Automation in ShipStation allows you to automate certain tasks so you do not have to do them manually. The automation options available in ShipStation can work independently or together, depending on your specific workflow needs.
This Automation Basics article explains what automation is, lists many (but not all) of the tasks it can automate, what types of automation there are, and when and in what sequence the automation applies to orders.
Automation can be defined as, "automatically controlled operation of an apparatus, process, or system by mechanical or electronic devices that take the place of human labor."
ShipStation can automate many of your tasks so you can skip simple, time-consuming tasks and create labels more efficiently. Tasks you can automate include (but are not limited to):
Configure shipping service, package type, and insurance
Set shipment weight and dimensions
Set customs content type and non-delivery options
Add tags to orders
Add notes to orders
Assign orders to a specific user
Move an order to the On Hold status
Send the order to a connected fulfillment provider (FBA or Shipwire)
Set a custom packing slip or email notification template
Set the order to include a return label
Send an email to a specific email address.
In other words, ShipStation’s automation does the tedious work and lets you focus on getting your packages out the door!
ShipStation offers three types of automation:
Product Automation: Includes Product Preset Groups and Product Defaults, and applies to orders based on the products present on orders when they import into ShipStation.
Service Mappings: 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.
Automation Rules: Applies your selected actions to orders based on a set of criteria set within the rule.
Automation applies to orders when one of the following occurs:
An order imports or is created in ShipStation in the Awaiting Shipment status.
An order that imported or was created in the Awaiting Payment or On Hold status updates to the Awaiting Shipment status.
The Reprocess Automation Rules button is clicked.
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.
If you need to re-apply automation to orders in the Awaiting Shipment status, click the Reprocess Automation Rules button located in Settings > Automation > Automation Rules.
This will cause ShipStation to apply Product Automation, Service Mapping, and Automation Rules to the orders in the Awaiting Shipment status.
However, the following automation is ignored when reprocessing automation rules:
Product Preset Group settings
Product default shipping services (if these have been manually configured)
E-mail notifications
Fulfillment provider requests
Order weight adjustments (adding or subtracting weight)
Warning
Depending on the number of orders in Awaiting Shipment and how many automated process you have, this process could take several minutes to complete. To prevent shipping errors, we recommend you cease creating labels until your receive the in-app notification that the process has completed.