Pre-Built Tooling
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Authentication | API Key (Basic Authentication) |
| Two-Way Sync | No |
| Events Supported | Yes (via Webhooks) |
| Realtime | Yes (Webhooks) |
| Supports Rate Limiting | Yes (40 requests per 60 seconds per API key) |
| Authentication Scopes Supported | N/A (API Key-based) |
Objects Supported
Alloy Automation supports syncing the following objects from ShipStation:- Orders - Order details and line items
- Shipments - Shipping labels and tracking
- Products - Product catalog
- Warehouses - Warehouse locations
- Carriers - Carrier accounts and services
- Customers - Customer information
Set Up Guide
Trial Access
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Offers free trial? | Yes. ShipStation offers a 30-day free trial with full access to features. Start free trial |
| Requires paid sandbox | No. The trial environment can be used for development. |
| Requires partnership to obtain authentication? | No. Anyone can create an account and obtain API credentials. |
Authentication (API Key)
ShipStation uses API Key and API Secret for Basic Authentication.Use Cases
1) Automated order import
Automatically import orders from e-commerce platforms into ShipStation, enabling centralized shipping label creation and fulfillment tracking across multiple sales channels.2) Real-time shipment tracking
Sync shipment tracking numbers and carrier information from ShipStation back to e-commerce stores, customer support systems, or notification platforms for automated shipping updates.3) Multi-warehouse fulfillment
Route orders to the optimal warehouse based on inventory availability, customer location, or shipping rules by integrating ShipStation with inventory management systems.4) Carrier rate shopping
Retrieve real-time shipping rates from multiple carriers through ShipStation, enabling dynamic shipping cost calculation at checkout or in order management systems.5) Returns management
Automate return label generation and returns processing by connecting ShipStation with customer support platforms, e-commerce stores, or returns management systems.API Gotchas
- Rate Limiting: ShipStation enforces a rate limit of 40 requests per 60 seconds (rolling window) per API key. Exceeding this limit results in 429 status codes. Implement exponential backoff and request queuing to stay within limits.
- Order Status vs. Shipment Status: ShipStation distinguishes between order status (awaiting_shipment, shipped, cancelled) and shipment status (label created, shipped, delivered). Understanding this distinction is crucial for proper order lifecycle management.
- Webhook Reliability: ShipStation webhooks may occasionally fail or be delayed. Implement idempotency handling and consider polling critical endpoints as a backup to ensure no data is missed.
-
Pagination for Large Datasets: ShipStation APIs return paginated results. Use
pageandpageSizeparameters (max 500 items per page). Always check if there are more pages to fetch using the total count in responses. - Date Range Limitations: When querying orders or shipments by date, ShipStation limits the date range to 90 days per request. For historical data imports, make multiple requests with smaller date ranges.
For questions or troubleshooting, contact support@runalloy.com.