Instant Rate
Instant Rate는 shipping history를 사용하여 shipping cost를 즉시 예측합니다. When you request shipping rates using shipmentRatingCalculateWorkflow, we first check if an instant rate is available based on cached carrier data. If so, you'll receive it immediately—typically 1 second faster than live carrier rates. If not, we request fresh rates from the carrier and cache them using AI to improve future predictions.
이점:
- 더 빠른 response time: Carrier API response를 기다리지 않고 instant rate 반환(약 1초 빠름)
- 향상된 reliability: Carrier API availability 및 ecommerce platform timeout 의존성 감소
- 일관된 checkout experience: 고객이 빠르고 일관되게 신뢰할 수 있는 shipping cost를 받음
Rate 정확도
Instant rates are predictions that may occasionally differ from live carrier rates, typically by just a few cents. In fact, 96% of instant rates are within 10 cents of live carrier rates. Common reasons for variations include:
- Recently changed carrier discount rates or fuel surcharges
- Fees that vary by timing (e.g., Saturday pickup fees, holiday surcharges, etc.)
- Uncommon surcharges we're still learning to predict
- Time-sensitive carrier pricing adjustments
Instant rates reflect your actual negotiated carrier rates, including discounts, fuel surcharges, and applicable fees. When we request fresh rates, we use them to continuously improve prediction accuracy.
Accuracy threshold
The accuracy threshold is a safety net that protects you from sustained inaccuracy. You set a single threshold globally, but the system monitors and enforces it on a per-carrier basis. It defines the maximum allowed average deviation (calculated as a percentage of the absolute rate difference) between instant rates and live carrier rates before that specific carrier is automatically disabled from Instant Rate.
How it works: The system continuously monitors the average deviation between cached rates and live rates for each carrier. If a carrier's average deviation exceeds your threshold, that carrier is automatically disabled from Instant Rate and will fall back to live rates. Other carriers that remain within the threshold continue using Instant Rate normally. Once a carrier's accuracy recovers below your threshold, Instant Rate automatically resumes for that carrier.
For example, if your accuracy threshold is set to 5% and FedEx rates are averaging a 6.2% deviation from live rates, FedEx will be auto-disabled from Instant Rate while UPS and USPS (if within threshold) continue using cached rates. Once FedEx's accuracy improves below 5%, it will automatically resume using Instant Rate.
How to configure the accuracy threshold:
- Default: 5% — provides a good balance between speed and accuracy.
- Minimum: 1% — strictest setting, disables carriers more frequently but ensures tight pricing accuracy.
- Range: 1% to 100%
Consider lowering it if your margins are tight. Consider raising it if checkout speed is your top priority and small rate variances are acceptable.
When Instant Rate may not be available: Instant Rate requires sufficient historical data from similar shipments. If we don't have enough recent data for your specific shipment scenario, we'll automatically request live carrier rates instead. This is more common for low-volume accounts or unusual shipment configurations.
Important consideration for UPS accounts: Instant Rate requires the UPS REST integration. If you're using the older UPS SOAP integration, you'll need to upgrade to UPS REST before enabling Instant Rate. Additionally, if your UPS account becomes disconnected from Zonos and rates change while disconnected, Instant Rate will continue returning cached rates based on old pricing until you reconnect your account in Dashboard.
For Shopify merchants: Instant Rate helps prevent Shopify's steep backup rates from displaying when carrier rate calls time out, ensuring customers see more accurate pricing.
Instant Rate 활성화
Supported carriers: APC, DHL, FedEx, UPS, and USPS (single-package shipments only). Note: DHL Express 12pm is supported but less accurate than other services.
Follow the steps below to enable Instant Rate in Dashboard:
- Go to Dashboard -> Settings -> Manage rates.
- Locate Advanced settings.
- Toggle Enable Instant Rate on.
- Set your desired Accuracy threshold percentage (default is 5%).
- Click Save.
That's it! Instant Rate will now be enabled for your account. The system will monitor rate accuracy per carrier. If any carrier's average deviation exceeds your threshold, that carrier will be automatically disabled from Instant Rate until its accuracy recovers.
Dashboard users: If Instant Rate was used on a quote or order, you will see a lightning bolt icon next to the carrier service level name.
Example:
API users will see a SOURCE field in the response indicating whether the rate is LIVE or CACHE (Instant Rate).
Example:
mutation GetFullLandedCost($partyCreateWorkflowInput: [PartyCreateWorkflowInput!]!$itemCreateWorkflowInput: [ItemCreateWorkflowInput!]!) { partyCreateWorkflow(input: $partyCreateWorkflowInput) { id } itemCreateWorkflow(input: $itemCreateWorkflowInput) { id catalogItem { id } amount amountInclusive name reverseAmountDetail { type feeAmount dutyRate taxRate inclusivePriceConfigurationId } currencyCode hsCode hsCodeSource name } cartonizeWorkflow { id } shipmentRatingCalculateWorkflow { id serviceLevelCode source }}FAQ
Shipping cost가 변경되나요?
No. Instant rates are based on your actual negotiated carrier rates. They may occasionally differ from live quotes by a few cents as the AI continues learning. If a carrier's average deviation exceeds your accuracy threshold, that carrier will be auto-disabled and fall back to live rates.
What happens if my carrier rates change?
We automatically request fresh rates from the carrier and update the instant rate model. During the brief period before the model updates, your accuracy threshold setting acts as a safety net — if a carrier's cached rates drift too far from live rates, that carrier will be auto-disabled until its accuracy recovers.
Do custom shipping rules still apply?
Yes. Custom rules like shipper buffers work normally with Instant Rate.
What is the accuracy threshold and how should I set it?
The accuracy threshold sets the maximum allowed average deviation before a carrier is auto-disabled from Instant Rate. You configure a single threshold, but the system monitors and enforces it per carrier. The default is 5%, and the range is 1% to 100%. A lower value means stricter accuracy but carriers may be disabled more frequently.
What happens when a carrier is auto-disabled?
If a carrier's average deviation exceeds your accuracy threshold, that carrier is automatically disabled from Instant Rate and will use live rates instead. Other carriers within the threshold continue using Instant Rate normally. Once the carrier's accuracy recovers below your threshold, Instant Rate automatically resumes for that carrier.
How do I know if a rate was instant or live?
In Dashboard, instant rates are marked with a lightning bolt icon next to the service level name. Via the API, the source field in the shipmentRatingCalculateWorkflow response will return CACHE for instant rates and LIVE for live carrier rates.
Shipping rate
Zonos Rate로 live shipping rate를 받으세요.Zonos Rate를 사용하면 carrier account가 authorized된 모든 destination 간 shipping rate를 확인할 수 있습니다. Carrier API connection 또는 제공된 rate sheet로 이 information을 가져옵니다. 계산된 shipping response에 반환되는 shipment option은 Dashboard shipping profile에 할당한
serviceLevels와 연관됩니다. Response에serviceLevel을 기대하지만 보이지 않으면 destination에serviceLevel이 활성화되어 있는지 확인하세요.