Batch Shipping and Order Import

Processing orders one at a time is inefficient for growing businesses. AtoShip's batch shipping tools help you handle hundreds of shipments quickly.

Order Import Methods

CSV File Import:

Go to Dashboard → Orders → Import
Download our CSV template
Fill in your order data
Upload and map columns
Review and confirm

Template Columns:

Column	Required	Description
recipient_name	Yes	Full name
address_line1	Yes	Street address
city	Yes	City name
state	Yes	State/Province
zip	Yes	Postal code
country	No	Default: US
weight	Yes	Package weight
length, width, height	No	Dimensions

Platform Integrations

Automatic Order Sync:

Shopify - Real-time sync
WooCommerce - Webhook-based
eBay - API polling
Amazon - MWS integration
Etsy - OAuth connection

Sync Settings:

Frequency (real-time/hourly/daily)
Status filters (unfulfilled only)
Auto-assign carrier rules
Notification preferences

Batch Processing Workflow

Step 1: Review Orders

Orders → Awaiting Shipment → Select All

Step 2: Verify Addresses

Run batch address validation
Review flagged addresses
Correct or confirm each

Step 3: Get Rates

Apply rate shopping rules
Override individual selections if needed
Review total cost estimate

Step 4: Purchase Labels

Click "Purchase All Labels"
Confirm payment
Download or print batch

Rate Shopping Rules

Automatic Carrier Selection: Create rules to auto-select carriers:

IF weight < 1 lb AND value < $50
  THEN use USPS First Class
IF zone > 5 AND delivery_speed = "fast"
  THEN use UPS 2nd Day Air
DEFAULT use cheapest ground option

Rule Priority:

Customer-selected service
Product-specific rules
Weight/zone rules
Default carrier

Batch Label Printing

Print Options:

Individual labels (one per page)
2-up labels (two per page)
4x6 thermal labels
Packing slips included

Print Queue:

Select completed labels
Choose print format
Preview batch
Send to printer

Order Management Tips

Filtering Orders:

By status (new, processing, shipped)
By platform source
By date range
By shipping method
By customer location

Bulk Actions:

Change carrier for selected
Update shipping method
Add notes
Archive/delete
Export to CSV

Handling Import Errors

Common Issues:

Error	Cause	Solution
Invalid address	Missing required field	Check CSV columns
Weight missing	Empty weight field	Add default weight
Duplicate order	Same order ID	Skip or update
Invalid ZIP	Wrong format	Use 5-digit or ZIP+4

Error Resolution:

Export error report
Fix in spreadsheet
Re-import corrected rows
Or fix directly in dashboard

Automation Features

Auto-Processing:

Schedule batch processing times
Auto-assign carriers by rules
Auto-purchase labels (with limits)
Auto-email tracking to customers

Webhooks:

Receive order status updates
Trigger external workflows
Update inventory systems
Sync with accounting

Best Practices

Daily Workflow:

Morning: Import overnight orders
Review flagged addresses
Apply rate shopping
Purchase and print batch
Afternoon: Process new orders
End of day: Schedule pickups

Volume Tips:

Process in smaller batches during learning
Use saved address book for repeat customers
Set up carrier rules early
Test with small batch first

Performance Limits

Batch Sizes:

CSV import: 1,000 orders max
Rate shopping: 500 orders at once
Label purchase: 200 per batch
Address validation: 1,000 per batch

Processing Time:

Small batch (<50): ~30 seconds
Medium batch (50-200): 1-2 minutes
Large batch (200-500): 3-5 minutes