Shopify ShipBob Integration: 3PL Fulfillment Guide (2025)

ShipBob provides 3PL fulfillment for scaling Shopify brands. This guide covers setup, costs, and optimization for outsourced logistics.

Shopify

integrates with

ShipBob

Why ShipBob?

Professional fulfillment network:

Feature	Benefit
40+ centers	US, EU, UK, AU, CA
2-day shipping	95%+ US coverage
Real-time sync	Shopify integration
Analytics	Fulfillment insights
Scalability	Grow without limits

When to use 3PL:

100+ orders/month
Limited warehouse space
Need faster shipping
Want to focus on marketing/product

ShipBob Pricing

Fee Structure

Fee Type	Cost
Receiving	$35/man-hour
Storage (pallet)	$40/month
Storage (shelf)	$10/month
Storage (bin)	$5/month
Pick & pack	Starts at $5/order
Shipping	Discounted rates

Example Costs

Monthly Orders	Approx. Cost/Order
100	$8-12
500	$7-10
1,000	$6-9
5,000+	$5-8

Note: Costs vary by product size, weight, and complexity

Getting Started

Step 1: Create ShipBob Account

Visit shipbob.com
Request quote
Complete onboarding call
Sign agreement

Step 2: Connect Shopify

Log into ShipBob dashboard
Go to Integrations
Click Connect Shopify
Authorize access
Configure settings

%%{init: {'theme': 'base', 'themeVariables': { 'primaryColor': '#e0f2fe', 'primaryTextColor': '#0369a1', 'primaryBorderColor': '#0369a1', 'lineColor': '#64748b', 'secondaryColor': '#f0fdf4', 'tertiaryColor': '#fef3c7'}}}%% graph LR A[Store Store] -->|Data Sync| B[Shopify] B -->|Bi-directional| C[ShipBob]

Real-time sync Scheduled sync

Step 3: Send Inventory

Prepare shipment:

Create inbound shipment
Label products correctly
Ship to ShipBob center
Track receiving

Step 4: Configure Settings

Settings:
├── Shipping methods
├── Packaging preferences
├── Custom inserts
├── Order tagging
└── Return handling

Integration Features

Order Sync

Automatic workflow:

Orders sync in real-time
Fulfillment starts immediately
Tracking updates to Shopify
Customer notified automatically

Inventory Sync

Direction	Function
ShipBob → Shopify	Inventory levels
Shopify → ShipBob	Product catalog
Real-time	Stock updates

Multi-Location

Distribute inventory across:

Multiple US centers
International locations
Optimal placement algorithm

Fulfillment Process

Order Flow

Order placed on Shopify
    ↓
Syncs to ShipBob (real-time)
    ↓
Order queued for picking
    ↓
Item picked from inventory
    ↓
Packed per specifications
    ↓
Shipped with carrier
    ↓
Tracking syncs to Shopify
    ↓
Customer receives tracking

Shipping Options

Service	Delivery	Use Case
Ground	3-7 days	Standard
2-Day	2 days	Fast shipping
Overnight	1 day	Urgent
International	5-15 days	Global

Carrier Options

ShipBob negotiates rates with:

USPS
UPS
FedEx
DHL
Regional carriers

Inventory Management

Receiving

Process:

Create inbound shipment
Generate labels
Ship to ShipBob
Automatic receiving
Inventory available

Best practices:

Use ShipBob labels
Include packing list
Proper product packaging
Schedule appointments (pallets)

Storage

Options:

Bins (small items)
Shelves (medium items)
Pallets (large/bulk)

Inventory Optimization

Feature	Benefit
Low stock alerts	Prevent stockouts
Reorder points	Automated warnings
Inventory reports	Track levels
Expiration tracking	FEFO management

Multi-Warehouse Strategy

Benefits

Strategy	Advantage
East + West US	2-day coverage
Add Midwest	Even faster
International	Local delivery

Inventory Placement

ShipBob algorithm:

Analyzes order history
Recommends distribution
Optimizes for speed/cost
Reduces shipping distance

Example Setup

Center	Inventory %
Los Angeles	40%
Dallas	30%
New Jersey	30%

Packaging & Branding

Standard Packaging

Included options:

ShipBob boxes
Poly mailers
Bubble mailers
Kraft boxes

Custom Packaging

Options:

Branded boxes
Custom tissue paper
Branded tape
Thank you cards
Product inserts

Kitting

Bundle products:

Subscription boxes
Gift sets
Sample kits
Multi-packs

Returns Management

Return Process

Customer initiates return
    ↓
Return label generated
    ↓
Customer ships item
    ↓
Received at ShipBob
    ↓
Quality inspection
    ↓
Restocked or disposed
    ↓
Refund processed

Returns Options

Option	Description
Restock	Return to inventory
Dispose	Discard damaged items
Return to merchant	Ship back to you

Analytics & Reporting

Dashboard Metrics

Metric	What It Shows
Order volume	Daily/weekly/monthly
Fulfillment time	Pick to ship
Shipping costs	By carrier/service
Inventory levels	Stock status

Reports

Available reports:

Inventory aging
Order accuracy
Shipping performance
Cost analysis

Insights

Track:

Best sellers
Slow movers
Seasonal patterns
Cost optimization

B2B Fulfillment

Wholesale Orders

ShipBob handles:

Bulk orders
Retailer requirements
EDI compliance
Routing guides

Features

Feature	Support
Pallet shipping	✓
Custom labeling	✓
EDI	✓
Retailer compliance	✓

International Fulfillment

Global Network

Region	Centers
US	30+
UK	Multiple
EU	Multiple
Canada	Multiple
Australia	Multiple

International Shipping

Options:

Ship from US
Local fulfillment
Customs handling
DDP/DDU

Integrations

Ecommerce

Platform	Integration
Shopify	Native
WooCommerce	Native
Amazon	Native
Walmart	Native

Returns

Platform	Integration
Loop	Returns processing
Returnly	Exchanges
Happy Returns	Drop-off

Other

Platform	Integration
Recharge	Subscriptions
Gorgias	Support context
Klaviyo	Order data

Best Practices

Before Launch

Step	Action
Test orders	Place test orders
Check packaging	Verify quality
Review settings	Confirm configuration
Train team	Learn dashboard

Ongoing

Practice	Frequency
Review costs	Monthly
Check inventory	Weekly
Analyze shipping	Monthly
Optimize placement	Quarterly

Cost Optimization

Use ShipBob’s carrier rates
Optimize package sizes
Distribute inventory smartly
Monitor storage costs

Troubleshooting

Order Delays

Causes:

Stock issues
Integration sync
Carrier delays

Solutions:

Check inventory levels
Verify integration status
Contact ShipBob support

Inventory Discrepancies

Causes:

Receiving errors
Damage
Misplacement

Solutions:

Request inventory audit
Review receiving photos
Reconcile counts

ShipBob vs Alternatives

Feature	ShipBob	Deliverr	Amazon FBA
DTC focus	Yes	Yes	Marketplace
Branding	Full	Limited	None
Centers	40+	15+	100+
International	Yes	Limited	Yes
Pricing	Transparent	Transparent	Complex
Best for	DTC brands	SMB	Amazon sellers

ROI Considerations

When ShipBob Makes Sense

Situation	Benefit
100+ orders/mo	Economies of scale
Growing fast	Scalable infrastructure
Space constrained	No warehouse needed
National shipping	2-day capability

Cost Comparison

Self-fulfillment costs:

Warehouse lease
Labor
Supplies
Shipping (higher rates)
Equipment
Insurance

ShipBob:

All-inclusive pricing
No fixed costs
Scales with volume
Negotiated rates

Next Steps

To start with ShipBob:

Get quote - Contact ShipBob sales
Plan inventory - Prepare first shipment
Connect Shopify - Install integration
Send inventory - Ship to center
Launch - Start fulfilling orders

Shopify + ShipBob implementation checklist (2025)

This section adds practical “make it stable” steps you can use after you install the app/connector. It’s intentionally lightweight: the goal is fewer sync surprises, cleaner reporting, and easier troubleshooting.

1) Quick setup checklist

Permissions first: grant only the scopes you need (orders/customers/products as required) and document who owns the admin credentials.
Data mapping: confirm how email, phone, currency, and SKU are mapped between Shopify and ShipBob.
Historical import: decide how far back to import orders/customers (avoid importing years of data if you don’t need it).
Deduplication rules: pick one unique identifier per object (usually email for customers, order ID for orders) to prevent doubles.
Alerts: set a lightweight alert path (email/Slack) for failed syncs, auth expiry, and API rate limits.

2) Data you should verify after connecting

Most integration issues show up in the first hour if you test the right things. Use the table below as a QA checklist (create a test order if needed).

Data object	What to check	Why it matters
Customers	Email/phone format, marketing consent fields, duplicates	Prevents double messaging and broken segmentation
Orders	Order total, tax, discount, shipping, currency	Keeps revenue reporting and automation triggers accurate
Line items	SKU, variant ID, quantity, refunds/returns behavior	Avoids inventory and attribution mismatches
Fulfillment	Status changes + timestamps, tracking numbers, carrier fields	Drives customer notifications and post-purchase flows
Catalog	Product titles, handles, images, collections/tags	Ensures personalization and reporting match your storefront

3) Automation ideas for Fulfillment

Start with one core workflow and validate end-to-end before adding more automation.
Keep field naming consistent (email, phone, currency, SKU) to reduce mapping bugs.
Monitor errors weekly and document a simple rollback plan for high-impact changes.

API sanity check (Shopify Admin API)

If your integration UI says “connected” but data isn’t flowing, a quick API call helps confirm whether the store is accessible and returning the objects you expect.

# List the 5 most recent orders (GraphQL)
curl -X POST "https://your-store.myshopify.com/admin/api/2025-01/graphql.json" \
  -H "X-Shopify-Access-Token: $SHOPIFY_ADMIN_TOKEN" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d "{\"query\":\"{ orders(first: 5, sortKey: CREATED_AT, reverse: true) { edges { node { id name createdAt totalPriceSet { shopMoney { amount currencyCode } } customer { email } } } } }\"}"

Tip: keep tokens/keys in environment variables, and test in a staging store/site before rolling changes to production.

4) KPIs to monitor (so you catch problems early)

Sync freshness: how long it takes for a new order/customer event to appear in ShipBob.
Error rate: failed syncs per day (and which object types fail most).
Duplicates: number of merged/duplicate contacts or orders created by mapping mistakes.
Revenue parity: weekly spot-check that Shopify totals match downstream reporting (especially after refunds).
Attribution sanity: confirm that key events (purchase, refund, subscription) are tracked consistently.

5) A simple 30-day optimization plan

Week 1: connect + map fields, then validate with 5–10 real orders/customers.
Week 2: enable 1–2 automations and measure baseline KPIs (conversion, AOV, repeat rate).
Week 3: tighten segmentation/rules (exclude recent buyers, add VIP thresholds, handle edge cases).
Week 4: document the setup, create an “owner” checklist, and set a recurring monthly audit.

For shipping labels, see ShipStation integration. For tracking, check AfterShip integration.

Questions & Answers

What is ShipBob for Shopify?

ShipBob is a 3PL (third-party logistics) provider that handles order fulfillment for Shopify stores. They store your inventory, pick, pack, and ship orders directly to your customers.

How much does ShipBob cost?

ShipBob pricing includes: receiving ($35/man-hour), storage ($40/pallet or $10/shelf), and fulfillment ($5+ per order). Shipping is at their discounted rates. No minimum volume.

Is ShipBob better than fulfilling orders myself?

ShipBob is beneficial when shipping 100+ orders/month, you need faster shipping, or you want to focus on growth. For low volume, self-fulfillment may be more cost-effective.

Does ShipBob integrate automatically with Shopify?

Yes, ShipBob has a native Shopify integration that automatically syncs orders, inventory, and tracking information in real-time.