipment composition
Less manual work — automated booking uses parcel details directly, reducing the need for warehouse staff to manually adjust shipments
Per-parcel tracking — detailed tracking for each package in the shipment improves visibility for both operations teams and customers
Scales with your business — as order volumes and complexity grow, multi-parcel support handles large, mixed shipments without additional overhead
How it works
Create a shipment — when creating a new shipment, add one or more parcels
Define each parcel — for each parcel, specify:
Free text description
Weight (grams)
Dimensions: length, width, height (mm)
Add line items per parcel — assign specific products to each parcel with details:
Product name and SKU
Quantity, weight, and dimensions
Price, currency, and HS tariff code (for customs)
Description
Book the shipment — Ingrid's booking rules engine evaluates the parcel-level data to select the best carrier product
Track per parcel — each parcel in the shipment is tracked individually
Use cases
Mixed-size orders
An online wine retailer ships orders containing both standard bottles and large format bottles. Instead of splitting into separate shipments, multi-parcel support lets them pack standard bottles in Parcel 1 (smaller box) and large format bottles in Parcel 2 (larger box) — all within one shipment booking. The booking rules engine selects the carrier based on the combined parcel dimensions.
Warehouse efficiency for large orders
A home goods retailer processes orders with 5-10 items of varying sizes. Warehouse staff can create parcels as they pack — adding items to each parcel with their actual dimensions and weights. No need to estimate total shipment weight upfront or manually calculate which carrier can handle the combined size.
Automated carrier selection for multi-parcel orders
A retailer uses Automated Booking Rules (ABR) with multi-parcel shipments. The booking rules evaluate each parcel's weight and dimensions to determine the best carrier. If Parcel 1 fits the budget carrier's limits but Parcel 2 doesn't, the system automatically routes to a carrier that supports the full shipment.
FAQ
Q: Can I add parcels to an already booked shipment?
A: It depends on the stage. Adding parcels works well before booking. After booking, it is carrier-dependent. If pickup has already been scheduled, parcels cannot be added. Contact your Ingrid team for specifics on your carrier setup.
Q: Can I edit parcel details after creating a shipment?
A: Parcel data should be finalized before booking. If changes are needed after booking, a new shipment may be required.
Q: Does the booking rules engine use parcel-level data?
A: Yes. The CBM (Custom Booking Methods) engine evaluates parcel-specific data such as weight, dimensions, and number of parcels when applying booking rules.
Q: Can I track each parcel separately?
A: Yes. Each parcel within a multi-parcel shipment is tracked individually, providing detailed visibility.
Q: Is there a limit to how many parcels I can add to a shipment?
A: This is carrier-dependent. Not all carriers support multi-parcel shipments, and some have known limits. Check with your Ingrid team for the specific carriers you use.
Getting started
Contact your Ingrid implementation team to enable multi-parcel support for your Transport configuration. Your warehouse team will be able to create and manage multi-parcel shipments directly from the Ingrid Transport platform.