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Alibaba

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ShipStation Content Team

Updated

Alibaba.com is a one-stop platform that reduces the barriers to starting, running, and growing an ecommerce business. Everything small- and medium-sized businesses need to source and sell locally and globally can be found on Alibaba.com, including payment, logistics, and trade data verification services. ShipStation integrates directly with your Alibaba account so you can import your orders and manage shipments. Once shipped, ShipStation will notify your Alibaba account with the order's shipment data.

Alibaba Requirements

Connection Requirements:

  • An active account with Alibaba.

  • Set Authorization timeframe for store connection

Order Import Requirements:

  • Must include a Ship To address.

Connect an Alibaba store to ShipStation

To connect your Alibaba store to ShipStation:

  1. Open a new tab or browser window and log in to your ShipStation account.

  2. Go to Account Settings.

    sssettings.png

  3. Select Selling Channels from the sidebar, then choose Store Setup.

    Settings page selections, with outline marking the Selling Channels Store Setup option.

  4. Click Connect a Store or Marketplace.

    Store Setup Settings, box highlights Connect a Store or Marketplace button.

  5. Select the Alibaba tile.

    Alibaba logo on square tile button

  6. From the pop-up, click the link in the first step and select an Authorization time preference.

    Red box highlights "Click here to get started" link in Step 1 of Alibaba connection.

    Click Authorize and return to ShipStation.

  7. Click Connect to finish the process.

After you've completed the connection steps, the store's Settings page will open. You can adjust your store-specific settings like branding and customer notifications, if you wish. Or click Save to close.

Available Features for Alibaba

The ShipStation integration with Alibaba supports the following standard features:

Key: Green checkmark. Supported feature. Yes. = Supported; Red X mark. Unsupported feature. No. = Not Supported; Grey dash icon. Not applicable. = Does Not Apply

Feature

Supported?

Custom Statuses

Red X mark. Unsupported feature. No.

Customer Emails

Red X mark. Unsupported feature. No.

Customer Phone Numbers

Red X mark. Unsupported feature. No.

Requested Service*

Green checkmark. Supported feature. Yes.

Payment Method

Red X mark. Unsupported feature. No.

Discounts

Red X mark. Unsupported feature. No.

Identifies Gift Orders

Red X mark. Unsupported feature. No.

Internal Notes

Green checkmark. Supported feature. Yes.

Notes from Buyer

Green checkmark. Supported feature. Yes.

Order Weight

Green checkmark. Supported feature. Yes.

Item Weight

Green checkmark. Supported feature. Yes.

Item Images

Green checkmark. Supported feature. Yes.

Item Options

Green checkmark. Supported feature. Yes.

Item Warehouse Location

Red X mark. Unsupported feature. No.

Order Status Mapping

ShipStation Status

Alibaba Status

Awaiting Payment

  • unpay

  • paying

  • paid

  • captured

Awaiting Shipment

undeliver

Shipped

  • delivering

  • waiting_for_shipment

  • waiting_for_delivery_confirmation

  • partial_delivering

Cancelled

charge_back

On Hold

frozen

Data Sent with Shipment Notification

This table indicates which data ShipStation sends to Alibaba with the marketplace shipment notification:

Field

Supported?

Status Update

Green checkmark. Supported feature. Yes.

Tracking Number

Green checkmark. Supported feature. Yes.

Carrier

Green checkmark. Supported feature. Yes.

Service

Green checkmark. Supported feature. Yes.

Carrier Fee

Green checkmark. Supported feature. Yes.

Note to Buyer

Green checkmark. Supported feature. Yes.

Item Information

Green checkmark. Supported feature. Yes.
Status UpdateTracking NumberCarrierServiceCarrier Fee

The shipment update ShipStation sends to the selling channel will include any Notes to Buyer set on the order in ShipStation.

Item Information

Additional Features for Alibaba

The ShipStation integration with Alibaba allows for the following additional features:

Feature

Description

Custom Authorization Length

You have the freedom to choose the length of your own authentication tokens, including 1, 3, and 6-month periods. You will need to reconfigure and choose a new length after the preexisting token expires.

Proof of Shipment

ShipStation will send a document-style “image” to Alibaba.com prior to every shipment notification. This record is kept by Alibaba.com for fraud review and reconciliation.

If a store allows custom statuses, this means you define that statuses your orders use in your selling channel. In most cases, if you have custom statuses you'll need to define which ShipStation statuses each custom order status corresponds to.

ShipStation will import the customer's email address with the order data and can send shipment confirmation and delivery emails to that email address (configured in your Store settings).

ShipStation will import the customer phone number with the order data.

ShipStation will import the shipping method chosen by the customer during their store checkout.

ShipStation will import the payment method used to pay for the order.

ShipStation will import discount and coupon information for the order.

ShipStation can determine if an order is a gift from the order data sent by the store.

ShipStation will import internal notes or order activity from the store into the ShipStation Internal Notes field.

ShipStation will import notes provided by the customer when they made their purchase.

ShipStation will import the total order weight from the store.

ShipStation will import the weight for each line item in the order.

ShipStation will import an image URL for each line item in the order. These images will appear as thumbnails in your Order Details and can be included in email notifications and packing slips.

ShipStation will import item options (such as color or size) for each line item in the order. This data will appear in your Order Details and can be included in customer emails and packing slips.

ShipStation will import a product stock location for each line item in the order.

Status UpdateTracking NumberCarrierServiceCarrier Fee

The shipment update ShipStation sends to the selling channel will include any Notes to Buyer set on the order in ShipStation.

Item Information

Alibaba Integration Notes

  • One shipment per order. You cannot split orders into multiple shipments.

  • Alibaba does not require a postal code to exist in the shipping address on their orders.

If a store allows custom statuses, this means you define that statuses your orders use in your selling channel. In most cases, if you have custom statuses you'll need to define which ShipStation statuses each custom order status corresponds to.

ShipStation will import the customer's email address with the order data and can send shipment confirmation and delivery emails to that email address (configured in your Store settings).

ShipStation will import the customer phone number with the order data.

ShipStation will import the shipping method chosen by the customer during their store checkout.

ShipStation will import the payment method used to pay for the order.

ShipStation will import discount and coupon information for the order.

ShipStation can determine if an order is a gift from the order data sent by the store.

ShipStation will import internal notes or order activity from the store into the ShipStation Internal Notes field.

ShipStation will import notes provided by the customer when they made their purchase.

ShipStation will import the total order weight from the store.

ShipStation will import the weight for each line item in the order.

ShipStation will import an image URL for each line item in the order. These images will appear as thumbnails in your Order Details and can be included in email notifications and packing slips.

ShipStation will import item options (such as color or size) for each line item in the order. This data will appear in your Order Details and can be included in customer emails and packing slips.

ShipStation will import a product stock location for each line item in the order.

Status UpdateTracking NumberCarrierServiceCarrier Fee

The shipment update ShipStation sends to the selling channel will include any Notes to Buyer set on the order in ShipStation.

Item Information

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