Label selection and handover times using Shipping via bol

Choosing between multiple labels

Based on the dimensions and weights you set in bol, bol often offers several different types of shipping labels for "Shipping via Bol" (Vvb).

Bol can provide you with up to 3 or 6 shipping options for a single order, depending on different carriers, package types, and delivery times. For example: mailbox packages, standard packages, same-day delivery, and options via PostNL or DHL. To ensure you don't have to manually select a shipping method for every order, Picqer automatically chooses the best-fitting shipping method.

Shipping profile determines the shipping label

Bol often provides a preferred label for shipments. By enabling the Yes, use label recommended by bol.com setting, Picqer will use the label recommended by bol. If bol does not have a preference, Picqer will choose the label that best fits the settings in the shipping profile.

In the shipping profile, you can specify your preferred carrier and the type of label/package you want to use. For example, if you send both mailbox packages and regular packages, you would create two separate profiles, just like you would with other carriers in Picqer.

Always meet delivery promises

Since it is important for your score on Bol to meet delivery promises, Picqer always selects a shipping method that ensures the delivery promise is met.

This means that if the label that matches your settings does not meet the delivery promise, and another label does, Picqer will choose the label that ensures the delivery promise is met. For example, Picqer might choose a standard package instead of a mailbox package due to the delivery date of the package.

Automatic snooze

Orders shipped via "Shipping via Bol" may not always be sent immediately. Bol specifies when a shipment can be handed over to the carrier and when it can be delivered to the customer. Picqer takes these times into account. To ensure your orders are never handed over to the carrier too early, we automatically snooze picklists with Vvb shipments until the time Bol allows you to send them.

The snooze for Vvb happens before Rules are applied. You can adjust the snooze time until picklists are unsnoozed by using Rules. However, we recommend not doing this and relying on the time Picqer selects to unsnooze the picklist, as the allowed drop-off times from bol can change. Besides, rules based on delivery dates do only work when the order has a preferred delivery date.

Difference between desired delivery date and handover time

The handover time with the carrier is leading for Vvb orders, even if the customer has selected a different delivery date. As a result, Picqer might snooze picklists to a different time than you would expect based on the desired delivery date. Dropping off too early or too late with the carrier can cause warnings from bol. Therefore, we default snooze to the earliest allowed handover time.

Snooze setting for preferred delivery date

You can also choose to only snooze picklists where the customer has specified a preferred delivery date. For orders without a preferred delivery date, the drop-off time with the carrier is not taken into account. This setting is intended to give more flexibility in the picking process, so that orders can be picked earlier, for example. However, if these orders are handed over too early, Bol may issue a warning, so we recommend careful control of this setting.

This setting can be found in the webshop settings for the Bol Retailer integration. Under 'Orders' and 'Advanced settings', you can change the setting 'Delay picking of VVB orders until earliest handover time' to 'Only when consumer selected a specific delivery date'.

Example: For an order placed on July 18 at 12:00, without a preferred delivery date and with a Vvb PostNL label, where the package can be picked up or handed over to the carrier on July 19, the picklist is automatically snoozed until July 19, 00:00 via the first setting. With the second setting, the picklist can be processed immediately on July 18, 12:00. If the shipment is handed over on July 18, bol might issue a warning for this.