HOW TO FULFILL ORDERS ON SHOPIFY

So, you’ve made a sale, congratulations! But before you start celebrating with a victory dance, there’s one crucial step left: actually, getting the order to the customer. Fulfilling orders on Shopify isn’t complicated, but doing it efficiently can save you time, money and stress. Whether you’re shipping products yourself, using a warehouse or relying on dropshipping, Shopify gives you diverse ways to manage fulfilment.

The most straightforward method is manual fulfilment, which is ideal if you’re packing and shipping orders yourself. To do this, log in to your Shopify Admin Dashboard, click Orders, then select an order that needs processing. Click Mark as Fulfilled, enter the tracking number (if applicable), and Shopify will notify the customer that their order is on its way. This method gives you full control over shipping but can become time-consuming as orders increase.

For those who prefer automation, Shopify also offers automatic fulfilment. This is useful if you’re using a third-party planning provider (3PL) or dropshipping service. To enable it, go to Settings > Checkout, and under Order Processing, choose Automatically to fulfil the order’s line items. Once a purchase is made, Shopify will send the order details to your fulfilment service, and they’ll oversee packing and shipping. This hands-free approach is great for scaling.

businesses but means you’ll have less direct oversight of shipping times and quality control.

If you use Shopify’s Fulfilment Networks, Amazon FBA or a print-on-demand service, orders are processed automatically without manual input. These integrations streamline fulfilment but may come with extra fees. Be sure to check shipping rates and timelines before committing, as slow delivery can lead to unhappy customers and bad reviews.

Tracking is essential to keeping customers informed. Always add tracking numbers to orders where possible. Shopify allows you to connect carriers like Royal Mail, DHL and UPS, enabling customers to track their packages in real time. If you’re managing fulfilment manually, sending out tracking details can reduce “Where’s my order?” emails and keep buyers happy.

Fulfilling orders on Shopify doesn’t have to be stressful. Whether you’re shipping from home, using a warehouse or dropshipping, Shopify offers tools to make the process smooth. The key is choosing the right fulfilment method for your business size and ensuring customers get their orders on time. After all, satisfied customers mean repeat sales, and less stress for you.