Automation is an automatically controlled action that does not require human labor. In ShipStation, Automation replaces many of the repetitive tasks you must take to prepare your orders for shipping. The automation options available in ShipStation can work independently or together, depending on your specific workflow needs.
Tasks you can automate include (but are not limited to):
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Route orders to Ship From locations
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Split Orders to ship from multiple warehouses
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Configure shipping service, package type, and insurance
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Set shipment weight and dimensions
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Set customs content type and non-delivery options
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Add tags to orders
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Assign orders to a specific user
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Send the order to a connected fulfilment provider
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Assign a custom packing slip or email notification template to an order
In other words, ShipStation’s automation does the tedious work and lets you focus on getting your packages out the door!
ShipStation offers four types of automation, which can be used independently or in conjunction with each other:
|
Automation Type |
Description |
|---|---|
|
Order Automation |
Applies to orders when they are imported into ShipStation. ShipStation auto-routes* orders based on the Ship From locations assigned to the products on the order. *Auto-Routing is only available for accounts on the Enterprise plan. |
|
Applies to orders based on the products present in orders when they import into ShipStation. Product Automation includes three subtypes: Product Auto-Split*, Product Defaults, and Product Preset Groups. *Product Auto-Split is only available for accounts on the Enterprise plan. |
|
|
Applies to orders based on the shipping option your customer chose at the time of checkout. ShipStation maps the requested service to the actual service you want to use to ship that order. |
|
|
Applies selected actions to orders based on a set of criteria set within the rule. |
Automation applies to orders in the following sequence when the order imports into the Awaiting Shipment status:
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Auto-Routing (if enabled on your account)
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Auto-Split (If enabled on your account)
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Service Mapping
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Product Automation (Preset Groups, then Product Defaults)
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Automation Rules (from top of the list to bottom of the list)
Automation applies to orders when one of the following occurs:
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An order imports into ShipStation in the Awaiting Shipment status, or you create a manual order in the Awaiting Shipment status.*
*Auto-Split and Auto-Routing do not apply to manual orders.
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An order that imported or was created in the Awaiting Payment or On Hold status updates to the Awaiting Shipment status for the first time.
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You click the Reprocess Automation Rules button.
If an order imports to, or is created in, either the Shipped or Cancelled status, then automation will not run on that order unless you manually Restore it to Awaiting Shipment and click the Reprocess Automation Rules button.