You can tell ShipStation to automatically set the service for an order based on what your customer selected during checkout. This is called Service Mapping and it applies to the order as soon as it imports into ShipStation.
ShipStation sees the shipping service selected by the customer at checkout as the Requested Service. With Service Mapping, you map the Requested Service value to the service and package type you plan to use for that order's label.
This feature is most helpful for stores that offer different tiers of shipping options, such as a Free or Standard option, an Expedited option, and a 1-day option, or if the store allows a customer to choose which carrier they want to deliver the product.
Not Available for All Selling Channels
Service Mapping must be configure for each store you wish to use it on. However, some selling channels do not provide ShipStation with a Requested Service value. For these selling channels, Service Mapping is not available.
Review the selling channel's page in the Integrations Help Guide to see if Requested Service is supported.
There are two ways to create Service Mapping in ShipStation, each with its own advantages.
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Select the mapping option on an order after it imports with a requested service.
The advantage of creating the Service Mapping on the order is that ShipStation has already identified exactly how the requested service will import. You won't risk creating a mapping that doesn't exactly match the imported value.
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In the Shipping Services store settings before the orders import.
The advanced of creating Service Mapping in the store settings is that the mapping is set in advance, before any of your orders import. However, if you input any of the requested service values incorrectly, the mapping will not apply as expected.
To set up Service Mapping in the shipping sidebar or the Order Details screen:
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Click unmapped (the hyperlinked text next to the Requested service displayed in the shipping details).
After you click the hyperlink, a new window will pop up that will allow you to map the shipping service or fulfillment provider you want ShipStation to use.
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Select the Service and Package type you wish to use for this requested service.
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Click Save Mapping.
To edit your selection, simply click Mapped next to the Requested service to open the Service Mapping pop-up again, or go to the Store settings as described in the next section and click Edit for the mapping you wish to modify.
Warning
If you edit a Service Mapping in this way, the change will apply to all orders in Awaiting Shipment that share the Requested service value and imported from the same store.
You can also set up Service Mapping within each connected store's settings. Use this method to configure your Service Mapping before orders start importing and the mapping will apply immediately to all orders with a mapped Requested value.
You can also use this method to edit all Service Mapping already configured for each of your stores.
Warning
If you create a new Service Mapping in this way, the change will be applied to all orders in Awaiting Shipment that share the Requested service value and do not already have a service selected. If a service is already selected for the order, it will not be changed.
Editing an existing Service Mapping will have no effect on open orders.
A common use case for Service Mapping is for stores that offer an expedited or overnight option. The example below illustrates how you would implement service mapping to automatically assign FedEx Overnight to all orders where your customer selected the expedited shipping option in your store checkout.
You offer an Expedited shipping option for $20.00 in your online store. A customer chooses the Expedited service at checkout and the order imports into ShipStation after it's placed. When the order imports, ShipStation sees that the Requested Service is Expedited...
But since it's not mapped yet, ShipStation doesn't know which service you want to use to create the shipping label.
Service Mapping tells ShipStation which service to assign based on the order's Requested Service value.
Keep in mind that Service Mapping must be configure for each store you wish to use it on. This is because shipping options used in different stores may vary in name or import slightly differently than other stores. And, you may wish to map to different services depending on product, warehouse location, or destination.
Automation Order of Operations
Service Mapping is the second automation process ShipStation applies to your orders. It can override the service set by Product Automation and can be overridden by Automation Rules.