> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.usenash.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Plan Your Integration

## Introduction

This guide provides an overview of how to integrate with Nash's API for a custom integration. You can also manually initiate deliveries in the Nash Portal.

Familiarizing yourself with Nash's capabilities and configuration choices will help you provide a seamless and efficient delivery experience for your customers.

## Timeline

Implementing a Nash integration typically takes 2 - 4 weeks. This timeline may vary based on the complexity of your delivery requirements and the extent of integration with your existing systems.

| Phase                                                       | Duration    | Tasks                                                                       |
| :---------------------------------------------------------- | :---------- | :-------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Account Setup and Onboarding**                            | 1 - 2  days | Familiarize your team with the Nash system                                  |
| **Plan Checkout, Dispatch, Automations, and Notifications** | 1 - 2 days  | Plan your customer experience, dispatch strategies, and monitoring approach |
| **Build and Test**                                          | 1 - 3 weeks | Implement API calls, set up webhook handling, configure dispatch strategies |
| **Go-Live**                                                 | 1 - 2 days  | Conduct final testing and move from Sandbox to Production                   |

## Account Setup and Onboarding

Get access to the [Nash API](/reference/nash-api-overview). Determine who needs access to the API and to the Nash Portal.

## Plan Dispatch Strategies, Automations, and Notifications

Choose the [dispatch strategy](/api-reference/dispatch-strategies/dispatch-strategy) that Nash will use to select delivery providers for your orders, including options such as lowest cost, highest reliability, or a tailored ranking. Decide whether or not you want auto-dispatch. Read more about dispatch strategy considerations in the [help center](https://help.usenash.com/en/articles/7260581-understanding-dispatch-strategies).

Then, set [automations](/api-reference/dispatch-strategies/dispatch-automations) to automatically apply the dispatch strategies based on parameters such as order value, delivery location, and product type.

Finally, decide what [notifications](/api-reference/notifications/notifications) you want to send to your customers and your internal teams. Read more about the default enabled and disabled notifications in the [help center](https://help.usenash.com/en/articles/7310266-notification-settings).

## Build and test

Now it's time to integrate with your e-commerce platform or order management system to ingest orders into Nash.

The bulk of the work is building the end-to-end delivery experience. You'll implement the customer checkout experience, the delivery dispatch and automation strategy, and the tracking experience for customers and internal teams.

To enable real-time delivery updates, you'll need to configure [webhooks](/reference/webhooks).

## Go-Live

When you are ready for Production testing, please reach out to **[support@usenash.com](mailto:support@usenash.com)** to enable the API in Production.

## Best Practices

To ensure a successful Nash integration and ongoing delivery improvements, follow these best practices:

1. **Start with a Solid Foundation**: Take time upfront to determine your dispatch strategies and automations. Think about your existing customer experience and what you want to optimize for.

2. **Leverage Notifications**: Establish a robust notification system to keep you informed about delivery status, facilitating quick identification and resolution of issues.

3. **Continuously Improve**: Analyze delivery performance data and adjust your dispatch strategies and automations as needed to foster continuous improvement in efficiency and customer satisfaction.