Create Automation Rules

Automation Rules can help automate many order management-related tasks in ShipStation to reduce the time it takes to create labels. To create an Automation Rule you must know what action (or actions) you wish to perform on an order and what order criteria you want to use to trigger that action.

If you are unfamiliar with how Automation Rules work in ShipStation, please review the Introduction to Automation Rules article first! To learn about all the available rule criteria and actions, review the Automation Rules Criteria and Actions article.

If you are ready to start creating your own rules, then read the sections below.

For a demonstration, watch our video tutorial on automation rules.

Create a New Automation Rule

To create a new automation rule:

1. Go to the Automation Rule settings.

2. Click the +Create a Rule button to get started.

   

   Create a Copy

   If you need to make a series of similar Automation Rules, you can create a copy after saving an Automation Rule. Click Copy in the Action menu to create the new copy, then click Edit in the Action Menu of the new Rule to make adjustments.

3. Name the rule so that it has a name that uniquely identifies its function.

4. Set the criteria.

   The criteria determine which orders the rule will apply to. You have three options:

   • Apply these actions to EVERY order that is imported.

   • Only apply these actions to orders that match specific criteria.

   • Only apply these actions to orders that match an existing filter.

   For this example, we'll focus on the second option.

   • Select the option to Only apply these actions to orders that match specific criteria.

   • Click +Add Criteria.

     The criteria you set here will determine which orders the rule will apply to. Review the Criteria and Actions article for more details.

5. Set the action.

   Actions tell ShipStation what to do to the order.

   • Click the Add an Action button to start adding actions to the rule.

     Review the Criteria and Actions article for more details about available actions.

6. Save the rule.

Your new rule will apply to orders as soon as they enter the Awaiting Shipment or On Hold status for the first time (either import from a store or get created manually in ShipStation).

If you would like the new rule to apply to orders already in the Awaiting Shipment status, click the Reprocess Automation Rules button.

Change a Rule

If you ever need to change the criteria or actions for a rule or de-activate it, click Edit from the Action menu next to the rule in the Automation Rules settings window.