Initial Configuration & Setup

Setting Up Your Shaloz Plugin

Now that the plugin is installed, let's configure it so customers can choose Shaloz at checkout!

__________________________________________________

Overview

What We'll Do:

1. Add Shaloz to a shipping zone
2. Enable the shipping method
3. Enter your API key
4. Test the connection
5. Customize how it looks to customers

Time Needed: About 10 minutes

__________________________________________________

Step 1: Access Shipping Settings

Navigate to Shipping:

1. WordPress admin → WooCommerce
2. Click "Settings" tab
3. Click "Shipping" tab (top)
4. You'll see your shipping zones

What Are Shipping Zones?

• Zones define where you ship
• Example: "United States" zone for US customers
• Each zone can have different shipping methods
• Shaloz needs to be added to a zone

__________________________________________________

Step 2: Add Shaloz to a Shipping Zone

If You Already Have Zones:

1. Select Your Zone:

• Click on zone name (like "United States")
• Zone details page opens

2. Add Shaloz Shipping Method:

• Scroll to "Shipping methods" section
• Click "Add shipping method" button
• Dropdown appears

3. Choose Shaloz:

• Select "Shaloz Shipping" from dropdown
• Click "Add shipping method"
• Shaloz Shipping added to your zone!

If You Don't Have Zones Yet:

1. Create a Zone:

• Click "Add shipping zone"
• Zone name: "United States" (or your country)
• Zone regions: Click "Add region" → Select "United States"
• Save changes

2. Then Add Shaloz:

• Follow steps above to add Shaloz Shipping method

__________________________________________________

Step 3: Configure Shaloz Shipping

Click on "Shaloz Shipping":

• In your shipping zone, you'll see "Shaloz Shipping" listed
• Click on it to open settings
• Configuration page appears

__________________________________________________

Step 4: Basic Settings

Enable the Method:

• Check "Enable Shaloz Shipping" box
• This makes it active

Method Title:

• What customers see at checkout
• Default: "Shaloz Express Delivery"
• Customize it! Examples:
• "Same-Day Local Delivery"
• "Express Delivery by Shaloz"
• "Fast Local Shipping"
• Use what makes sense for your customers

__________________________________________________

Step 5: Choose Environment

API Environment Dropdown:

Sandbox (for Testing):

• Select this first!
• Test mode - no real charges
• Practice before going live
• Use Sandbox API key

Production (for Real Orders):

• Select when ready to go live
• Real deliveries and charges
• Use Production API key

Start with Sandbox: We'll switch to Production later after testing.

__________________________________________________

Step 6: Enter API Key

What You Need:

• API key from Shaloz Portal
• Don't have it yet? See Article 3.4 (Getting API Credentials)

Where to Enter:

• "API Key" field in settings
• Paste your Sandbox API key (for now)
• Should start with pk_sandbox_

API Key Field:

API Key: [pk_sandbox_abc123xyz...]

__________________________________________________

Step 7: Test the Connection

Important Step!

Click "Test Connection" Button:

• Located below API key field
• Click it
• Wait a few seconds

Success:

• "API key is valid! Connection successful."
• You're good to go!

Error:

• "Invalid API key" or connection error
• Double-check you pasted the whole key
• Make sure Environment matches key (Sandbox key with Sandbox environment)
• Try copying and pasting key again
• See Troubleshooting section below

__________________________________________________

Step 8: Customize Display Options

Show Delivery Time:

• Check this box (recommended!)
• Shows "Est. 45 min delivery" to customers
• Helps them choose Shaloz

__________________________________________________

Step 9: Save Your Settings

Don't Forget!

• Scroll to bottom
• Click "Save changes" button
• Settings saved!

Success Message:

• "Your settings have been saved."
• Shaloz Shipping is now configured!

__________________________________________________

What You've Set Up

Now Your Store Has:

• Shaloz as shipping option (in Sandbox mode)
• Real-time rate calculation
• Delivery time estimates
• Connected to your Shaloz Portal account

Next Steps:

• Set up webhooks (Article 3.8)
• Test with a practice order (Article 3.6)
• Then go live with Production! (Article 3.7)

__________________________________________________

Troubleshooting

Problem: "Shaloz Shipping" Not in Dropdown

Fixes:

• Make sure plugin is activated (Plugins → check it says "Active")
• Refresh the shipping settings page
• Try different shipping zone
• Deactivate and reactivate plugin
• Contact help.shaloz.com

Problem: "Test Connection" Button Shows Error

Common Errors:

"Invalid API key"

• Key is wrong or incomplete
• Copy key again from Shaloz Portal
• Make sure you copied the whole thing (no spaces at start/end)
• Verify Environment matches (Sandbox key needs Sandbox environment)

"Connection timeout"

• Your server can't reach Shaloz API
• Ask web host: "Can my server make outbound API calls to api.shaloz.com?"
• Firewall might be blocking it
• Try again in a few minutes

"Unauthorized"

• API key doesn't match Business ID
• Get fresh key from Shaloz Portal
• Try Sandbox key first
• Contact help.shaloz.com if persists

Problem: Settings Won't Save

Fixes:

• Check you clicked "Save changes" button (bottom of page)
• Look for error messages
• Try different browser
• Disable other WooCommerce plugins temporarily
• Check WordPress file permissions with web host

Problem: Method Title Won't Change

Fixes:

• Make sure you changed it in Shaloz Shipping settings (not somewhere else)
• Save changes
• Clear WooCommerce cache
• Refresh checkout page

__________________________________________________

Best Practices

Recommended Settings for Most Stores:

Enable Shaloz Shipping: Checked
Method Title: "Same-Day Local Delivery"
API Environment: Sandbox (change to Production after testing)
API Key: [Your Sandbox key]
Show Delivery Time: Checked

Why These Settings:

• Clear method title helps customers understand it's fast delivery
• Delivery time estimate increases conversion
• Sandbox first = safe testing

__________________________________________________

Next Steps

Now That Basic Setup is Done:

1. Get Webhook Secret → Article 2.11 or 3.8

• Enables order status updates
• Critical for automatic syncing

2. Test in Sandbox → Article 3.6

• Create test order
• See how it works
• Practice before real customers

3. Go Live → Article 3.7

• Switch to Production
• Update to Production API key
• Start accepting real orders!

__________________________________________________

Need Help?

Configuration Questions?

• help.shaloz.com
• Include: WordPress version, WooCommerce version, error messages

Can't Get Test Connection to Work?

• Try Sandbox mode first
• Verify API key is for Sandbox
• Contact help.shaloz.com with screenshot

Ready to Continue?

• Next article: Getting API Credentials
• Or jump to Testing in Sandbox mode!