Learn how to merge or unmerge orders in ReadyToShip to save on shipping costs and streamline fulfilment.
When a customer places multiple orders, ReadyToShip can automatically combine them into a single consignment if they meet the following criteria:
Same customer name
Same delivery address
Same shipping carrier and service
Change Default Merge Settings
By default, Merge Customer Orders is enabled for each carrier.
To change this setting:
Go to Settings in your ReadyToShip account
Select Carriers
Click on your carrier to open Settings
Select NO in Merge Customer Orders dropdown
Click Save
Disabling this option prevents orders from automatically merging for that carrier.
View Merged Orders
To find merged orders:
Go to a Shipping Tab
Click Filter
Select the merged orders filter option
Merged orders are also identified by a merge icon in the order list.
How Order Merging Works
Orders are merged after they are added to a Shipping Run.
Within a run:
Merged orders are grouped together and marked with an icon
Selecting one order selects all orders in the group
When orders are merged:
Weights are combined
Dimensions are calculated across all items
Package details are shared (editing one updates all)
A single tracking number is assigned to the group
Unmerging Orders
Orders will automatically unmerge if:
You remove an order from the run
You change the customer name or address
Even small changes can prevent or break a merge. For example:
Adding a full stop to the address
Changing “Street” to “St”
Adjusting spacing or capitalisation
Important: Exact Matching Required
ReadyToShip uses exact matching to determine whether orders should merge.
This includes:
Customer name
Address
Carrier and service
Even minor differences (extra spaces, formatting changes, or capitalisation) will prevent merging. This conservative approach helps avoid shipping errors.
Troubleshooting Merging Issues
If orders are not merging as expected:
Check for small differences in name or address
Confirm the same carrier and service is selected
Ensure Merge Customer Orders is enabled
Look for the merge icon to confirm if orders are already merged
Best Practices
To minimise errors and avoid label confusion:
Review merged order groups before processing
Confirm shipping details are correct
Train staff on identifying merged orders and labels
Configure carrier settings to suit your workflow
Archive completed orders before starting new runs
Recommended Workflow
For best results, follow this standard process:
Add orders to a run
Print labels
Create a manifest
Notify the store
Archive completed orders
Important: Adding Orders to Existing Runs
Be cautious when adding orders to an existing run.
If a new order matches an existing one, it will automatically merge
If labels have already been printed or manifested, this can cause issues
This may result in:
Duplicate shipments
Incorrect fulfilment
To avoid this:
Finalise runs before adding new orders
Or carefully review merges before proceeding