Platforms and aggregators
A platform account is for businesses that ship on behalf of many merchants: aggregators that list couriers at checkout, and ecommerce platforms that offer delivery. The platform is Reeds' customer. Its merchants have no Reeds login.
Getting a platform account
Platform accounts aren't self-serve.
- Sign up and work in Test mode, as any business does.
- Apply for a platform account from Dashboard → Settings.
- Sign an agreement with Reeds that sets your rate card, credit limit and payment terms.
- Reeds switches the account to platform.
Your Test mode integration doesn't need to wait for approval. Until the switch, your account is a business account: it ignores shipper, pays the standard price and uses the test wallet.
The shipper block
On every delivery, a platform names the merchant in shipper. It is required for platform accounts. Business accounts leave it out, and it is ignored if they send it.
| Field | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
business_name | string | required. The merchant's business name. |
phone | string | required. The merchant's phone number. |
merchant_id | string | Your own id for this merchant. Returned on the delivery and in webhooks. |
"shipper": { "business_name": "Tola Fabrics", "phone": "08051234567", "merchant_id": "m_8812" }
Who sees what:
| Who | What they see |
|---|---|
| Riders and Reeds operations | "via platform · merchant" |
| The receiver | An SMS that names the merchant, with the tracking link |
| You | The shipper block on every delivery and webhook |
Rate cards
By default an account pays Reeds' standard price. A rate card gives a platform either a percentage off the standard price, or its own price for each distance tier. Quotes show your price. VAT, rounding and the service charge apply as usual.
Platforms usually get a rate card, so they can add their own margin and still offer Reeds at a competitive price. Rate cards and credit limits are set by agreement. Contact support@getreeds.co to discuss yours.
Invoicing and credit limits
Platforms are on monthly invoicing from the start. Bookings go on the month's invoice instead of debiting a wallet, up to the credit limit in your agreement. A booking that would go over the limit is refused with 402 CREDIT_LIMIT_REACHED. GET /wallet shows a credit block with your available room, so you can check before a busy period. See Invoices.
Rate limits
Platforms get higher rate limits than business accounts on POST /quotes and POST /addresses, because checkout quotes arrive in volume.
Receiver SMS
Reeds texts the receiver about the delivery and names the merchant. The receiver can also use the tracking_url you pass on to them.
No cash on delivery
On every channel the rider collects nothing from the receiver, for the delivery fee or for the item's price. Reeds offers no cash on delivery, so list Reeds as a courier without cash on delivery.