Question
In Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central shipping, can LTL and parcel rates be viewed and compared side-by-side in real time when no carrier is pre-selected?
Side-By-Side LTL and Parcel Rate Comparison Supported
Native Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central does not provide real-time side-by-side comparison of LTL and parcel rates when no carrier is pre-selected on a shipment. The Dynamic Ship app integrates with the 2Ship platform to enable real-time rate shopping for both LTL and parcel carriers within Business Central. This integration allows users to receive and compare LTL and parcel shipping rates side-by-side in the same interface even without a pre-selected carrier. As a result, businesses gain improved visibility into shipping options and can make more informed decisions based on real-time data.
How Real-Time Rate Shopping and Carrier Selection Functions
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central’s native shipping functionality supports carrier and rate selection but lacks integrated side-by-side real-time comparisons for multiple shipment types like LTL and parcel. This limitation arises from the native reliance on fixed carrier settings or separate processes for different shipment modes. Without integration, users may need to manually compare rates or rely on external tools to evaluate shipping options. This can slow down decision-making and reduce overall efficiency in shipping workflows.
The Dynamic Ship application extends native functionality by connecting Business Central to the 2Ship platform, which consolidates carrier rate data from hundreds of parcel, LTL, and FTL carriers. 2Ship centralizes carrier selection, rate shopping, and business rules outside of Business Central, providing a unified rate quote and carrier choice experience. This centralized approach simplifies the complexity of managing multiple carriers and shipping methods. It also ensures that businesses have access to the most competitive rates available at any given time.
Dynamic Ship retrieves this consolidated rate data back into Business Central, presenting side-by-side parcel and LTL rates for comparison. Users can either manually select carriers based on the returned rates or configure automatic selection based on criteria such as lowest cost. This integrated approach overcomes native Business Central constraints, enabling comprehensive carrier and rate management for complex, multimodal shipping scenarios. It also supports more strategic decision-making by allowing users to evaluate multiple shipping options simultaneously.
If the connection to the 2Ship platform is unavailable, rate shopping and side-by-side comparisons will revert to native Business Central behavior without real-time multi-carrier visibility. Additionally, a lack of configured carriers or insufficient shipment data on the order will prevent accurate rate retrieval. Manual carrier selection remains possible but without integrated comparisons, which can limit efficiency. Ensuring proper configuration and connectivity is essential for maintaining full functionality.
Related Shipping Tools and Integration Scope
Dynamic Ship is the primary application enabling real-time multi-carrier rate shopping within Business Central shipping workflows. It leverages the 2Ship platform to access carrier rates and handle complex shipping rules while keeping all processes within the ERP interface. This integration ensures that users can manage shipping operations efficiently without needing to rely on external systems. It also enhances overall visibility and control across shipping workflows.
The 2Ship platform maintains carrier contracts, negotiates rates, and centralizes all shipment intelligence beyond Business Central. Together, these tools extend native Business Central capabilities by enabling live rate retrieval, multi-modal shipping management, and streamlined carrier selection. This combined solution provides a more flexible and scalable approach to shipping, allowing businesses to handle increasingly complex logistics requirements with ease.