An automation changes order data automatically when an order is created or updated. Each automation has a trigger, optional conditions, and one or more actions, and applies to the order channels you select.
When to use this
Use automations to apply the same change to every order that meets a set of criteria — for example tagging high-value orders, overriding a delivery option, or setting parcel dimensions — instead of editing each order by hand.
Key concepts
Trigger — the order event that starts the automation
Condition — a check on order data that must be true before the actions run
Action — a change the automation makes to the order
Priority — the position of the automation in the automations list, which determines the order automations run in
Before you begin
Make sure the order channels you want the automation to apply to are set up.
Related topics
Order channels — configure the connection between nShift Delivery and an external order source
Create an automation to change order data automatically when an order is created or updated.
Steps
-
Go to > and select
-
Enter a name in Name
-
Select the order channels the automation applies to in Order channels
Important
All order channels applies the automation to every order channel, including any order channel you add later.
-
Select Order created or Order updated in When
-
In Conditions, select an attribute, an operator, and a value
Note
Conditions are optional. Without them, the actions run on every order from the selected order channels that matches the trigger.
-
In Actions, select an attribute and a value for the action
Tip
Select or to add more of either. Quick actions adds a ready-made action for Lock order, Unlock order, or Mark as return.
-
Check the Summary to confirm the automation does what you intend
-
Select Enabled Select in Details — new automations are created as Disabled and won't run until you enable the
-
Select Create
Result
The automation is created and appears in the automations list. If you set it to Enabled, it runs on orders from the selected order channels from now on.
Field descriptions
Details
|
Field |
Description |
|---|---|
|
Name |
Identifies the automation in the automations list |
|
Order channels |
Order channels the automation applies to |
|
Enabled, Disabled |
Whether the automation runs when its trigger occurs |
Conditions
|
Field |
Description |
|---|---|
|
Attribute |
Order data the condition checks |
|
Operator |
Comparison made between the attribute and the value |
|
Value |
Value the attribute is compared against |
Actions
|
Field |
Description |
|---|---|
|
Attribute |
Order data the action changes |
|
Value |
Value the action sets |
Condition and action attributes
Conditions can check:
-
Order item data, such as SKU, item description, unit price, tariff number, country of origin, and weight
-
Sender, receiver, and service point address data
-
Order data, such as order channel, price, weight, status, locked, return, currency, and tags
Actions can change the same data, and can also set parcel weight, length, height, width, and unit.
Advanced options
Advanced — writes the condition as a raw LINQ expression instead of an attribute, operator, and value. Select Advanced in Conditions to turn it on.
JSON preview — shows the automation as plain text. Support can use it to review your configuration.
Test an automation against an existing order to see what it would change before you enable it.
Steps
-
Go to >
-
Select the automation name
-
Select an order in Test automation
-
Select
Notice
The automation must have at least one order channel selected before you can run a test. The order search covers only the selected order channels.
Result
The test lists each stage the automation went through on the order, such as Order channel matches, Conditions met, and Tag added. The order isn't changed and nothing is saved.
Edit an automation to change its name, order channels, trigger, conditions, actions, or enabled state.
Steps
-
Go to >
-
Select the options menu to the right of the automation
-
Select Edit
-
Update the relevant fields
-
Select
Result
The automation is updated. Orders created or updated from now on use the new configuration.
Duplicate an automation to reuse its configuration as the starting point for a new one.
Steps
Result
A copy of the automation is added to the automations list, with copy appended to the original name. The copy isn't opened for editing.
Change automation priority to control the order automations run in when more than one applies to the same order.
Steps
-
Go to >
-
Drag the automation to its new position using the drag handle to the left of its priority number
Result
The automations are renumbered and the new priority order is saved automatically. When several automations apply to the same order, they run one after another, starting with priority 1.
Note
Automations run in sequence, so an action in a later automation can overwrite a change made by an earlier one.