How To Get Tracking Info From Shippo To Woocommerce

# Getting Your Shippo Tracking Info into WooCommerce: A Simple Guide

Shipping is a crucial part of any successful WooCommerce store. If you’re using Shippo for your shipping labels, you’ll want to seamlessly integrate that tracking information directly into your WooCommerce orders. This makes life easier for both you and your customers! This guide will walk you through the process, even if you’re new to this kind of integration.

Why Integrate Shippo Tracking with WooCommerce?

Manually copying and pasting tracking numbers is time-consuming and prone to errors. Imagine having 50 orders a day – that’s a lot of potential mistakes! Integrating Shippo with WooCommerce streamlines this process, automating the update of tracking information directly onto your WooCommerce order pages. This benefits both you and your customers:

• Saves you time: Automation eliminates manual data entry.
• Reduces errors: Automated updates prevent inaccuracies and miscommunication.
• Improves customer experience: Customers can easily access their tracking information within their WooCommerce order details.
• Enhances professionalism: A smooth, automated shipping process projects a professional image.

Methods for Integrating Shippo Tracking into WooCommerce

There are primarily two ways to get Shippo tracking information into your WooCommerce orders:

1. Using a Plugin: The Easiest Method

The simplest method is using a WooCommerce plugin specifically designed to integrate with Shippo. Several reputable plugins offer this functionality. These plugins handle the complex technical details for you, making the integration relatively straightforward.

Here’s what to expect when using a plugin:

• Installation: Most plugins are installed directly through your WooCommerce dashboard.
• Configuration: You’ll need to connect your Shippo account to the plugin by providing your API key. (Find this key in your Shippo account settings.)
• Automatic Updates: The plugin will typically automatically update your WooCommerce orders with tracking information when you create a shipping label through Shippo.

Example: Let’s say you use the “WooCommerce Shippo Integration” plugin (a hypothetical plugin). After installation and configuration, when you create a label in Shippo for order #123, the tracking number will automatically appear on the order #123 page within your WooCommerce dashboard.

2. Custom Code: For Advanced Users

For those comfortable with coding, you can create a custom solution using WooCommerce’s hooks and Shippo’s API. This method offers greater control but requires more technical expertise. This is not recommended for beginners.

Warning: Incorrectly implemented custom code can break your website. Always back up your website before making any code changes.

A simplified example (this will require adjustments depending on your specific needs and plugin architecture):

// This is a highly simplified example and will likely require modifications.
add_action( 'woocommerce_order_status_changed', 'update_woocommerce_tracking', 10, 4 );

function update_woocommerce_tracking( $order_id, $old_status, $new_status, $order ){

//Check if order status changed to ‘processing’ or ‘completed’. You may need to modify this.

if ( $new_status == ‘processing’ || $new_status == ‘completed’ ){

//Get Shippo tracking info (requires Shippo API calls). This would need your API key and order ID mapping.

$tracking_number = get_shippo_tracking_number( $order_id );

//Update Woocommerce order with the tracking number (Replace with the correct Woocommerce function for your setup)

$order->update_meta_data( ‘_shippo_tracking_number’, $tracking_number );

$order->save();

}

}

Note: This is a very basic illustration and needs substantial expansion to handle error checking, API communication, and accurate data mapping between Shippo and WooCommerce.

Conclusion

Integrating Shippo tracking into WooCommerce significantly improves your workflow and customer experience. Using a pre-built plugin is the recommended approach for ease and reliability. If you’re a developer comfortable with coding and APIs, a custom solution offers more customization but carries greater risk. Remember to always back up your website before making any significant changes. Choose the method that best suits your technical skills and comfort level.