Box Sizes/Custom Box Sizes & New Box Packing Algorithm

This tutorial will go over utilizing the Box Sizes tab, adding new custom box sizes, and using the new box packing algorithm. 

NOTE: Existing stores will use the legacy box packing algorithm. This guide is to assist you in switching to the new box packing algorithm. New stores created will have the new box packing algorithm enabled but you can disable this if you prefer.

Article Sections

• Box Sizes
• Custom Box Sizes
• Box Packing Algorithm (new)
• Visualize Packing (w/Legacy Box Packing disabled)
• Notes

Box Sizes

We have a list of roughly 60+ most commonly used box sizes loaded in Bright Sites but you can turn OFF which box sizes are not used when you fulfill orders. If there are box sizes that are NOT in this list, you can add them by following the instructions under Custom Box Sizes.

To view available box sizes:

1. After logging into the store's admin area, expand Shipping and click into Box Sizes.
2. Next, you'll see a list of the Bright Sites default (global) box sizes that are available and you can activate/deactivate box sizes you need to use for integrated shipping estimates.
3. You can also mass deactivate/activate all box sizes in the list.

Custom Box Sizes

Custom Box Sizes allow you to specify boxes that are not in our list of preloaded box sizes. Then integrated rate estimates will use those box sizes in the event the shopper's shipment falls within a custom box size's dimensions.

To add a custom box size (that is not part of the global/default list of box sizes), you would:

1. After logging into the store's admin area, expand Shipping and click into Box Sizes.
2. Click New Custom Box.
3. In the pop-up/dialog window, specify the Length (A), Width (B), Height (C), Maximum Weight (D), and whether or not you want this active (E).
4. Click Save when finished.

Box Packing Algorithm (new)

The new Box packing calculation method works differently than our legacy box packing calculation method. At a high level, the algorithm works like this: 

• Pack largest (by volume) items first.
• Pack vertically up the side of the box.
• Pack side-by-side where item under consideration fits alongside the previous item
• If more than 1 box is needed to accommodate all of the items, then aim for boxes of roughly equal weight (e.g. 3 medium size/weight boxes are better than 1 small light box and 2 that are large and heavy).

To have your store utilize the new Box packing calculation method for integrated shipping rate estimates:

1. After logging into the store's admin area, expand Shipping and click into General Options.
2. Next, turn OFF the toggle for Use legacy box packing algorithm.
3. Click Save to apply your changes.

Visualize Packing (w/ Legacy Box Packing disabled)

To visualize how the new Box packing calculation method assigned box sizes, you would: 

1. After logging into the store's admin area, expand Settings, then scroll down and click into Order Log.
2. Locate the line item labelled Checkout: Packing and click on it. (ProTip: Click into Filters and choose Checkout and Packing to see order logs for that step specifically)
3. Then click Visualize and a new pop-up window will appear showing the visualized packing for the items within a box.

In the pop-up, you can left-click on your mouse and rotate the box to see how the box was packed. In addition to that, you will see the items within the box, and hovering over different items shows the dimensions input for the item.

Notes

• By default, the new Box Packing Calculation will be disabled in existing stores and this must be enabled if you want to use the new calculation method. Otherwise on new stores created on 9/23/2021 or after, will have this enabled by default (you can revert to the legacy box packing calculation if you prefer)
• Box sizes/Custom Box Sizes will work with both the legacy and the new box packing algorithm.
• The visualization for box packing is only available in the event you have disabled Use legacy box packing algorithm under General Options on your store.
• The primary difference between the legacy box packing algorithm and the new box packing algorithm is that the former uses the volume of items in the cart whereas the latter uses the item's dimensions to assign a box size.
• If all box sizes are disabled on your store, and you attempt to use real-time shipping rate estimates, checkout may fail because no box sizes are available. 
• If you only have specific box sizes enabled, and a shopper places an order that is larger than your largest box size, checkout may fail because no larger box sizes are available to accommodate the shopper's order.