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Shopify External Parcel Tracking: Track parcels without outgoing shipments (Beta)

Ludovica
  • Updated

Purpose: Learn how to use Shopify External Parcel Tracking to send tracking data from Shopify to Sendcloud without creating labels in Sendcloud.

Shopify External Parcel Tracking is currently available in Beta. To request access, please contact our Support team.

What is Shopify External Parcel Tracking?

Shopify External Parcel Tracking allows you to use some of Sendcloud’s tracking capabilities even when shipping labels are created outside Sendcloud.

Instead of creating labels in Sendcloud, tracking information is retrieved directly from Shopify fulfillments and shared with Sendcloud systems such as Shipping Intelligence and Support Automation.

How does it work?

When Shopify External Parcel Tracking is enabled, Sendcloud retrieves fulfillment tracking information from Shopify, including:

  • Carrier
  • Tracking number
  • Tracking URL

The flow works as follows:

  1. You create shipping labels outside Sendcloud.
  2. Tracking information is stored in Shopify fulfillments.
  3. Sendcloud retrieves the fulfillment tracking data from Shopify.
  4. The tracking information becomes available for supported post-purchase capabilities.

How to enable Shopify External Parcel Tracking

Before you can enable this feature, your account must have access to the Shopify External Parcel Tracking beta. If you do not have access yet, please contact Sendcloud Support.

To enable Shopify External Parcel Tracking:

  1. Install the Sendcloud Shopify integration.
  2. Open the integration settings.
  3. Enable Tracking for external parcels.
  4. Save the settings.

Once enabled, Sendcloud will start retrieving fulfillment tracking information from Shopify.

Important limitations

Orders are not imported into Incoming Orders

Orders imported through External Parcel Tracking:

  • Will not appear in Incoming Orders
  • Will not appear in Pack & Go
  • Are not processed as regular Sendcloud outgoing shipments

This integration is focused only on retrieving and processing tracking information.

Some post-purchase capabilities are not yet supported

Some Sendcloud features are still connected to outgoing shipment or label creation flows and may not fully work with External Parcel Tracking yet.

Current limitations may include:

  • Tracking emails
  • WhatsApp notifications
  • SMS notifications
  • Returns-related flows
Availability depends on the required data being present in the tracking-only event stream.
Direct carrier contracts are required

External Parcel Tracking only works when you use your own direct carrier contracts.

If labels are created by a third-party fulfillment provider or shipping platform, tracking updates may not always be available or reliable.