Penalties for breaking the rules
On the blog of Zásilkovna you can read that all the planned changes will lead to more efficient planning and distribution of shipments or ensuring sufficient number of cars and drivers. However, for a number of e-shops, it will mean a reconfiguration of their existing operations.
Changes from 1 September 2021
The first change you should prepare for as e-shop owners is the need to include a weight parameter when submitting shipments to the system.
Changes from 1 March 2022
Much more fundamental changes are going to be introduced by Zásilkovna from March next year. From now on, it will not be possible to submit a parcel without specifying the weight and dimensions. “We are deliberately leaving this step until after the main season, so that you have enough time to work out the data entry processes and do not have to deal with these new processes during the busy pre-Christmas period.” (quote from https://blog.zasilkovna.cz/povinnost-udavat-vahu-zasilek-od-1-9-2021/)
From March onwards, the Post Office will also ask for details of when the parcel will be dispatched to them from the warehouse. Optionally, you will then be able to provide information on where and how you are placing the parcel.
What do the upcoming changes mean for e-shop owners?
In a nutshell, we could write that the upcoming changes will in many cases mean modifying the entire functioning of the e-shop. As far as the scales are concerned, you will have to prepare for manual entry or have your e-shop pre-prepared so that the data can be automatically transferred from it.
A much bigger problem can arise in the case of having to enter the dimensions of individual shipments as well. For e-shops that do not have unified boxes, this can create a virtually unsolvable problem, which can have immeasurable consequences for the functioning of the e-shop as a whole.
Shipping House itself states on its blog that any parcels that do not have the required parameters will not be able to be delivered in any way. A penalty system to deal with any breaches is also being considered, but unfortunately we do not yet have more details.
How to prepare for the changes
The simplest solution for many e-tailers will be to switch to another transport service, such as Parcel Carrier. The latter has not yet announced any planned changes, and one would assume that it will not.
Another option is to set up the system to meet the requirements of Parcelkova. If you wish to continue to use this service, you can contact us and we will be happy to help you set up the new system.