The tracking numbers were generated in the ERP’s shipping process and had to get back to Shopify so customers would receive their shipping email with a link. A fully automated integration would have been possible, but expensive and unnecessary for the actual workflow. We built a clean CSV process. It runs reliably, and it can be automated later without reinventing anything.
The case
A merchant ships through his ERP. That’s where the parcel numbers are generated. Shopify knew nothing about them: orders stayed open, customers got no shipping confirmation and asked support where their parcel was.
The fix
We set up a fulfillment app that imports shipping data from a file, and adjusted the ERP’s export format so the app understands it. A file like this doesn’t need more than:
- Order number from Shopify
- Tracking number
- Shipping carrier
- optional: which items are in this parcel, if an order ships in several parcels
Shopify then marks the order as fulfilled and automatically sends the customer the shipping email with a tracking link.
Ways to hand over the file
How the file gets from the ERP into the app is an organizational question, not a technical one. We talked through the options with the merchant:
| Method | Effort for the team | Fits when |
|---|---|---|
| Manual upload | Upload once a day | Shipping runs once a day |
| Shared spreadsheet | ERP writes to it, app reads it | Several shipping runs a day |
| ERP sends the file automatically | ERP can email reports | |
| FTP or server link | None | Full automation without a custom integration |
We started with the manual upload. It worked from day one.
Your takeaways
- More automation doesn’t automatically mean better integration. The best solution is the one that reliably fits your workflow.
- Data format first, transport second. Once the format is set, you can switch from manual to automatic later without rebuilding anything.
- Do the math honestly. A custom integration quickly costs many times more to build and maintain. For ten minutes of uploading a day, it rarely pays off.
- Shipping emails are customer service. Every order without tracking creates an inquiry. That alone justifies the effort.
Is something stuck between your ERP and Shopify? We look for the simplest solution that runs reliably, not the most spectacular one.