A Shopify store owner running a dropshipping operation is seeking an automated way for suppliers to directly input tracking codes into Shopify, eliminating manual follow-ups and ensuring customers receive automatic shipping notifications.
Proposed Solutions:
ToolsForShop: Create automated task boards that assign “Enter tracking code” tasks to supplier collaborator accounts when orders are created. When suppliers complete tasks by entering tracking info, customers automatically receive notifications. Includes dashboard monitoring and overdue-task alerts.
Dedicated Apps: DSers (for AliExpress), AutoDS, and Track123 were suggested as purpose-built dropshipping tools that can handle supplier-to-Shopify tracking sync.
ParcelPanel Order Tracking: Once suppliers provide tracking numbers, this app syncs them into Shopify and generates branded tracking pages with automatic customer notifications—though it doesn’t pull codes directly from suppliers.
Custom Integration: Using Shopify API or creating staff accounts for suppliers to manually enter tracking data directly into orders.
Status: The discussion remains open with multiple workflow options presented, but no final decision or implementation confirmed. Success depends on whether suppliers can integrate with chosen tools or commit to using task-based systems.
Summarized with AI on October 25.
AI used: claude-sonnet-4-5-20250929.
Are there any apps available for requesting the supplier (sender) to insert the track-and-trace code into Shopify so that the customer and fulfill the order so that the customer receives a notification with track-and-trace.
Basically in a dropshipping model I want my suppliers to do the track-and-trace code because they do the sending as well, this saves me a lot of time asking the suppliers for track-and-trace in case of a customer question.
Here’s a turnkey way to get your suppliers to drop in tracking codes—and automatically notify your customers—using ToolsForShop:
1. Automate “Request Tracking” Tasks for Suppliers
Install ToolsForShop in your store.
In the dashboard, go to Tasks → Task Boards and create a board called “Dropship Fulfillment”.
Under Tasks → Automations, set up a rule:
Trigger: Order Created (and tagged dropship)
Action:
Create Task named “Enter tracking code for Order #{{order.number}}”
Assign it to a “Supplier” user (you can add your supplier as a collaborator account)
Due Date: e.g. 48 hours after order creation
Supplier Workflow:
Supplier logs in (or on mobile) → sees “Enter tracking code” tasks
Clicks the task → it links directly to the Shopify order
They paste in the track-and-trace number and click “Complete Task”
2. Auto-Notify Your Customers
In ToolsForShop → Alerts, create a new alert:
Trigger: Task Completed with name matching Enter tracking code for Order #*
Action:
Send Email (or SMS/WhatsApp via your integrated provider)
to the order’s customer email/phone
Template:
Hi {{ customer.first_name }},
Your order #{{ order.number }} has shipped!
Track it here: {{ fulfillment.tracking_url }}
Now, as soon as your supplier finishes the task, your customer gets an automated shipment notification—no more manual follow-up on your end.
3. Monitor & Report on Dropship Fulfillment
Dashboard Widget: Add a “Tasks by Status” card to see outstanding vs. completed tracking-requests.
Weekly Digest: Schedule a weekly email of any overdue “Enter tracking code” tasks, so you can nudge any slow suppliers.
Analytics: Use the built-in “Task Completion Time” report to measure average supplier turnaround on tracking entry.
Why This Solves Your Problem
Zero Email Chains: Suppliers see their to-dos in your Shopify-integrated dashboard—no more back-and-forth.
Built-In Notifications: Customers get their tracking info the moment it’s entered, boosting post-purchase experience.
Full Visibility: You always know which orders are still waiting on tracking codes—and can follow up before customers ask.
Give this setup a spin and you’ll turn manual tracking-code collection into a fully automated, supplier-driven workflow—all inside Shopify via ToolsForShop.
ToolsForShop can automatically tag and segment your customers—and then inject the right collection widget on your storefront—without touching your theme code.
a) Auto-Tag New vs. Returning Customers
Install ToolsForShop.
In ToolsForShop → Customer Segments, create two segments:
New Customers: orders_count = 0
Repeat Customers: orders_count > 0
ToolsForShop will back-fill existing customers and tag them new-customer or repeat-customer after each checkout.
b) Build Smart Collections in Shopify
Create two collections in Shopify:
“Welcome Picks” (for new customers) – add your old best-seller plus 9 other top products.
“Loyal Favorites” (for returning customers) – fill with higher-AOV or complementary items.
In each collection’s conditions, set a dummy tag (e.g. show-welcome or show-loyal)—we’ll drive this via ToolsForShop.
c) Inject the Right Collection on Your Homepage
In ToolsForShop → Script Manager, add a small JS snippet:
html
CopyEdit
<script> // ToolsForShop makes customer tags available as data attributes const tags = window.TFSHOP.customerTags || []; const isNew = tags.includes('new-customer'); const targetCollection = isNew ? 'welcome-picks' : 'loyal-favorites'; document.querySelector('#hero-collection').setAttribute('data-collection-handle', targetCollection); </script>
When your theme’s homepage loads, the <div id="hero-collection"> widget will swap in the correct collection handle automatically.
Result:
New visitors see “Welcome Picks” (including your old successful product) in their top 10.
Repeat shoppers see “Loyal Favorites.”
No theme editing beyond dropping in the container <div> and letting ToolsForShop handle the rest.
2. AI-Powered Merchandising Apps
If you’d rather lean on a dedicated personalization engine, consider:
App
Key Feature
Notes
LimeSpot
Real-time AI product recommendations
Learns on click & purchase behavior, segment–aware.
Nosto
Smart “Welcome” vs. “Thank You” experiences
Auto-segments new vs. returning, A/B tests your hero units.
Recom.ai
Customizable recommendation blocks
Offers “First-Time Buyer” templates ready to drop in.
These apps will automatically:
Detect new vs. returning carts.
Surface the right 10-product carousel in your hero, product page, or cart upsell.
Continuously optimize which SKUs perform best for each group.
Which to Choose?
ToolsForShop if you want a zero-code, budget-friendly way to segment via customer tags and script injections—while still owning the look and feel.
AI Apps like LimeSpot or Nosto if you’d rather offload the tuning and get out-of-the-box “new vs. repeat” personalization with advanced ML.
Either approach will make sure new customers see your tried-and-true bestseller in their Top 10, while loyal shoppers get a tailored collection just for them. Let me know which you’d like to dive into first!
Yes, there are apps and methods available to let your dropshipping supplier automatically insert the tracking code into your Shopify store once an order is fulfilled, so customers receive notifications without you manually updating anything.
In a dropshipping setup, it usually depends on how your supplier’s system connects with Shopify. Some fulfilment partners will push the tracking info back into your Shopify orders automatically once they ship, but if your supplier doesn’t have that direct integration, you’ll need an app to handle the sync.
One option worth looking at is ParcelPanel Order Tracking. It doesn’t generate the tracking number itself, but once the supplier provides it, ParcelPanel makes sure it’s synced into Shopify and your customer automatically gets the branded tracking page + notifications. That way you don’t have to manually chase suppliers or paste codes yourself.
If your supplier is open to it, you might also want to check whether they can connect through an order management app or ERP that plugs directly into Shopify, that would make the process fully hands-off.
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