Automation Rules apply actions to orders automatically when the order meets conditions you define. Every rule is built the same way, as a trigger (the IF) and one or more actions (the THEN), so once you understand that pattern the only question left is which action you need.
Before You Begin
Build and manage your rules at Orders > Automation Rules. Rules run when an order is created or imported, and they apply only to orders that arrive after the rule is created.
Table of Contents
Start Here with Automation Rules
These articles cover how rules work and how to build them, regardless of what you are automating.
| Article | What it covers |
|---|---|
| How to Use Automation Rules in ShipHero | How rules run, why rule order matters, when a rule overwrites another, and best practices for testing. |
| Automation Rule Triggers and Actions Reference | Every trigger and action ShipHero offers, what each one does, and which guidance article explains it. |
| How to Create and Manage Automation Rule Lists in ShipHero | Building the lists that let one trigger match any value from a set, instead of one rule per value. |
| Troubleshooting: Why Is My Automation Rule Not Working? | Why a rule did not fire, and how to read the order history to see which rules ran. |
Automation Rule Guidance by Task
Each article below covers one group of related actions, with the available options and worked examples. Find the job you are trying to do, not the action name.
| To do this | See this article |
|---|---|
| Hold orders or delay shipping | How to Manage Order Holds with Automation Rules |
| Set customs, tax, and duty information | How to Use Automation Rules for International Orders |
| Choose a carrier service or label option | How to Manage Shipping and Label Settings with Automation Rules |
| Add, swap, or cancel items on an order | How to Manage Products on an Order with Automation Rules |
| Add notes or control notifications | How to Add Notes and Notifications with Automation Rules |
| Control packing and printed documents | How to Manage Packing and Documents with Automation Rules |
| Label or prioritize orders for your team | How to Classify and Prioritize Orders with Automation Rules |
| Decide where and how an order is fulfilled | How to Manage Fulfillment Routing and Allocation with Automation Rules |
| Set up returns automatically | How to Manage Return Settings with Automation Rules |
Automation Rules for 3PL Accounts
Note for 3PLs: Every rule is owned by a single client account, but you can create and manage client rules from your 3PL account, including building one rule for several clients at once and copying a rule between clients.
Start with Overview: Managing Automation Rules as a 3PL in ShipHero, which routes to the creation, duplication, and bulk management articles.
Pro-Tip
Rules run from the top of your list down, and a rule lower in the list overwrites one above it. When a rule's action must be final, move it to the bottom. This is the single most common cause of a rule that looks correct but does not stick.