What courier selection rules actually mean
Courier selection rules are the logic your inventory or dispatch platform uses to choose an enabled shipping workflow at the point of dispatch. The decision can use channel, postcode, weight, size, value, SLA, marketplace rules and which courier accounts are actually available to your business.
It is different from promising a particular courier rate. Couriers may require separate approval, account setup and API access before a system can use them. The useful software layer is the one that can apply your rules consistently once those services are enabled.
The three quality levels of courier workflow software
- Manual courier selection. Dispatchers choose a courier by habit. This is simple, but it gets inconsistent as channels, weights and service promises multiply.
- Rule-based courier selection. The platform applies rules by channel, postcode, weight, SKU type, value and SLA, then routes the shipment through an enabled courier workflow.
- Integrated label purchase and tracking sync. The platform creates the label, stores the PDF, prints where configured, and pushes the tracking number back to the marketplace automatically.
UK courier workflows sellers commonly enable
| Courier | Typical use | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Mail | Small parcel tracked, letters, international | B2C under 2kg |
| DPD | Next-day tracked 2-30kg, B2B | Fragile items (predictable handling) |
| Evri | Cheap small parcel, drop-off focused | Price-sensitive B2C under 2kg |
| Parcelforce | Heavy parcels 10kg+, palletised | B2B business-address deliveries |
| Amazon Shipping | Available-account workflows | Availability depends on account and order eligibility |
| Temu courier (direct)MaxInvent | Temu orders | Uses Temu's own courier-label workflow where available |
Typical UK multi-channel sellers enable the courier services their accounts can actually use, plus any specialist workflows such as hazmat, temperature-controlled delivery or local-driver routes.
Why Temu courier in the dispatch workflow matters
Temu orders often require sellers to use the Temu Seller Centre label workflow. If your inventory system imports the order but cannot create the Temu label, dispatchers still have to switch tabs, buy the label, download or print it, and paste tracking back afterwards.
Based on publicly available product documentation reviewed in April 2026, MaxInvent is the UK inventory platform we found publicly documenting direct Temu courier label purchase, so Temu labels can be created from the MaxInvent dispatch workflow and tracking can sync back automatically. Other platforms may require dispatchers to use the Temu seller portal manually.
Rules that make courier selection useful
Pure “always choose the cheapest” is a trap. Late delivery, unsuitable service, damage risk and marketplace SLA breaches can cost more than the label difference. Realistic rule patterns:
- Order value thresholds. Low-value orders can use an economy tracked service. High-value orders can require signature or a preferred premium service where available.
- Weight bands. Small parcels, medium parcels, heavy boxes and palletised goods can follow different enabled courier workflows.
- SKU-level exclusions. Fragile SKUs exclude Evri. Hazmat SKUs exclude Royal Mail air. Oversize SKUs exclude anything with a 1.2m max.
- Destination rules.Northern Ireland: specific carrier allow-list. EU: Royal Mail International or DPD Europe only. Highlands & Islands: exclude couriers that surcharge.
- Channel rules.Amazon orders, Temu orders, TikTok Shop orders and B2B portal orders can follow different dispatch rules based on each channel's requirements.
How to evaluate this during a platform trial
- Export 100 recent real orders (mix of small, medium, large plus a few international and a few heavy).
- Connect the courier accounts and services that are genuinely available to your business in the trial platform.
- Generate labels for those 100 orders through the platform, letting it apply the rules you configured.
- Compare service suitability, speed, dispatcher time and cost against your usual default workflow.
- Separately measure: how long does the platform take to create the label and return tracking? Slow label generation will slow your dispatch team down.
Where MaxInvent fits
MaxInvent supports rule-based courier selection across enabled courier workflows. Royal Mail, DPD, Evri, Parcelforce, Amazon Shipping where available and Temu courier direct can be part of the dispatch setup where the relevant account/API access exists. The rules engine supports weight, size, SKU attribute, destination and channel rules independently. If you'd like to see it on your own orders and available courier services, book a 30-minute demo.
References to Royal Mail, DPD, Evri, Parcelforce, Amazon Shipping and Temu courier on this page describe publicly documented service characteristics at the page's last-updated date. MaxInvent is an independent UK company and has no affiliation, endorsement or partnership with any of these carriers. Service coverage, account eligibility and API behaviours change regularly — always confirm current pricing, account access and capabilities with each carrier directly before making contract decisions.