Set up delivery options

A delivery profile tells Upfrica where your products are dispatched from, where you can deliver, how much buyers will pay, and how long delivery should take . Upfrica uses this information on eligible product listings, during checkout, and when you fulfil an order.

How delivery works across Upfrica

1. You create a reusable delivery profile.
2. You choose the country from which products are dispatched.
3. You choose the regions, areas or countries covered by the profile.
4. You choose a delivery method, buyer fee and estimated delivery time.
5. You assign the profile to eligible product listings.
6. You keep the profile defaults or adjust delivery for an individual product where necessary.
7. Upfrica checks whether delivery is available for the buyer’s destination.
8. Upfrica calculates the applicable delivery price and estimated time during checkout.
9. The buyer selects an available delivery option and completes checkout.
10. The selected delivery price, method and delivery promise are saved with the order.
11. You prepare, dispatch and update the order according to the saved terms.

The four parts of marketplace delivery

1. Delivery profile

The delivery profile stores reusable information such as:

• The dispatch country.
• The delivery coverage.
• The delivery method.
• The normal first-item delivery fee.
• The fee for additional items, where used.
• Minimum-order and free-delivery rules.
• Normal preparation and transit times.

2. Product listing

Each physical product must use an appropriate delivery profile or another supported fulfilment option.

A listing can normally:

• Use the selected profile without changes.
• Use another saved delivery profile.
• Increase or reduce the delivery price for that product.
• Use different adjustments for selected destinations.
• Override the additional-unit fee.
• Use a product-specific preparation time.

3. Checkout

Checkout checks the product, selected profile, buyer destination, quantity, order value and any valid product-level adjustments.

Only delivery options that apply to the order should be shown to the buyer.

4. Order fulfilment

When checkout is completed, the agreed delivery details are saved with the order. The seller must fulfil the order according to those saved details, even if the profile is edited later.

Before you start

Prepare the following information before creating a delivery profile:

• The country from which the products using the profile will normally be dispatched.
• The regions, cities or countries you can reliably serve.
• The delivery method you normally use.
• The normal amount the buyer should pay for the first item.
• Whether additional items increase the delivery cost.
• The time required to prepare the order before dispatch.
• The normal transit time after dispatch.
• Any optional minimum-order, free-delivery or additional-item rules.

Step 1: Choose the delivery route

Local delivery

Choose Local delivery when products are dispatched and delivered within the same country.

Examples:

• Ghana to Ghana.
• United Kingdom to United Kingdom.
• Nigeria to Nigeria.

Local delivery is normally the best starting point for a new seller.

International delivery

Choose International when products are dispatched from one country and delivered to buyers in another country.

Examples:

• United Kingdom to Ghana.
• Ghana to Nigeria.
• United Kingdom to several supported countries.

International delivery may require additional approval, customs arrangements, export documentation, longer delivery times or a separate international profile.

Step 2: Choose where you deliver from

The Deliver from country must represent the normal physical dispatch location of products using the profile.

• Use Ghana when the products are normally stored and dispatched from Ghana.
• Use the United Kingdom when the products are normally stored and dispatched from the UK.
• Do not select a country only because most of your buyers are located there.
• Do not select a country because it has cheaper delivery settings.
• The dispatch country must reflect where the order actually begins its journey.

Step 3: Choose the delivery coverage

Coverage controls where buyers can receive orders using the profile.

Recommended coverage

A recommended coverage option may include supported regions or areas already prepared by Upfrica. This is usually the easiest option for most sellers.

Saved coverage

Saved coverage is an area or group of destinations that you previously created and can reuse.

Custom coverage

Create custom coverage when you serve only selected regions, cities or countries.

Examples:

• Greater Accra and Ashanti only.
• Selected London areas only.
• Ghana and Nigeria, but not every international destination.
• Selected towns served by your own rider.

Selecting individual areas

Some coverage options contain several regions or zones. You can keep all supported areas selected or remove areas you cannot serve.

• Select only areas you can deliver to consistently.
• Remove remote areas when the normal fee or timeframe does not cover them.
• Do not assume every courier serves every region at the same price.
• Create another profile when a group of destinations requires substantially different pricing or timing.

Step 4: Choose the delivery method

The method describes the type of delivery service offered to the buyer. Available methods may depend on the selected country, route and coverage.

Common examples include:

• Standard delivery: suitable for normal orders without urgent delivery.
• Express delivery: faster delivery, usually at a higher cost.
• Next-day delivery: suitable only when eligible orders can consistently arrive the next working day.
• Same-day delivery: suitable only for eligible local orders that can be prepared and delivered on the same day.

Choose a method you can fulfil consistently. Do not select express, next-day or same-day delivery only to make a listing appear more attractive.

Step 5: Set the buyer delivery fee

The buyer fee is the normal amount charged for the first eligible item using this delivery option.

• Include normal courier, rider and fuel costs.
• Include reasonable packaging and handling costs where appropriate.
• Use 0.00 only when delivery is always free.
• Do not enter an unrealistically low amount and ask the buyer for extra money later.
• Do not hide compulsory delivery charges outside checkout.
• Review the fee whenever courier prices or fuel costs change significantly.

Example

When the normal cost of delivering the first item is GH₵30, enter 30.00. The buyer will see that amount when the profile applies to the order, subject to any valid product-level adjustment or order rule.

Optional order rules

Minimum delivery order

Use this when delivery is available only after the buyer spends a minimum amount on eligible products from your shop.

Example:

• A minimum order of GH₵100 means delivery will not be available when the eligible shop subtotal is below GH₵100.

The minimum normally applies to the eligible product subtotal, not the delivery fee itself.

Fee for each extra item

Use this when additional units increase the delivery cost.

Example:

• First item: GH₵30.
• Each additional item: GH₵5.
• Two eligible items: GH₵35.
• Three eligible items: GH₵40.

Leave this blank or enter 0.00 when the delivery charge remains the same regardless of quantity.

Free delivery from a certain amount

Use this when buyers qualify for free delivery after spending a specified amount on eligible products.

Example:

• Normal delivery fee: GH₵30.
• Free delivery from: GH₵500.
• The buyer pays the normal fee below GH₵500 and receives free delivery when the eligible subtotal reaches GH₵500.

When the normal buyer fee is already 0.00, delivery is already free and a free-delivery threshold is not required.

Delivery note shown to buyers

Use the buyer note for short, useful information that applies to the delivery arrangement.

Suitable examples:

• Orders placed after 2pm may be delivered the next working day.
• Remote areas may require an additional working day.
• A rider may contact the buyer before arrival.
• Weekend orders are processed on the next working day.

Do not include:

• Phone numbers.
• Personal email addresses.
• Bank or mobile-money details.
• Instructions to pay outside Upfrica.
• Requests to complete the order outside Upfrica.
• Information unrelated to delivery.

Step 6: Set realistic delivery timing

Upfrica separates normal delivery timing into handling time and transit time.

Handling time

Handling time is the time needed before the order is handed to a courier, rider or delivery service.

It can include:

• Confirming payment.
• Checking and reserving stock.
• Picking and packing the product.
• Preparing delivery or export documents.
• Arranging a rider or courier.
• Waiting for a supplier to release a sourced item.
• Preparing a made-to-order or personalised product.

Transit time

Transit time is the normal period between dispatch and arrival at the buyer’s destination.

Example

• Handling time: 1 day.
• Transit time: up to 4 days.
• The delivery promise shown to the buyer is based on preparation and transport together.

Allow additional time for weekends, public holidays, remote destinations, sourced products, made-to-order products and international orders.

Step 7: Review and create the profile

Before selecting Create delivery option, check:

• The dispatch country is correct.
• The route is correctly set as local or international.
• The selected coverage matches the areas you serve.
• Unavailable or unsupported areas have been removed.
• The delivery method is realistic.
• The buyer fee is complete and accurate.
• The estimated delivery time includes preparation and transport.
• Optional order rules are intentional.
• The buyer note contains no prohibited contact or payment details.

After creation, the profile becomes available for managing and assigning to eligible products.

How delivery profiles connect to product listings

A delivery profile provides reusable defaults, but it does not make every product automatically eligible for that delivery arrangement.

Each physical listing must use a suitable profile or another supported fulfilment type.

When creating or editing a listing:

• Confirm the product’s real stock or dispatch location.
• Select a profile that dispatches from that location.
• Confirm the product can be delivered to the areas covered by the profile.
• Confirm the profile’s normal price is suitable for the product.
• Confirm the product’s preparation time matches the profile or override it where necessary.
• Do not assign an international profile to a product that cannot legally or practically be exported.
• Do not assign same-day delivery to sourced, unavailable or slow-preparation stock.

Products that can usually share one profile

Products can usually share a profile when they:

• Are dispatched from the same country.
• Use the same delivery method.
• Serve the same coverage area.
• Use a similar buyer-fee structure.
• Have similar handling and transit times.
• Do not require special transport arrangements.

When to create a separate profile

Create another delivery profile when:

• Some products are stored or dispatched from another country.
• A distinct group of products uses another courier or route.
• Large or heavy products have substantially different delivery costs.
• Some products support same-day delivery while others require standard delivery.
• A group of regions requires a different normal fee.
• Imported or sourced products use a different normal timeframe.
• International products use different coverage, approval or delivery terms.

Using profile defaults on a product

During listing creation, Upfrica can automatically use your default local delivery profile.

Choose Use profile prices when the product can use the normal delivery rules already saved in the selected profile.

The listing may inherit:

• The selected delivery profile.
• The dispatch country.
• The profile’s delivery coverage.
• The normal delivery method.
• The first-item delivery fee.
• The additional-item fee.
• The normal preparation and delivery timing.
• Applicable minimum-order and free-delivery rules.

This is normally the correct choice for products that are similar in size, weight, stock location and fulfilment requirements.

Product-level delivery adjustments

Some products need a different delivery arrangement from the profile defaults. The product listing form can provide controlled adjustments without changing the original profile.

A product may be able to:

• Use another saved delivery profile.
• Increase the delivery price.
• Reduce the delivery price.
• Use a different adjustment for selected destinations.
• Override the fee for each additional unit.
• Use a product-specific preparation timeframe.
• Add a short product-specific delivery note.

Example: overall product adjustment

• Profile delivery fee: GH₵30.
• Product-level increase: GH₵10.
• Calculated delivery fee for that product: GH₵40.

An overall adjustment is useful when the product costs more or less to deliver across every destination in the selected profile.

Example: destination-specific adjustment

A product may use the normal profile price for most regions while requiring a different adjustment for a particular destination.

• Greater Accra: normal profile price.
• Ashanti: normal profile price.
• A remote destination: higher product-specific adjustment.

When no destination-specific adjustment is entered, that destination should continue using the normal profile calculation and any applicable overall product adjustment.

Product-specific preparation time

A product may require more or less preparation time than the profile default.

Examples include:

• A personalised item that must be made before dispatch.
• A sourced item that must arrive from a supplier.
• A large product that requires specialist packing.
• A ready-stock product that can be dispatched immediately.

Leave the product preparation fields on the profile setting when the normal profile timing is accurate. Override them only when the product genuinely needs a different preparation period.

Profile change or product override?

Use a product-level override for an exception affecting one product. Edit or create a delivery profile when the change should apply to several products.

Edit the delivery profile when:

• Your normal courier price changes.
• You begin or stop serving an area.
• Your standard delivery method changes.
• Your normal preparation or transit time changes.
• Your standard additional-item fee changes.
• You introduce or remove a minimum-order rule.
• You introduce or remove a free-delivery threshold.
• A group of products now shares a different standard delivery arrangement.

Use a product-level adjustment when:

• One product is unusually heavy, large or fragile.
• One product costs more to deliver to selected areas.
• One product has a temporary delivery discount.
• One product requires longer preparation time.
• One product should use another saved profile.

What the buyer sees on the listing

Depending on the available information and the buyer’s location, Upfrica can show:

• Whether delivery is available to the buyer’s destination.
• The delivery method.
• The expected delivery charge.
• The estimated preparation and delivery time.
• Any applicable minimum-order condition.
• Any applicable free-delivery condition.
• A permitted delivery note.

The final information can depend on the buyer’s destination, the selected product, quantity, profile rules and product-level adjustments.

How Upfrica calculates delivery at checkout

During checkout, Upfrica checks the delivery settings attached to each product in the basket.

The calculation may consider:

• The product’s dispatch country.
• The buyer’s delivery address or selected destination.
• The delivery profile attached to the product.
• The profile’s active coverage and delivery methods.
• The profile’s normal destination price.
• Any product-level overall adjustment.
• Any product-level destination-specific adjustment.
• The selected quantity.
• The additional-item fee.
• The eligible shop subtotal.
• Minimum-order rules.
• Free-delivery thresholds.
• The product’s preparation-time override, where used.

Typical calculation order

1. Upfrica identifies the delivery profile selected for the product.
2. It checks whether the buyer’s destination is covered by that profile.
3. It reads the profile’s normal delivery price for that destination.
4. It applies the product’s overall price increase or reduction, where used.
5. It applies a destination-specific product adjustment where one exists.
6. It applies the relevant additional-item rule for multiple units.
7. It checks the minimum-order requirement.
8. It applies free delivery when the eligible threshold is met.
9. It presents the final eligible delivery option to the buyer.

Mixed marketplace baskets

A marketplace basket may contain products from different sellers, dispatch countries, stock locations or delivery profiles.

Upfrica may therefore calculate delivery separately for:

• Different sellers.
• Different dispatch countries.
• Different delivery profiles.
• Products requiring different methods.
• Products that cannot be combined into one shipment.

The buyer may see separate delivery charges or fulfilment groups within the same basket.

What happens after checkout

When the buyer completes checkout, the selected delivery information is saved with the order.

This can include:

• The selected delivery profile or method.
• The delivery destination.
• The final delivery charge.
• The estimated delivery timeframe.
• Applicable order rules.
• Relevant product-level delivery adjustments.

The saved order terms become the fulfilment reference for that order.

What the seller should do after an order is placed

1. Review the ordered product and quantity.
2. Review the selected delivery method and destination.
3. Confirm the payment status before dispatching.
4. Reserve the correct stock.
5. Prepare and pack the order safely.
6. Arrange the courier, rider or approved delivery service.
7. Add tracking or dispatch information when available.
8. Inform the buyer promptly about any delay.
9. Record the correct order status.
10. Mark the order delivered only after the delivery handover is complete.

Delivery and pickup are different

This delivery setup creates delivery routes. Pickup or collection may use a separate protected setup.

• Delivery: the seller, courier or rider takes the order to the buyer.
• Pickup: the buyer collects the order from an approved location.

Do not include pickup charges, private collection instructions or unapproved pickup locations inside a delivery profile unless the feature specifically supports them.

Pay on Delivery

Pay on Delivery is not automatically enabled by creating a delivery profile. It may be restricted to approved sellers, supported areas, eligible products or qualifying orders.

• Do not promise Pay on Delivery unless it is shown as available for the order.
• Do not ask buyers to ignore the payment status recorded by Upfrica.
• Follow the payment method saved on the order.
• Do not request an unsupported external payment arrangement after checkout.

Editing a delivery profile later

You can update a delivery profile when your normal delivery arrangement changes.

Review and update the profile when:

• Courier or rider prices change.
• You begin or stop serving an area.
• Your standard delivery method changes.
• Your normal handling time changes.
• Your normal transit time changes.
• Your dispatch location changes.
• You introduce or remove free delivery.
• You introduce or remove a minimum-order rule.
• Your additional-item pricing changes.

Use the delivery-profiles page to review all saved profiles, identify the default profile and open an individual profile for editing.

Manage delivery profiles

Before changing an active profile

A shared profile may be used by several products. Before making a major change:

• Check which products use the profile.
• Confirm that the new coverage is valid for those products.
• Confirm that the new price is suitable for those products.
• Review product-level overrides that may also apply.
• Create a separate profile instead when only some products need the change.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Using the buyer’s country as the dispatch country.
• Enabling nationwide delivery when only a few areas are genuinely supported.
• Using one profile for products dispatched from different countries.
• Using one profile for products with substantially different delivery requirements.
• Charging compulsory extra delivery fees after checkout.
• Promising same-day or next-day delivery without the capacity to fulfil it.
• Assigning a profile to products that cannot use its route or coverage.
• Leaving unavailable delivery areas active.
• Changing every product listing when the shared profile should be updated once.
• Changing the shared profile when only one unusual product needs an adjustment.
• Applying a product-level reduction without checking the final buyer price.
• Reducing the delivery fee below the actual cost of fulfilling the order.
• Adding destination-specific overrides when one overall product adjustment would be sufficient.
• Assuming a profile change will rewrite delivery terms on existing orders.
• Marking an order dispatched before it has left your control.
• Marking an order delivered before the handover has been completed.
• Adding phone numbers or external payment details to a buyer note.

Example delivery-profile structures

Example 1: Simple Ghana local delivery

• Deliver from: Ghana.
• Route: Local delivery.
• Coverage: Ghana nationwide or selected supported regions.
• Method: Standard delivery.
• Buyer fee: GH₵30.
• Handling: 1 day.
• Transit: up to 4 days.

Example 2: Greater Accra same-day delivery

• Deliver from: Ghana.
• Route: Local delivery.
• Coverage: Selected Greater Accra areas.
• Method: Same-day delivery.
• Buyer fee: Based on the seller’s real rider cost.
• Handling: Same day.
• Transit: Same day.

Only assign this profile to products that are physically available and can be prepared immediately.

Example 3: UK to Ghana international delivery

• Deliver from: United Kingdom.
• Route: International.
• Coverage: Supported destinations in Ghana.
• Method: International standard delivery.
• Buyer fee: Based on the approved international route.
• Handling: Time required to prepare the export dispatch.
• Transit: A realistic international transport estimate.

Example 4: Heavy or oversized products

• Create a separate profile for heavy or oversized products.
• Use the correct coverage and specialist delivery method.
• Set a fee that reflects the real transport cost.
• Do not place heavy products under the same low-cost profile as small parcels.

Example 5: One unusually heavy product

• Use the normal local profile if the coverage and method remain suitable.
• Apply a product-level delivery increase where the listing supports it.
• Use destination-specific adjustments only when selected regions cost more.
• Create a separate heavy-product profile when several products require the same arrangement.

Troubleshooting

No delivery profile appears on the listing

• Confirm that the profile was successfully created.
• Confirm that it is active and has delivery coverage.
• Confirm that it has an active delivery method and price.
• Refresh the delivery section in the listing editor.
• Confirm that the profile is a local profile when configuring local delivery.

The buyer cannot see delivery

• Confirm that the buyer’s destination is inside the profile coverage.
• Confirm that the listing uses the correct profile.
• Confirm that the delivery method is active.
• Check whether a minimum-order requirement has been met.
• Check whether the product requires a quote or pickup instead.
• Check whether an international route is still awaiting approval.

The delivery price is different from the profile price

• Check for an overall product-level adjustment.
• Check for a destination-specific adjustment.
• Check the additional-item fee and selected quantity.
• Check whether a free-delivery threshold was reached.
• Check whether another profile is selected on the product.

A profile change is not visible immediately

• Refresh the delivery section in the listing editor.
• Confirm that the listing uses the edited profile.
• Check whether the listing has product-level overrides.
• Remember that existing orders retain the delivery terms saved at checkout.

Quick checklist

• The correct dispatch country is selected.
• The correct local or international route is selected.
• Only serviceable areas are enabled.
• The delivery method is suitable and realistic.
• The buyer fee includes normal fulfilment costs.
• The additional-item rule has been reviewed.
• The minimum-order rule has been reviewed.
• The free-delivery threshold has been reviewed.
• The handling time is realistic.
• The transit time is realistic.
• The buyer note contains no contact or external-payment details.
• The correct delivery profile is assigned to each relevant listing.
• Product-level adjustments are used only where the product genuinely needs them.
• Shared profile changes are reviewed against every product using the profile.
• Existing orders are fulfilled according to their saved delivery terms.

Set up or manage delivery

View delivery profiles

Related lessons

• Offer safe product pickup
• Create your first product listing
• Keep product stock accurate
• Manage a new order