Collection of terms and definitions related to ShipStation's integrated partners.
A summary of general integration-related terms.
- direct integration
This is either a store or carrier integration built directly into ShipStation. These integrations have a branded tile in either the Store Setup or Carriers & Fulfillments Settings screens.
- Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)
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Enterprise resource planning (ERP) integrates and manages a company’s main business processes in real-time. This technology connects together a large organization's different software systems into one, yet it still helps each department to manage its own system.
Enterprise resource planning often integrates accounts payable, order tracking, stock-monitoring, and customer management systems to be accessed through one application with one interface.
- Service Level Agreement (SLA)
The commitment between a supplier and a customer that defines which service will be provided, how the service will be measured, and what remedies or penalties (if any) may arise should the service fail, change, or be unmet.
- Third-Party Logistics (3PL, TPL)
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A firm that provides outsourced supply chain management and logistics services to its customers. Services generally include managing inventory, picking, packing, shipping, and returns management among other functions. The terms 3PL and fulfillment often get used interchangeably.
E.g.: Shipwire is a ShipStation-approved 3PL option.
- token
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A token is an authentication method for an API service or integration. In most cases, the term refers to a username, password, or access key that grants ShipStation access to your order information.
For some channels, tokens will expire and have to be refreshed. When this occurs, in most cases you will need to reconfigure your store connection in ShipStation. Review the specific article for your selling channel in the Integrations Help Guide if you need further information.
- Warehouse Management System (WMS)
Software that supports day-to-day operations in a warehouse. Controls movement of goods and processes including receiving, tracking, picking, packing, and shipping.
These terms relate to the Common ShipStation Features table on each Selling Channel's help article.
- Custom Statuses
This integration allows you to define the Status Mappings for the store connection.
- Customer Emails
ShipStation will import the customer email address and can send customer shipment notification and delivery emails.
- Customer Phone Numbers
ShipStation will import the customer phone number.
- Discounts
ShipStation will import discount and coupon information for the order.
- Identifies Gift Orders
ShipStation is able to determine if an order was placed as a gift.
- Internal Notes
ShipStation will import internal notes or order activity from the selling channel.
- Item Images
ShipStation will import an image URL for each line item in the order.
- Item Options
ShipStation will import item options (such as color or size) for each line item in the order.
- Item Warehouse Location
ShipStation will import a product stock location for each line item in the order.
- Item Weight
ShipStation will import the weight for each line item in the order.
- Notes from Buyer
ShipStation will import notes left by the customer at time of checkout. Displayed as Customer notes in ShipStation Classic.
- Order Weight
ShipStation will import the total order weight from the selling channel.
- Payment Method
ShipStation will import the payment method used to pay for the order.
- Requested Service
ShipStation will import the shipping method chosen by the customer at time of checkout.
These terms relate to the Sent with Shipment Update table on each Selling Channel's help article.
- Carrier
The shipment update ShipStation sends to the selling channel will include the carrier used for the shipment.
- Carrier Fee
The shipment update ShipStation sends to the selling channel will include the carrier's cost for the shipping label.
- Item Information
The shipment update ShipStation sends to the selling channel will include details about the specific line items in the shipment, which allows for partial shipment updates.
- Note to Buyer
The shipment update ShipStation sends to the selling channel will include any Notes to Buyer set on the order in ShipStation.
- Return Merchandise Authorization (RMA)
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An authorization number or character sequence (typically) that must be displayed on or included with a returned product's packaging. This serves as part of the process of returning a product to receive a refund, replacement, or repair.
Also called a return authorization (RA), or a return goods authorization (RGA).
- Service
The shipment update ShipStation sends to the selling channel will include the shipping service used for the shipment.
- Status Update
ShipStation will update the order on the selling channel to the Shipped, Fulfilled, or Completed status after a shipment or fulfillment is created.
- Tracking Number
The shipment update ShipStation sends to the selling channel will include the shipment tracking number.
These terms relate to the Common ShipStation Features table on each Carrier's help article.
- Automated Package Verification (APV)
The United States Postal Service (USPS) built the Automated Package Verification APV System to manage postage discrepancies (under-paid and over-paid postage labels) in an automated fashion. The USPS APV program considers postage paid on every domestic package, based on weight, dimensions, package type, mailing service, and origin and destination ZIP codes.
- Automatic Tracking
When tracking is available, ShipStation will automatically track the shipment status and update the tracking status on the Shipments tab. This feature allows for other advanced ShipStation features like delayed notifications and the Branded Tracking Page.
- Carrier Insurance
Additional carrier insurance can be purchased through ShipStation.
- Domestic Shipping
The carrier integration can be used to create domestic shipping labels.
- Electronic Customs Submission
ShipStation will submit international customs information electronically to the carrier.
- Electronic Trade Document (ETD)
A method to transmit customs documents electronically, used primarily by FedEx. The letters "ETD" will be printed on FedEx labels to indicate your data has been submitted electronically. For FedEx International Ground, the letters ETD will appear in a black box under the shipping service icon.
- End of Day (Electronic)
ShipStation can perform an End of Day process for the carrier and submits the shipment information electronically. The End of Day process can be mandatory or optional, based on the carrier and your account with them. A printable file may or may not be available, see the End of Day (PDF).
- End of Day (PDF)
ShipStation can perform an End of Day process for the carrier and creates an End of Day PDF file that can be printed and provided to the carrier. The End of Day process can be mandatory or optional, based on the carrier and your account with them. The file may or may not be submitted electronically, see End of Day (Electronic).
- Estimated Rates
ShipStation will display estimated shipping rates for the carrier based on the connected account information and shipment details.
- International Shipping
The carrier integration can be used to create international shipping labels.
- Label Branding
ShipStation can print the store's logo on shipping labels created for this carrier. Label branding may not be available for all shipping services.
- Label Messages
ShipStation can include information that will be displayed on the label as a label message. Label messages may not be available for all shipping services.
- Multi-package Shipping
The carrier integration can be used to create multi-package shipments, where multiple individual packages are linked together into a single shipment record with a master tracking number.
- Multiple Accounts
You can connect this carrier integration to ShipStation multiple times using different account information, and choose which account will be used to create each shipment.
- Return Labels
The carrier integration can be used to create domestic return labels.
- Tracking
Shipping labels created for this carrier will include a tracking number that can be used to view the shipment status on the carrier's tracking website. Tracking may not be available for all shipping services.