bol: verzenden via bol (Vvb)

About this article

This article describes bol's last-mile delivery feature Verzenden via bol (Shipping via bol). 

Table of contents

Introduction

How to enable Vvb

Orders

Shipments 

Shipping labels

Available carrier

Create Vvb shipments via the web interface

Introduction

Verzenden via bol (Vvb; Shipping via bol) allows merchants to outsource the creation of shipping labels and part of the shipping logistics to bol, for last-mile delivery. The main benefits of Vvb are:

• Participating merchants are not held accountable for the performance of the carrier.
• Customer questions regarding the delivery are answered by bol.
• Customers do not lose flexibility in delivery options.

For more information on Vvb, check out the article Is Verzenden via bol iets voor mij? (in Dutch; Is Shipping via bol for me?).

In addition to the standard Vvb service, bol offers the services Vvb+ and Vvb Compleet (Vvb Complete). These services include additional benefits, such as faster delivery and a wider selection of carriers. For more information on the differences between these service models, check out the article Frequently asked questions Shipping via bol.

How to enable Vvb

Setup

On bol

To enable Vvb, you must first register directly with bol by filling out the form on the Verzenden via bol page (in Dutch). 

On ChannelEngine

Once you receive confirmation that you can participate in the Vvb program, contact ChannelEngine's Support team to enable Vvb in your tenant:

1. Notify the Support team that you want to enable Vvb in your tenant. 
2. (Optional) It is also possible to enable a setting that triggers the export of shipments as soon as they are created, which makes the Vvb shipping labels available on ChannelEngine in near real-time. Notify ChannelEngine's Support team that you want to enable real-time Vvb shipping labels.

Mappings

When enabled, Vvb is available within the Shipping time attribute at Mappings, Offer mappings. Map Shipping time to products that you want to ship via Vvb.

Orders

For a high-level overview of handling orders and shipments with last-mile delivery, check out the article Merchant API: shipping labels (last-mile delivery).

Vvb order lines are marked with the Extra information field Vvb: True. 

The following extra data fields may also appear:

• PickupPoint: true - if the customer has selected a pick-up point. The name of the pick-up point is visible under Company address, within the shipping address. This is relevant because pick-up points have restrictions in terms of weight and dimensions.
• Timeframe: EVENING (or SAMEDAY, SUNDAY, APPOINTMENT) - if the buyer has selected an alternative timeframe. This is relevant because it has an impact on when the order should be shipped.
• Tracking code - if applicable, you can see the shipment's tracking code under the Shipment details section.

Shipments 

When an order contains both non-Vvb and Vvb order lines, create two separate shipments: one for the Vvb lines and one for the non-Vvb lines. 

Each shipment should reference the same:

• Tracking code
• Order no.

Shipping labels

For shipments containing Vvb order lines, bol requires bol's shipping labels. You can retrieve the bol shipping label either directly from bol or via ChannelEngine.

Retrieve shipping label via ChannelEngine

Once you create your Vvb shipment, you can retrieve the bol shipping label via the Merchant API:

1. Retrieve available shipping carriers via /v2/carriers/{merchantOrderNo}. It is important to call this endpoint just before creating the shipment because the options are time-sensitive. For details on available carriers, check out the section Available carriers below.
2. Create the shipment and request the shipping label via /v2/shipments/channelmethod. Use the code of the desired carrier as the ChannelMethodCode.
3. After the shipment is exported to the channel, retrieve the shipping label in PDF via /v2/orders/{merchantShipmentNo}/shippinglabel. 

Retrieve shipping label outside of ChannelEngine

Optionally, choose to request the shipping label directly from bol. 

1. Request the shipping label from bol via bol's API. Note down the shipping label ID.
2. Create the shipment via /v2/shipments. 
3. In your request body, include the extra data key:
   • EXTERNAL_CHANNEL_SHIPPING_LABEL_ID - shipping label ID from bol
   • Use the shipping label ID that you retrieved from Step 1.

Available carriers

bol takes the timeframe, pick-up point, and dimensions into account when returning the available carriers. For example, there may not be a mailbox package option for evening deliveries.

Carrier names can be long in character length because they include the following information:

• Type of parcel - mailbox without track-and-trace code, mailbox with track-and-trace code, and regular parcel.
• Drop-off or pick-up - whether the carrier requires the merchant to drop off the parcels at the carrier's location, or if the carrier collects the parcels at the merchant's location.
• Evaluation - recommended, neutral, or discouraged.
  • Carrier options can be marked by bol as recommended. Unmarked options are acceptable.
  • Some options may be marked as discouraged. While you can use them, they do not meet the customer's selected delivery window. Therefore, you will be penalized by bol for using them.
• Handover date time - at what time the package should be handed over to the carrier (neither earlier nor later than this time). 
• Price - the purchase price the merchant has to pay for the shipping label.

Create Vvb shipments via the web interface

If you manage your Vvb shipments directly via the ChannelEngine web interface, you must retrieve bol's shipping label via ChannelEngine. 

To create a Vvb shipment on the ChannelEngine interface:

1. Select one or more order lines. 
2. Enter the dimensions and weight of the package. 
3. The Shipment method list shows the available options (e.g.: parcel, mailbox, etc.), whether bol recommends it or not, the handover date, and the price. Select an option.

4. Enter your Merchant shipment number.
5. Click Add.
6. The shipment is exported to bol.

Once the shipment is exported, ChannelEngine receives the shipping label from bol in near real-time. The Download shipping label button appears – as seen below.