Overview
Marketplace guidelines
We’ve identified three different integration models to suit the needs of every marketplace. In these guidelines, we provide example workflows and discuss the key benefits of each integration model, so you can make a reliable decision about which setup works best for you.
Integration types
There are a few different ways you can choose to integrate Sendcloud with your marketplace, depending on your business and invoicing model, and the needs of your particular customer base.
We’ve identified three different setups and account options:
| Integration type: | Centralized (Single Sendcloud account) | Decentralized (Standalone Sendcloud accounts) | Hybrid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sendcloud account holder | The marketplace has a central Sendcloud account. | Individual merchants have their own Sendcloud accounts. | Central Sendcloud account for new users. For merchants with higher parcel volumes, they can create their own Sendcloud accounts to customize their workflow. |
| Label creation | Merchants purchase labels through the Marketplace. | Labels are created by the merchant via their own Sendcloud account. | Two possible flows; purchase labels via the Marketplace, or process orders via the individual merchant’s Sendcloud account. |
| Business model | Most suitable for C2C and C2B marketplaces. | Most suitable for B2C and B2B marketplaces. | Most suitable for B2C and B2B marketplaces. |
| Parcel volume | Most suitable for merchants who ship low volumes of orders on an ad-hoc basis. | Most suitable for merchants shipping high volumes of parcels per month. | Provides two separate, scalable workflows so merchants won’t outgrow your platform. |
| Direct carrier contract | The marketplace can ship on their direct carrier contract rates. | Individual merchants can ship on their direct carrier contracts. | Combination, depending on chosen workflow. |
| Customer care | Marketplace supports merchants. | Sendcloud supports merchants directly. | Marketplace, or Sendcloud, depending on setup. |
| Invoicing | Marketplace is invoiced for labels by Sendcloud. Marketplace can transfer costs to their users. | Merchants are invoiced for labels directly by Sendcloud. | Combination of a centralized and decentralized billing model, depending on workflow. |
| Development effort | Average | Average | Higher |
| Documentation | Centralized Integration Guidelines | Decentralized Intergration Guidelines | Hybrid Integration Guidelines |
