Royal Mail and Parcelforce are merging into a single delivery network, meaning that all parcels will be processed through shared infrastructure. As part of this change, the current Parcelforce integration will be retired at the end of the year, once all customers have successfully migrated to the new solution.


All new connections will now be created using the (New) Parcelforce integration, which requires Royal Mail account details to complete the setup. Once the integration is added and at least one shipping label has been generated, you will need to ensure that all relevant services are added or migrated and that the rest of your Linnworks configuration is up to date. 


Below you'll find the final migration checklist. 


Important:
If you have not yet set up the new integration, please complete the initial setup first using the guide below, then return to this article once setup is complete: https://docs.linnworks.com/articles/#!documentation/parcelforce-new-add-new



Migrating to the (New) Parcelforce integration


Option 1: Move all existing Parcelforce services to the new integration


1. Follow this guide: https://help.linnworks.com/support/solutions/articles/7000095786

2. Once the services have been moved, and you are actively using the new integration, you may remove the old Parcelforce integration from the integrations screen.

  • This will only be possible if there are no open manifests associated with the old integration.


No other changes are required to the Rules engine, printing conditions or the Channel shipping mapping at this point.



Option 2: Create new Parcelforce services and stop using the old ones


1. Add all required Parcelforce services to your Services screen, keeping in mind the updated service names: https://help.linnworks.com/support/solutions/articles/7000094956

2. Newly added services will automatically use “(New) Parcelforce” as the Vendor name.

  • This may affect tracking URLs or despatch notes.
  • To update this, go to Shipping > Postal Services, double-click the Vendor name, and remove the “(New)” prefix.

3. Review your Rules Engine and ensure that any actions assigning Parcelforce services are updated to reflect the new service names.

4. If you use Channel Shipping Mapping, review and update mappings under: Settings > Channel Integration > Edit channel shipping 

5. If you have Template Designer conditions based on vendor or service names, ensure these are updated accordingly. 



Key operational differences to be aware of


Please note the following changes when using the (New) Parcelforce integration:

  • All orders must have weights assigned before label printing.
    These weights are submitted to Royal Mail as part of the manifest process.

  • Manifesting is now mandatory.
    A shipping manifest must be filed before collection, and each filed manifest will generate paperwork that must be handed to the driver at collection.


Additional Information


Parcelforce: New Service Codes 

Parcelforce and Royal Mail merger FAQ

Parcelforce: Service linking