How to Integrate ShipStation to Magento 2

E-commerce businesses often face challenges managing orders from multiple sources and selecting the most suitable shipping partners. This can lead to disorganization and time-consuming processes. This is where ShipStation Magento 2 integration comes in as a savior.

In this article, you’ll discover:

• How ShipStation integration with Magento 2 streamlines your workflow.

• Step-by-step instructions for connecting ShipStation and Magento 2.

• Top Magento 2 connectors for advanced features.

• Answers to frequently asked questions about ShipStation and Magento 2 integration.

What is ShipStation in Magento 2?

ShipStation is an e-commerce shipping platform that seamlessly integrates with Magento 2. It allows merchants to import orders from Magento and other channels, facilitating efficient order processing and shipping.

Here are some key features of ShipStation Magento 2 integration:

• Automated Order Import: ShipStation automatically imports orders from Magento 2 and other sales channels, reducing manual data entry and saving time.

• Multi-Carrier Shipping: ShipStation supports various carriers (such as USPS, UPS, FedEx, DHL) and allows you to compare shipping rates to choose the most cost-effective option.

• Order Tracking and Notifications: ShipStation provides real-time tracking information to merchants and customers, enhancing transparency and reducing customer inquiries.

• Batch Printing of Shipping Labels: You can print multiple shipping labels at once, streamlining the fulfillment process.

• Customizable Packing Slips: ShipStation allows you to create branded packing slips with your logo and personalized messages.

• Automated Rules and Workflows: Set up rules for order routing, tagging, and other actions based on specific criteria (e.g., order value, shipping method).

• Inventory Management: While ShipStation doesn’t handle inventory directly, it syncs and updates real-time orders to Magento, helping you manage stock levels effectively.

ShipStation Pricing

Try ShipStation for free to test its features before choosing a paid plan. Paid plans are cost-effective and suitable for businesses of all sizes, accommodating low and high shipment volumes.

Here’s a table outlining the pricing structure:

</thead>

Plan	Monthly Price	Users	Maximum Shipments per month	Key Features
ShippingEasy	Free	1	Up to 25	- Discounted Shipping: Industry-best USPS rates, up to 82% off UPS Daily Rates, and GlobalPost discounts. - ConnectEasy: Free tool to send labels directly to your printer. - Automation: Powerful features to drastically cut shipping time. - Flat Rate Green: Access exclusive cubic discounts. - Carrier Accounts: Connect your own carrier account.
Starter	$9.99	1	Up to 50	- Discounted Shipping Rates: USPS, UPS, DHL, and GlobalPost. - Subscription Fees: Include default discounted rates; additional fee for individual carrier accounts. - Support: Chat, email, and community forum. - Integrations: Access to 300+ integrations. - Branded Features: Tracking, labels, and more.
Bronze	$29.99	1	Up to 500	All features of the Starter plan, plus 24/7 support.
Silver	$59.99	2	Up to 1,000	All features of the Bronze plan, plus customizable packing slips, phone support (8 am - 6pm M-F, CT).
Gold	$99.99	3	Up to 2,000	All features of Silver plan, plus product bundles.
Platinum	$149.99	5	Up to 5,000	All features of the Gold plan, phone support (8am - 8 pm M-F, CT),
Enterprise	$229.99	10	Up to 7,500	All features of the Platinum plan
High-Volume	Quoted	15	Unlimited	All features of the Enterprise plan, plus Shipping Strategies, Auto-Split, Cubiscan & ODBC

Things to consider when choosing a plan:

• Number of Shipments: Choose a plan that accommodates your current and projected shipment volume.

• Features Needed: Consider the features that are most important for your business needs.

• Growth Potential: If you anticipate significant growth, you may want to choose a plan with more scalability.

Benefits of ShipStation Magento 2 Integration

Manually managing orders and shipping can be a major bottleneck for e-commerce businesses. But fear not! ShipStation integration with Magento 2 swoops in as a superhero, automating tasks, saving you time and money, and ultimately creating a smoother experience for your customers.

Let’s delve into the top benefits of this powerful integration:

• Real-Time Order Sync: ShipStation keeps your Magento orders in sync with other sales channels (such as Amazon, eBay, or your own website). Real-time synchronization means you’re always working with up-to-date order information.

• Save Time & Money: No more manually entering orders or comparing shipping rates across carriers. ShipStation automates these tasks, saving you valuable time and potentially reducing shipping costs through negotiated rates with major carriers.

• Efficient Order Management: ShipStation streamlines your order processing workflow. It simplifies the entire fulfillment process, from importing orders to printing shipping labels. Goodbye manual data entry, hello efficiency!

• Multi-Store Support: ShipStation allows you to manage multiple stores within Magento from a single interface. Whether you have different brands, product lines, or regional stores, ShipStation streamlines order processing across all of them.

• Carrier Options: ShipStation provides access to many carriers, including USPS, UPS, FedEx, DHL, and more. You can consider cost, delivery speed, and other factors to decide which carrier to work with.

• Faster Shipping: Print shipping labels in seconds with ShipStation’s user-friendly interface. No more waiting in line at the post office or wasting time on manual label creation.

• Improved Customer Experience: Customers receive automatic shipping notifications with tracking information, informing them about their deliveries.

• Invoice-After-Shipping: With ShipStation, you can generate invoices after the order has been shipped. This feature ensures accurate invoicing and reduces the risk of discrepancies.

How to Connect ShipStation to Magento 2?

1. What to do before connecting 2 platforms?

Before integrating ShipStation with Magento, you need to prepare a few things:

• Access to ShipStation and Magento Accounts: Ensure you have access to both your ShipStation and Magento accounts. Familiarize yourself with the necessary credentials, such as API keys, tokens, and store URLs.

• Understand Your Business Requirements: Identify your specific business needs for order management and shipping. Consider factors like order volume, shipping carriers, and any custom requirements.

• Review Magento Store Settings: Check your Magento store settings to ensure they are configured correctly. Verify that your product catalog, pricing, and inventory data are up to date.

• Backup Your Data: Before integrating, create backups of your Magento data (orders, products, customers, etc.). This precaution makes sure you can restore your data if anything goes wrong during integration.

• Learn About ShipStation Features: Familiarize yourself with ShipStation’s features, including order import, label printing, and real-time synchronization. Explore how ShipStation handles multi-store scenarios and supports various carriers.

• Plan for Testing: Set up a testing environment (sandbox) to safely test the integration without affecting your live store. Test order import, label printing, and other key functionalities.

• Document Your Workflow: Create a step-by-step workflow for order processing, from order creation to shipping label generation. Document any custom rules or requirements specific to your business.

2. How to integrate ShipStation with Magento?

Option 1: Using the Official ShipStation Extension (Free):

Step 1: Download the ShipStation extension for Magento 2 from the Magento Marketplace and install the extension on your Magento 2 system.

Step 2: Configure the extension settings in your Magento admin panel.

In your Magento admin panel, navigate to Stores > Configuration > Sales > ShipStation.

Enter your API key (which you can obtain from your ShipStation account) and your store’s URL.

Save the configuration.

Step 3: Connect your ShipStation:

Log in to your ShipStation account.

Go to Settings > Selling Channels > Store Setup.

Click Connect a Store or Marketplace.

Select Magento and follow the prompts to complete the connection.

Option 2: Using a Third-Party Connector (Paid):

While the official ShipStation extension offers a solid foundation, some Magento 2 store owners may crave even more advanced capabilities. This is where third-party connectors come into play. These paid solutions extend the functionality of ShipStation integration, unlocking a treasure trove of features specifically designed to streamline your e-commerce fulfillment process. Here are some key points by using a third-party connector:

• Feature Powerhouse: These connectors offer advanced shipping automation with multi-warehouse support and streamlined returns management tools.

• Customization Options: Third-party connectors provide customization options for tailored integrations, automated workflows, custom packing slips, and integration with other business applications.

• Catering to Specific Needs: Third-party connectors offer specialized functionalities, such as high-volume shipping capabilities or international shipping features, to meet diverse business requirements.

Option 3: Build A Custom Module:

In the event that the connectors or APIs that are currently available do not fulfill your integration requirements, the most effective option is todevelop a custom module. Advanced users who are well-versed in technical matters would find this choice to be excellent. We highly recommend hiring a Magento specialist to construct the solution for you if you do not have any prior experience with coding.

Top 3 ShipStation Magento 2 connectors

Let’s delve into the top 3 ShipStation connectors for Magento 2 – Zapier, Webkul, and CedCommerce – to help you choose the one that best suits your needs.

Zapier

Zapier, another automation platform, connects ShipStation with various third-party applications. It provides a user-friendly interface for creating automated workflows without coding expertise.

Key Features:

• Pre-built Zaps: Utilize pre-built Zaps (automated workflows) for common tasks like order confirmation emails, shipping label generation, and inventory updates.

• Custom Zaps: Create custom Zaps to automate more complex workflows that align with your business processes.

• Trigger-based Automation: Trigger actions based on specific events, such as new orders, shipping updates, or inventory changes.

• Conditional Logic: Apply conditional logic to your workflows to control the execution of actions based on specific conditions.

=> User-friendly automation is Zapier’s advantage. Pre-built Zaps streamline common tasks, and it connects to numerous third-party apps. While a free plan exists, extensive use might necessitate paid tiers. Consider Zapier if user-friendliness and app integrations are your top priorities.

Wekbul

Webkul is a robust extension that extends the capabilities of the official ShipStation extension, providing advanced features for managing inventory, automating workflows, and enhancing reporting.

Key Features:

• Multi-Warehouse Support: Manage inventory and fulfill orders across multiple warehouses efficiently.

• Inventory Synchronization: Maintain real-time inventory synchronization between Magento 2 and ShipStation for accurate order fulfillment.

• Automated Workflows: Create custom workflows in order to automate repetitive tasks and save valuable time.

• Advanced Reporting & Analytics: Generate detailed reports to analyze shipping performance, identify cost-saving opportunities, and make data-driven decisions.

=> This paid solution caters to businesses with multi-warehouse operations. It offers in-depth reporting for analyzing shipping performance, customizable workflows for automation, and multi-warehouse support – ideal for companies needing a robust solution for complex fulfillment processes.

CedCommerce

CedCommerce ShipStation Magento 2 Integration is another feature-rich extension that caters to businesses with high-volume shipping needs and complex fulfillment workflows.

Key Features:

• Inventory Management: Track inventory levels across multiple warehouses and prevent overselling.

• Automated Workflows: Set up automated rules to streamline tasks like order fulfillment and shipment routing.

• Advanced Reporting: Generate comprehensive reports to gain insights into shipping performance and identify areas for improvement.

• Returns Management: Simplify the returns process with automated RMA generation and return label creation.

=> High-volume businesses with intricate return management and strict inventory control should consider CedCommerce. It streamlines returns with automated RMA generation and label creation while offering advanced inventory tracking features. However, it comes with the highest price point among the options listed.

Comparison table of 3 best ShipStation Magento 2 integration

</thead>

Third-Party Connector	Pricing	Key Features
Zapier	Free plan available	- Automated workflows - Template for creating ShipStation orders from Magento 2.X orders.
Webkul	Starting at $199	- Efficient order processing and shipping via major carriers.
CedCommerce	Contact for details	- Seamless order fulfillment - Connect a USPS or carrier account - Update store with order status and tracking information post-shipment.

In conclusion

Your shipping procedures may be significantly improved by integrating ShipStation and Magento 2. This will automate activities, increase accuracy, and provide useful insights. Better order management, more flexible delivery choices for clients, and enhanced company operations are all possible thanks to this connection.

Selecting the correct connection and integrations ensures your online shop works well and meets your consumers’ expectations. You can consider other Magento 2 extensions besides Shipstation to optimize your store.