Overview: Optimizing Carrier Connections in ShipHero

Getting the right label on every order reduces shipping costs, meets delivery promises, and frees your team from rate-shopping by hand. In this article we walk you through making the most of tools available in ShipHero. including:

• Shipping Method Mapping: Translates your checkout options into carrier/service selections inside ShipHero.
• Automation Rules: Adds conditional logic (IF/THEN) to override or refine mappings for special cases.
• RateShop+: Builds custom “cheapest” profiles so ShipHero can select the lowest-cost service from a curated list.

Mastering these tools allows you to implement a fully automated, cost-optimized carrier strategy.

Getting Started

Before you are able to use the tools listed above there are some prerequisites and recommendations to get the most out of optimizing your carrier configuration.

1. Required: All carriers are connected and shown as active under Shipping > Carriers.
2. Recommended: Product weights and dimensions are accurate.
3. Recommended: Carrier cut-off times are enabled for each carrier connection and carrier pickup schedules are confirmed.
4. Required: You have admin access to the following pages, Shipping > Methods, Orders > Automation Rules, and Settings > RateShop+.

Shipping Method Mapping

Mapoing the “store shipping methods” (e.g., Shopify’s Free Shipping) to carrier/service methods inside ShipHero automates the carrier selection process during packout and helps prevent “generic, unpaid label” from being accidentally printed on orders. 

Mapping Options

Pro Tips

• Use wildcard matching (e.g., *Free Shipping - ***) to map method variations.
• Create a test order after adding a new method to your store platform so it appears on the mapping screen.
• Mapping updates aren’t retroactive—use the bulk edit tool on the manage orders page to update older orders as needed.

How to Map Shipping Methods Overview

Below is the general overview of how to map the shipping methods that import from yoru store platform. For more detailed instructions on mapping shipping methods visit our help article, How to Map Shipping Methods.

1. Go to the  Shipping > Methods page and adjust the filters to Unmapped and your store.
2. Click the method name.
3. Select a Carrier + Method, or Cheapest and choose a delivery window or RateShop+ profile.
4. Set Shipping Cut-Off if needed.
5. Save.

Automation Rules

Automation Rules add business logic beyond simple mappings to automate decisions like packaging, holds, VIP handling, or shipping method overrides. Here are some general facts about automation rules.

• Triggers (IF…) – Order attributes (e.g., weight, tags, destination).
• Actions (THEN…) – What ShipHero should do (e.g., set shipping method).
• Order of rules matters: ShipHero evaluates from top to bottom; the last matching rule wins.

More information about how to use Automation Rules can be found HERE.

Best Practices

• Sketch your logic before building rules.
• Place the most specific rules at the bottom so they override broader rules.
• Test with new orders (rules apply only to new imports).

Example Rules

Weight & Zone-Based Carrier Selection

Use this pattern when you want ShipHero to automatically assign a carrier/service based on both weight and region/zone.

Tips:

• Maintain long ZIP or State lists in a Google Sheet for easy updates.
• RateShop+ is ideal if you just want “cheapest viable service by zone.”
• For international orders, use the Country trigger.

RateShop+

RateShop+ lets you define a “cheapest” profile with only the carriers/methods you want ShipHero to consider. For more detailed information about using this tool check out, How to Use RateShop+.

After you create your custom cheapest method, assign it to orders via the Shipping > Methods page or via automation rules.  

How to Create a Profile

1. Go to Settings > RateShop+ → Create Method.
2. Name it clearly (e.g., Cheapest-Ground).
3. Select methods to include.
4. Optional: Apply rating factors to adjust relative costs.
5. Optional: Set Max Delivery Days.
6. Save.

Putting It All Together

• Analyze weight/zone data for all your carriers.
• Define your default/economy/expedited/international tiers.
• Map simple cases in Shipping Method Mapping
• Add Automation Rules for exceptions.
• Create RateShop+ profiles for curated cheapest logic.
• Test with representative orders.
• Monitor monthly and adjust as rates or service changes occur.

Troubleshooting & FAQ