Third-Party Billing

ianaiERP's Third-Party Billing feature allows you to charge shipping labels to a postage account that isn't directly connected to your ianaiERP account. This is particularly useful when you have arrangements with customers who agree to pay for their own shipping fees.

Understanding Third-Party Billing

Third-party billing enables you to use a customer's or partner's carrier account to pay for shipping labels, while still managing the shipping process through ianaiERP.

Requirements for Third-Party Billing

To use third-party billing in ianaiERP, ensure you meet these requirements:

1. Connected Carrier Account : You must have your own account with the carrier connected to ianaiERP.

2. Third-Party Account Details : You need the third party's postage account number and postal code.

3. Carrier Approval : The third-party account must be approved by the carrier for third-party billing.

4. Supported Carrier : Third-party billing is available for UPS, FedEx, and DHL Express shipments. It is not available for USPS, or for a carrier connected through EasyPost (check our Carrier Integrations guide for details).

Setting Up Third-Party Billing

To apply third-party billing to an order:

1. Select the order in the Orders grid.

2. In the Shipping sidebar, select the appropriate carrier and service.

3. In the "Other Shipping Options" section, set the "Shipping Account" field to "Third Party".

4. Enter the third party's account number, billing country, and postal code.

5. Create the label as usual.

Limitations and Considerations

Be aware of these limitations when using third-party billing:

• No Estimated Rates : ianaiERP won't display an estimated rate for a shipment billed to a recipient's or third party's account — the rate field shows $0 until the label is purchased.

• Carrier Approval : Ensure the third-party account is approved for this billing method.

• Lost or Damaged Packages : If the carrier can't charge the third-party account, you may be responsible for payment.

• Recipient vs. Third-Party : Both options instruct the carrier to charge the entered account rather than your own.

• No Rule-Based Automation : Automation rules can set a shipment's carrier, service, and package, but they can't currently set third-party billing details — the "Shipping Account" and account number need to be entered on the shipment itself.

Best Practices

1. Verify third-party account details before creating labels.

2. If you bill the same account often, keep those account numbers handy for quick entry.

3. Communicate clearly with customers about third-party billing arrangements.

4. Periodically confirm with the account owner that carrier approval for third-party billing is still active.

Troubleshooting

If you encounter issues with third-party billing:

1. Double-check the account number and postal code.

2. Confirm with the account owner that the carrier has approved third-party billing.

3. Verify that you've selected a carrier and service that supports third-party billing.

4. Check for any error messages and refer to our Troubleshooting Guide for solutions.

Related Features

• Carrier Integrations

• Order Automation

• Custom Shipping Rules

For more detailed information on specific carriers or advanced shipping features, please refer to the respective sections in this documentation.