3PL accounts and 3PL client accounts each own a different part of the setup. As a rule of thumb, the 3PL parent manages settings for inventory, picking, packing, and shipping (including carrier accounts, shipping boxes, RateShop+ profiles, and order processing), while the 3PL client account manages administrative functions for its own products, orders, store connections, automation rules, and notifications.
Table of Contents
- General 3PL Client Settings
- 3PL Customer Page Settings Defined
- Features Only Available at the 3PL Account Level
- Settings and Features Managed at the Client Account Level
- 3PL Client Settings Managed at Both Account Levels
General 3PL Client Settings
The first settings to configure for your 3PL client are found on the 3PL Customer Page. This is where you invite and remove 3PL clients, see which of your warehouses are associated with their accounts, manage the shipping and return carrier connection settings, enable or disable order processing for the client, and manage ShipHero Platform visibility.
See How to Add a New Client Account.
3PL Customer Page Settings Defined
| Setting | Definition |
|---|---|
| Customer Account ID |
ShipHero's unique identifier for the account when it is created. This cannot be changed. The Customer Account ID is needed when requesting certain features to be enabled for your 3PL client, like MWA. |
| Name |
The name assigned to your client when you create the account. This field is displayed in the page filters. If you have your client connected to multiple warehouses, we recommend using the same name across all warehouse connections. If you alter the name, the client will show in your filters multiple times. To edit the name, click the text box, type your changes, and press Enter to save. |
| Warehouse |
The warehouse your client is connected to. For accounts with a single warehouse, this shows as Primary. For multi-warehouse accounts, this is the identifier of the warehouse your client is connected to. You can enable different settings for each warehouse you service your client in. |
| Use Customer's Shipping Accounts |
When enabled, the carrier accounts used to generate shipping labels must be connected and configured at the client account level. This configuration is required if your client uses TikTok Shipping. When disabled, the carrier accounts used to generate shipping labels must be connected in the 3PL account. Managed per warehouse connection. |
| Use 3PL's Shipping Accounts for Returns |
When enabled, the carrier accounts used to generate pre-paid return labels must be connected at the 3PL level. When disabled, the carrier accounts used to generate pre-paid return labels must be connected at the client account level. Managed per warehouse connection. |
| Hide Customer's Orders From App |
When enabled, this prevents the client's orders from showing in the order processing flows, such as the packing app and the mobile app. This is most frequently used when first configuring a new client, or if there are billing issues with a client account where shipping needs to be paused. Managed per warehouse connection. Enabled by default when a 3PL connects to an existing client account. See How to Share a Client with Another 3PL who uses ShipHero. |
| Has Appdot Access |
When enabled, client account users have access to all ShipHero platforms (app.shiphero.com, shipping.shiphero.com, and shipsfor.us). When disabled, client account users only have access to the shipsfor.us platform, also known as the 3PL Client Portal. When this setting is changed for one warehouse, it updates for all the others when the page is refreshed. |
| Actions |
Delete: Removes a warehouse connection or deactivates a client from the 3PL account. See How to Remove a Warehouse From a Client Account for best practices. ImportantImport Data is a deprecated feature scheduled to be removed from the user interface. |
Features Only Available at the 3PL Account Level
| Setting | Definition |
|---|---|
| Order Processing | Orders can only be picked, packed, and shipped at the 3PL level. Client accounts cannot process their own orders unless they have a hybrid account, meaning they pay for their own ShipHero subscription. |
| Inventory Management | The 3PL is responsible for all inventory changes in ShipHero. Client account users cannot edit inventory values or create locations in the 3PL account. This includes manual inventory changes, inventory CSV uploads, product locations, purchase order receiving, and receiving inventory from returns. |
| Shipping Boxes | Because boxes are warehouse-specific, all custom boxes need to be created in the 3PL account. See How to Set Up Shipping Boxes. |
| RateShop+ | RateShop+ Shipping Methods only show for a client account when the profiles are created in the 3PL account and assigned to that client, or when the "All Customers" option is used. This applies regardless of which account the carriers are connected to. |
Settings and Features Managed at the Client Account Level
| Setting | Definition |
|---|---|
| Order and Product Creation | All orders and products must be created at the client account level. Products created in the 3PL account will not be usable on client orders and will not reflect inventory on their accounts. |
| Store Connections | Stores must be connected at the client account level. |
| Automation Rules | Every automation rule is owned by a single client account, but a 3PL can create and manage client rules from the 3PL account. Create a rule for one client or several clients at once, and copy an existing rule to other client accounts. See Overview: Managing Automation Rules as a 3PL in ShipHero. |
| Notification Settings | Notifications specific to the client's account should be set up at the client account level, for example Low Stock Notifications and Order Hold notifications. |
| Warehouse Profiles | Warehouse profiles need to be created in the client account so they are properly applied to orders via automation rules. |
| Return Settings | Enable return settings at the client level so the client can manage their customers' return experience. |
| Lots and Expiration Settings |
Lots and expirations are set at the client's account level. To turn the feature on for a client, select the client from the account dropdown, then go to My Account > Settings > Lot Tracking. A client cannot turn it on for themselves. Lots can be created by both a client and a 3PL, but only the 3PL can assign lots to locations and adjust the inventory levels for them. |
3PL Client Settings Managed at Both Account Levels
| Setting | Definition |
|---|---|
| Multi-Warehouse Allocation Rules | Clients and 3PLs can both update Multi-Warehouse Allocation (MWA) rules. |
| Order Edits | An order can be edited in either account when the user has the proper permissions. As a best practice, 3PLs should advise their clients not to make edits when an order is locked or in a tote. |
| Product Detail Edits | Products can be edited in the client account or the 3PL account when the user has the proper permissions assigned. |
| Store Settings | Store settings can be edited in the client account or the 3PL account when the user has the proper permissions assigned. |
| Order Statuses |
All order statuses created in the client account are visible to the 3PL. Order statuses created in the 3PL account are not visible in the client account unless they are identically duplicated.
|
| User Permissions | User permissions can be managed by the 3PL or the client account, but permissions need to be adjusted in the specific account that the user was created in. |
| Create Returns | Returns can be created at the client account or the 3PL account. When a client account creates an RMA, the 3PL's warehouse needs to be selected for the Return to Warehouse. |
| Create Purchase Orders | Purchase orders can be created at both account levels. As a 3PL, select the client you are creating the purchase order (PO) for. |