Service Mapping

Use Service Mapping to automatically set the shipping service and package type in ShipStation based on your customer's shipping selection during checkout from your store. This selection imports into ShipStation as the value for Requested Service.

Service Mapping applies to orders after all Product Defaults but before any automation rules.

Service Mapping is store-specific. If you have multiple stores connected to ShipStation, you'll need to map the Requested Service values for all stores you wish to use Service Mapping with.

ShipStation University Automation Course

If learning by doing is more your style, take the ShipStation University Automation course. The lesson videos will show you how to use the three different types of automation in ShipStation: Product Automation, Service Mapping, and Automation Rules.

What is Service Mapping?

Service Mapping sets the shipping service and package type based on the shipping option your customer chose at the time of checkout.

Depending on your store, you may offer a variety of different shipping options to your customers. Common options include Free Shipping, Standard Shipping, or Expedited Shipping. ShipStation imports the option the customer chose as the Requested Service.

Service Mapping Example

You offer an Expedited shipping option for $20.00 in your online store. A customer chooses the Expedited service at checkout and the order imports into ShipStation after it's placed. When the order imports, ShipStation sees that the Requested Service is Expedited...

ORD_ShippingSB_SvcMap_Expedited-Unmapped_MRK.png

But since it's not mapped yet, ShipStation doesn't know which service you want to use to create the shipping label.

Service Mapping tells ShipStation which service to assign based on the order's Requested Service value.

For the above example, you want Expedited orders to arrive as soon as possible, so you use FedEx Standard Overnight® whenever you receive such an order. By mapping the Expedited service to FedEx Priority Overnight®, ShipStation will then automatically apply FedEx Priority Overnight® to any order that includes Expedited as the Requested Service.

ORD_ShippingSB_SvcMap_Expedited-Mapped.png

Service Mapping as Automation Rule Criteria

An alternative to service mapping is to use the Requested Shipping Service value as criteria for more advanced Automation Rules.

The process of telling ShipStation to automatically assign a specific shipping service to an order when it imports with a specific requested service from the selling channel. This automates the service and package selection process and allows you to ship orders with fewer steps.

Create Service Mapping

There are two ways to create Service Mapping in ShipStation:

Method

Description

At the order level:

Map a requested service to the actual service directly in an order that has already imported.

At the store level:

Map requested services to actual services before orders import.

Service Mapping by Order

To edit your selection, simply click Mapped next to the Requested service to open the Service Mapping pop-up again, or go to the Store settings as described in the next section and click Edit for the mapping you wish to modify.

Warning

If you edit a Service Mapping in this way, the change will apply to all orders in Awaiting Shipment that share the Requested service value and imported from the same store.

Service Mapping by Store

You can also set up Service Mapping within each connected store's settings. Use this method to configure your Service Mapping before orders start importing and the mapping will apply immediately to all orders with a mapped Requested value.

You can also use this method to edit all Service Mapping already configured for each of your stores.

Important

If you create a new Service Mapping in this way, the change will be applied to all orders in Awaiting Shipment that share the Requested service value and do not already have a service selected. If a service is already selected for the order, it will not be changed.

Editing an existing Service Mapping will have no effect on open orders.

Automate the Shipping Service Selection

If Checkout Rates are supported for your store, you can automatically apply a customer's selected service to an order in ShipStation by checking this box: "On order import, automatically set the Shipping Service selected by the customer at checkout."

Checkout Rates feature currently available to US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand-based accounts.

The Checkout Rates tab shows the option marked that says "on order import, automatically set the shipping service selected by the customer at checkout. Note: This will override any service category you have already set."

This option will override any other service mapping you have set up.

Click the Save Changes button to save this update.

The process of telling ShipStation to automatically assign a specific shipping service to an order when it imports with a specific requested service from the selling channel. This automates the service and package selection process and allows you to ship orders with fewer steps.

The process of telling ShipStation to automatically assign a specific shipping service to an order when it imports with a specific requested service from the selling channel. This automates the service and package selection process and allows you to ship orders with fewer steps.

The process of telling ShipStation to automatically assign a specific shipping service to an order when it imports with a specific requested service from the selling channel. This automates the service and package selection process and allows you to ship orders with fewer steps.