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Consolidation via API in Cario

The Cario API supports consignment consolidation, allowing multiple eligible shipments to be combined into a single carrier booking when they are going to the same delivery address using the same carrier and service details.

This is useful for businesses that process multiple orders for the same customer, store, site, branch or delivery location. Instead of creating several separate freight bookings, Cario can group matching consignments before they are manifested.

Consolidation helps reduce duplicate bookings, lower freight handling effort, and support better cost control across high-volume freight operations. It works in a similar way to the Consolidate option available in the Cario user interface.

Cario is built to support complex freight operations across quoting, booking, tracking, reporting and carrier management in one platform.

What API Consolidation Does

API consolidation allows Cario to check whether a new consignment can be grouped with another existing consignment before it is booked with the carrier.

When consolidation is enabled, Cario looks for other consignments that are:

  • Not yet manifested

  • Going to the same delivery address

  • Using matching carrier and service details

If a suitable match is found, Cario consolidates the consignment into the existing booking group.

If no suitable match is found, the consignment continues as a standalone shipment.

Why Use Consolidation?

In many freight operations, multiple orders may be created separately but shipped to the same receiver.

For example:

  • A customer places three orders on the same day

  • A branch receives multiple replenishment orders

  • A warehouse processes several cartons for the same store

  • A business ships multiple pallets to the same construction site

  • An ERP or WMS sends orders into Cario one by one

Without consolidation, these may become separate freight bookings.

With consolidation enabled, Cario can group eligible consignments together before manifesting, reducing unnecessary duplication.

Key Benefits

Reduce Duplicate Freight Bookings

When multiple consignments are travelling to the same address with the same carrier service, consolidation helps avoid creating separate bookings where one grouped booking is more practical.

Support Freight Cost Control

Consolidation can help reduce avoidable freight costs by grouping eligible shipments before they are booked with the carrier.

Improve Operational Efficiency

Warehouse and dispatch teams can process grouped freight more cleanly, with fewer separate bookings to manage.

Reduce Manual Handling

Instead of relying on a user to manually identify matching consignments, the API can trigger consolidation automatically based on the request settings.

Keep API Workflows Aligned with the Cario UI

The API consolidation behaviour supports the same operational idea as the Consolidate option in the Cario interface, helping businesses keep automated and manual workflows consistent.

Enabling Consolidation

To allow a consignment to be considered for consolidation, include the canConsolidate flag in your Create Consignment API request.

{
  "consignment": {
  },
  "canConsolidate": true
}

When canConsolidate is set to true, Cario will attempt to consolidate the consignment with another eligible, unmanifested consignment.

How Consolidation Works

When the canConsolidate flag is enabled, Cario follows a matching process before the consignment is finalised.

Step 1: Cario checks for unmanifested consignments

Only consignments that have not yet been manifested can be considered for consolidation.

Once a consignment has been manifested, it has already moved into the carrier booking process and cannot be grouped through this consolidation check.

Step 2: Cario checks the delivery address

The delivery address must match exactly.

This means businesses should ensure address data is clean and consistent before sending consignments through the API. Even small differences in address formatting may stop consignments from being recognised as a match.

Step 3: Cario checks carrier and service details

The carrier and service details must also match.

This prevents shipments with different freight requirements from being grouped incorrectly.

Step 4: Cario decides the outcome

If a matching consignment is found, the new consignment is consolidated.

If no match is found, the consignment is processed as a standalone shipment.

Consolidation Outcomes

Scenario Outcome
Matching unmanifested consignment found Consignment is automatically consolidated
No matching consignment found Consignment is processed as a standalone shipment
Delivery address does not match exactly Consolidation does not occur
Carrier or service details differ Consolidation does not occur
Existing consignment is already manifested Consolidation does not occur

Using pickCheapestService with Consolidation

Cario also supports combining consolidation with automatic service selection.

This is useful when the business wants Cario to group eligible shipments where possible, while still selecting the lowest-cost available service when consolidation cannot occur.

Example request:

{
  "canConsolidate": true,
  "pickCheapestService": true
}

Behaviour When Both Flags Are Used

When both canConsolidate and pickCheapestService are set to true, Cario follows this order:

Consolidate first, then select the cheapest service where applicable.

In plain English:

If the consignment can be consolidated, Cario groups it.
If it cannot be consolidated, Cario selects the cheapest available service for the standalone shipment.

Consolidation and Cheapest Service Logic

Condition Cario Behaviour
Consolidation is possible The consignment is grouped with the matching shipment
Consolidation is possible and cheapest service is enabled The cheapest service within the consolidated shipment is selected
Consolidation is not possible The consignment remains standalone
Consolidation is not possible and cheapest service is enabled The cheapest available standalone service is selected

Simple Rule to Remember

Cario will consolidate if possible. If consolidation is not possible, it will choose the cheapest available service when pickCheapestService is enabled.

This keeps the workflow clear for API-based consignment creation.

When to Use Consolidation

Consolidation is best suited to freight workflows where multiple shipments may be going to the same destination before manifesting.

Use consolidation when:

  • Multiple orders are being shipped to the same customer

  • Several cartons or pallets are going to one delivery location

  • A warehouse processes high-volume outbound freight

  • Orders are created separately in an ERP or WMS but shipped together

  • Your team wants to reduce duplicate carrier bookings

  • Dispatch teams want cleaner grouped freight movements

  • Freight cost control is a priority

Practical Example

A customer places three separate orders in one day.

Each order is sent to Cario via API as a separate consignment request. All three orders are going to the same delivery address and use the same carrier service.

With canConsolidate enabled, Cario checks whether the consignments are eligible to be grouped.

If the first order has not yet been manifested, the next matching orders can be consolidated into the same freight movement.

This reduces the need for three separate carrier bookings and helps the warehouse manage the freight as one grouped dispatch.

When Not to Use Consolidation

Consolidation is optional. There are cases where separate consignments should remain separate.

You may choose to disable consolidation when:

  • The shipment is urgent or time-critical

  • Different service levels are required

  • Separate billing references must be kept

  • Separate customer order references must remain independent

  • A direct courier booking is required immediately

  • The shipment must be manifested without waiting for possible grouping

  • The goods require different handling, freight rules or service treatment

Important Rules and Notes

  • Consolidation only applies to unmanifested consignments

  • Delivery addresses must be an exact match

  • Carrier and service details must match

  • Consolidation is optional and controlled using the canConsolidate API flag

  • pickCheapestService can be used with consolidation

  • Cario checks for consolidation first, then applies cheapest-service logic if needed

  • If no consolidation match exists, the consignment continues as a standalone shipment

Best Practice Tips

Keep Address Data Consistent

Because consolidation depends on an exact delivery address match, address formatting should be consistent across API requests.

For example, avoid sending the same address in different formats across different orders.

Use Consolidation Before Manifesting

Consolidation only works with unmanifested consignments. If consignments are manifested too quickly, they may no longer be available for grouping.

Align API Logic with Business Rules

Use consolidation only where grouped shipping makes sense for your operation. Some customers, freight types or service levels may still need separate bookings.

Test with Real Order Scenarios

Before applying consolidation at scale, test common scenarios such as:

  • Multiple orders to one customer

  • Multiple cartons to one site

  • Orders created at different times on the same day

  • Standalone urgent shipments

  • Mixed service-level shipments

API Field Summary

Field Type Purpose
canConsolidate Boolean Allows the consignment to be considered for consolidation
pickCheapestService Boolean Allows Cario to select the cheapest available service
consignment Object Contains the consignment details being created

Example: Enable Consolidation Only

{
  "consignment": {
  },
  "canConsolidate": true
}

Use this when you want Cario to group eligible consignments, but do not want to apply automatic cheapest-service selection.

Example: Enable Consolidation and Cheapest Service Selection

{
  "consignment": {
  },
  "canConsolidate": true,
  "pickCheapestService": true
}

Use this when you want Cario to consolidate where possible and otherwise choose the cheapest available service.

FAQ

What does canConsolidate do?

canConsolidate tells Cario that the consignment can be considered for consolidation with another eligible consignment.

Does consolidation always happen when canConsolidate is set to true?

No. Consolidation only occurs if Cario finds a matching unmanifested consignment with the same delivery address and matching carrier/service details.

What happens if no matching consignment is found?

The consignment is processed as a standalone shipment.

Can manifested consignments be consolidated?

No. Consolidation only applies to consignments that have not yet been manifested.

Does the delivery address need to match exactly?

Yes. The delivery address must be an exact match for consolidation to occur.

Can I use consolidation with cheapest service selection?

Yes. You can use canConsolidate together with pickCheapestService.

Which rule comes first: consolidation or cheapest service?

Cario attempts consolidation first. If consolidation is not possible, cheapest-service selection can then apply.

Should urgent freight use consolidation?

Usually, no. If a shipment is urgent, time-critical or requires immediate booking, consolidation may not be the right option.

Use canConsolidate: true when you want Cario to group eligible consignments going to the same address with the same carrier and service.

Use it with pickCheapestService: true when you also want Cario to select the cheapest service if consolidation is not possible.

Consolidation helps high-volume freight teams reduce duplicate bookings, lower handling effort and keep API-created consignments aligned with real dispatch workflows.