Introduction

ShipStation integrates with UltraCart in multiple ways to enhance shipping, fulfillment, and order management. This includes providing carrier-calculated shipping rates and labels, sending orders to ShipStation for fulfillment (with tracking and inventory sync), and pulling orders from marketplaces via ShipStation as a channel partner. UltraCart supports connections for USPS, FedEx, DHL, and UPS through ShipStation's API. All integrations require separate API credentials for different ShipStation stores to maintain flexibility Source: "Setting up ShipStation (Rates and Labels)".

Below, I'll outline the primary integration methods based on your needs. Ensure you have a ShipStation account and generate the required API keys (Version 1 for order creation/tracking and Version 2 for inventory polling) Source: "Configuring ShipStation (Distribution Center Transport Mechanism)".

Setting Up ShipStation for Shipping Rates and Labels

This integration allows UltraCart to fetch accurate shipping rates from carriers via ShipStation and print labels directly. It's ideal for direct shipping from your own operations.

Log in to your ShipStation account and navigate to Account Settings > Shipping > Carriers. Ensure your carriers (e.g., USPS, UPS) are connected and configured with valid accounts.
In UltraCart, go to Configuration > Shipping > Shipping Gateways. Select ShipStation as the gateway and enter your ShipStation API credentials (typically Version 1 keys for this purpose).
Configure global and distribution center settings for each carrier you want to support. This includes enabling the carriers in UltraCart's shipping methods section.
Test the integration by adding items to a cart on your UltraCart site and verifying that real-time rates appear at checkout. Once set up, labels can be generated and printed through ShipStation Source: "Shipstation Shipping Carrier Configuration" Source: "Setting up ShipStation (Rates and Labels)".

Common Pitfalls: Mismatched carrier accounts between ShipStation and UltraCart can cause rate errors. Double-check API keys and carrier mappings.

Configuring ShipStation for Order Fulfillment (Distribution Center)

Use this for transmitting orders from UltraCart to ShipStation for third-party fulfillment, receiving tracking numbers, and syncing inventory levels back to UltraCart items.

Prerequisites

Active ShipStation account with connected carriers.
Two sets of API keys: Version 1 (for creating orders and tracking) and Version 2 (for inventory polling) Source: "Configuring ShipStation (Distribution Center Transport Mechanism)".

Steps

In ShipStation, generate Version 1 API keys: Go to Settings > Account > API Settings, select V1 API, set a 6-month expiration, and copy the username/password.
In UltraCart, navigate to Configuration > Distribution Centers > Transport Mechanisms. Add a new mechanism and select ShipStation. Paste the Version 1 keys and test the connection.
For inventory sync, generate Version 2 keys in ShipStation (similar process but select V2) and enter them in UltraCart's inventory polling settings.
Optional: Configure Shipping Methods. In UltraCart's shipping methods, add custom codes to match ShipStation's options (e.g., "UPS_GROUND" for streamlined workflow).
Map SKUs. If your ShipStation SKUs differ from UltraCart Item IDs, go to Configuration > Items > SKU Mapping and link them to ensure accurate order transmission.
Enable the transport mechanism for your distribution center. Orders will now auto-send to ShipStation, with tracking updates flowing back to UltraCart Source: "Configuring ShipStation (Distribution Center Transport Mechanism)".

This setup enables seamless fulfillment and inventory management between systems.

ShipStation as a Channel Partner

If you're pulling orders from marketplaces (e.g., TikTok, Etsy) via ShipStation, configure it as a channel partner in UltraCart.

In ShipStation, connect your marketplace store under Stores > Connect and Manage Stores.
Generate V1 API keys as described above.
In UltraCart, go to Configuration > Integrations > ShipStation. Click New, enter a code, paste the API keys, and refresh to populate stores. Select your store and skip emails (marketplaces handle confirmations) Source: "ShipStation Channel Partner Integration".

Orders from the marketplace will route through UltraCart for processing.

Next Steps and Troubleshooting

After setup, test with a sample order to verify data flow. If issues arise (e.g., API errors), regenerate keys or check carrier configurations. For advanced customizations, review your specific use case.

Integrating ShipStation with UltraCart