A step-by-step guide to using Pathao Courier with your online store: opening a merchant account, connecting it to Multipurc, booking parcels and tracking delivery.
Pathao is one of the courier services many Bangladeshi online sellers use for home delivery and Cash on Delivery collection. If you already have a Multipurc store, you can connect Pathao so orders and parcel bookings stay in one place instead of being copied by hand.
This guide walks through the full journey: merchant account, connection, first booking and a daily routine. For a comparison of Pathao, REDX and Steadfast, see our earlier article on choosing a courier integration.
> Courier rates, COD charges, payment timelines and coverage are set by Pathao and change over time. Always confirm current terms directly with Pathao.
Step 1: Open a Pathao merchant account
- Visit Pathao's official merchant/courier website or app and register as a merchant.
- Provide your business details: shop name, pickup address, phone and payment details for COD settlements. The required documents are set by Pathao.
- Set your pickup address carefully. This is where riders will collect parcels.
- Ask Pathao how to get API credentials for integrating with your website. You'll need these to connect your store.
Keep your credentials private. The Learning Center's advice is simple: never share courier API keys with anyone.
Step 2: Connect Pathao to your Multipurc store
The Pathao Courier plugin is included in all Multipurc plans (Starter, Pro and Elite), according to the pricing page.
- In your store admin, open Shipping → Couriers.
- Find the Pathao card. It shows Needs setup until credentials are added.
- Click Configure.
- Enter the API credentials from your Pathao merchant account and save.
- The status should change to Active.
Step 3: Set delivery charges your customers see
The courier connection handles booking; your storefront delivery charge is set separately in Shipping → Zones. Create zones such as Inside Dhaka and Outside Dhaka and set prices that cover your real courier cost.
Tip: compare what Pathao charges you per parcel with what you charge customers. If you absorb part of the cost as a promotion, do it deliberately, not by accident.
Step 4: Prepare the parcel
Before booking:
- Confirm the order by phone (especially COD).
- Check the address: area, road, house, and a landmark. Incomplete addresses are a top cause of failed deliveries.
- Weigh the parcel. Courier charges often depend on weight, so know it before booking.
- Pack well: waterproof poly for clothing, a box and padding for fragile items.
- Print the invoice from Orders (tick the orders and click Download invoice) and put it inside or attach it.
Step 5: Book the parcel
With the integration active, you can create the delivery for an order from your dashboard instead of typing the details again in Pathao's panel. The plugin is described as handling delivery orders, tracking and merchant shipping. The exact buttons can change with updates, so follow the plugin's How use guide under Integrations.
Double-check before you submit:
- Customer name and phone
- Full address
- COD amount (product total plus delivery charge, minus any advance paid)
- Item description and weight
A wrong COD amount is painful to fix after pickup.
Step 6: Track and update customers
- Check courier status for your parcels each evening.
- Update order status in Multipurc so your records stay accurate.
- If you use an SMS plugin (BD Bulk SMS or BulkSMSBD, available on all plans), send a "shipped" message so customers expect the call from the rider.
Step 7: Handle failed deliveries quickly
If a delivery fails ("customer not reachable", "address not found"):
- Call the customer the same day.
- Correct the address or arrange a new time with the courier.
- If the customer refuses, mark it for return and make sure the parcel comes back to you.
Fast follow-up saves many parcels that would otherwise be returned.
Step 8: Reconcile COD payments
Pathao sends COD collections to you on its own schedule after deducting its charges. Every week:
- Match each delivered order with the payment statement.
- Check Reports → Transactions in Multipurc for orders still marked pending.
- Raise any missing amount with Pathao promptly.
A daily dispatch routine
| Time | Task | |---|---| | Morning | Confirm new COD orders by phone | | Late morning | Pack confirmed orders, print invoices | | Before pickup cut-off | Book parcels, hand over to rider | | Evening | Check tracking, follow up failed deliveries | | Weekly | Reconcile COD payments |
Should you use more than one courier?
Many sellers keep two couriers: one as the main option and a backup for areas where the main one is slower or during festival rushes. Multipurc supports Pathao, REDX and Steadfast, so you can set up more than one and choose per order.
Summary
Open the merchant account, connect it under Shipping → Couriers, set your zones, and build a daily routine around confirmation, packing, booking and tracking. The integration saves typing; the routine is what keeps returns low and payments accurate.