CALCURATES BLOG

Multi-Origin Shipping and Split Checkout for Magento 2 E-commerce

June 2022

Image of Split Checkout for Magento 2 e-commerce

Main
→
Blog
→
Multi-Origin Shipping and Split Checkout for Magento 2 E-commerce

Nikolay Pasholok

Product Owner, Calcurates

Split shipping methods at the checkout allows to set individual shipping rates for every origin, vendor or supplier. Customers will choose from available shipping methods and their corresponding rates for each origin. With split checkout each shipment will have its own id, thus customers can track each shipment individually. A must have solution for dropshipping and marketplaces.

Why Use Split Order for Your E-commerce

Dropshipping store or marketplace

This is common practice for e-commerce stores using a dropshipping model. A split checkout is used when products within the same order are stored in different suppliers' or vendors' locations. Dropshippers usually let customers make a decision regarding their preferred shipping methods, their corresponding rates, and delivery options.
Products are in different warehouses

The most common cause for split shipping at checkout is that the products are not stored in a single warehouse but spread across more locations. Thus, the order is shipped from multiple locations using different shipping methods and rates. The downside of shipping from multiple locations is that there will be multiple deliveries. On the other hand, the delivery of some items might arrive quicker.
Products have different delivery dates and times

Some orders might include items that are urgent and need to be delivered quicker. In this case, a customer can select the item that needs to be delivered faster and ship the rest of the items via standard ground delivery. The advantage is that a customer can get certain items faster instead of waiting for other items to be delivered.
Large products or vary in size

Another case for using split shipping at checkout is when the order contains standard, small items, and items that are large or of unusual dimensions. Such items sometimes need to be shipped as freight shipments. E-commerce stores that have large and bulky items in their portfolio should offer split checkout for their customers so that the customers can select different shipping methods without creating separate orders.

Calcurates Related Features

Shipping Rules and Restrictions

Customize and fine-tune your shipping options and methods using Rules and Restrictions.

Estimated Delivery Dates

Manage and display Estimated Delivery Dates for your shipping methods on the checkout.

Multi-Origin Shipping

Multi-Origin Shipping feature allows you to set up shipping methods based on multiple warehouses. Our algorithms automatically select the optimal origin for the product to ship from if it is available in multiple ones.

Carrier Shipping Options

Set all shipping options and methods for your store: UPS, USPS, FedEx, DHL, Royal Mail, DPD, Purolator and more.

Table Rates

Configure the most flexible and conditional custom shipping option for your store.

Custom Shipping Options

Set custom shipping options and methods for your store: Flat Rate, Free Shipping, Table Rates, In-Store Pickup.

The Advantages of Split Checkout for Your Customers

Flexible Order Management

More checkout shipping options mean more order management flexibility for your customers. Options at split checkout can be displaying quicker delivery dates, cheaper rates, or different pickup locations.
Overview of Shipping Methods for Individual Order

The split shipping at checkout feature shows a clear and concise way of displaying shipping rates, and methods for your customers. It is important to show transparency when orders come from multiple sources. The user experience should be very friendly and easy to navigate.
Separate Order Tracking

If the order is split and comes from more sources, customers will appreciate separate tracking for each shipment. Shipments will have different IDs so they will be easy to track and locate.
Individual Shipping Rates per Warehouse or Vendor

This is mostly an advantage for e-commerce stores, as they will be able to control their shipping costs for each warehouse. Individual shipping methods per warehouse make shipping rates accurate and therefore help save money and achieve cost-effective shipping. Displayed shipping rates can be easily changed as the shipping costs go up and down.

Split VS Merged Shipping Methods by Origins at the Checkout:

Split Checkout

A split checkout is common for e-commerce doing dropshipping or functioning as a marketplace. E-commerce stores implement split checkout when their products are large or of unusual dimensions. Split checkout can be also applied when products are stored in different locations and it makes more sense to ship them separately. A possible reason for split checkout can be stock availability. If one item isn't available at the moment, it is possible to ship at least items that are in stock. Split checkout makes order management more convenient and easier for customers. At the same time, it allows them more flexibility and choice with their shipments.
At the split checkout, customers choose from more shipping options and their rates indicated by the e-commerce business.
Merged Shipping Methods

Alternatively, you may avoid split checkout and set merged shipping methods instead. With a merged shipping method you can sum up shipping rates per warehouse and display a single shipping method with the total amount as a shipping rate. For example, you ship from warehouse A for a $10 Flat Rate and from warehouse B for $19 with FedEx. If the order has items stocked in warehouses A and B, you would display a merged shipping method (called “Standard Delivery”, for example) with a rate of $29.
No Split Checkout

E-commerce businesses that do not offer split checkout or merged shipping methods usually ship orders from a single warehouse and their product portfolio is not that diverse. In this case, the order will be sent together and to avoid overcomplication there is only one shipping method and options displayed at the checkout.

Turn on cost-effective shipping

Let's check if Calcurates meets your shipping needs!

START FREE 15-DAY TRIAL

REQUEST A DEMO

How to Split Order Based on Origin in Magento 2 with Calcurates

Let see how you can set up Split Checkout by Origins with Calcurates shipping extension for Magento.

Image of multi-origin feature and split checkout

1. Enable the Multi-Origin feature in your Calcurates account

Calcurates has the Multi-Origin feature that helps you set up shipping methods across multiple origins.

Image of synchronize origins in magento 2

2. Sync Magento sources with Calcurates

There are Origins in your Calcurates account and you should synchronize them with your Magento. This is how Calcurates knows where your products are stocked in order to return the right shipping methods. There are 2 options to sync origins:

Magento MSI sources. You may import your Magento sources into Calcurates.
Product attribute. You may set a product attribute that will be responsible for the Origin in your Magento.

3. Add Shipping Options for every Origin

In Calcurates you may create multiple shipping options and methods and make them serve different Origins. Also, one shipping option or method may serve multiple Origins.

4. Activate Split Checkout

The final step is to activate split checkout behavior on a Magento side. This can be done in Calcurates extension configuration settings.

This is how split checkout behavior looks like at your Magento checkout and inside the Order:

FAQ

With Calcurates, Magento 2 split cart and split shipping allow customers to receive separate shipments from different origins or suppliers within one order. Each product is assigned to its respective origin, and Calcurates calculates shipping methods and rates per location. At checkout, customers choose separate delivery options for each shipment. This feature is perfect for stores with multiple warehouses or dropshipping models, improving flexibility, cost accuracy, and user experience.