Where copy-and-paste breaks
The failures are rarely dramatic. A size is typed wrong. One line of a mixed order is left out. Nobody can say which version of the list the supplier worked from. Tracking arrives in an email thread and then has to be copied back to the customer order by hand.
Each one is a small fix, but they repeat with every order, and the cost lands on the customer who waits.
Settle four things before you automate
- The supplier uses Shopify. FulfillRelay connects two Shopify stores, so each side installs the app in its own store.
- The exact supplier item for each product you sell, including size and colour. Routing works from approved, exact SKU mappings.
- Who sets the supplier price and currency. The supplier confirms it in its own store. Your customer selling price is not sent on the supplier order.
- How you pay. The retailer pays through the supplier's Shopify checkout. FulfillRelay records payment evidence and does not hold money.
How a routed order moves between the two stores
| Step | What happens |
|---|---|
| 1. Map | You propose a supplier SKU for a product variant. The supplier selects the exact variant and confirms the price. |
| 2. Approve | Once both sides approve, the item can be routed. Unmatched items stay visible and are not sent. |
| 3. Route | An eligible paid order line goes to the supplier's own Shopify store. Orders and quantities already routed are not duplicated. |
| 4. Accept | The supplier accepts or rejects the work on a focused workboard, without access to your store admin. |
| 5. Ship | The supplier fulfills from its own Shopify order records. Tracking saved in Shopify is relayed back. |
| 6. Check | Tracking appears on your original order against the right lines and quantities. |
What to check on the first order
- The mapped item matches the supplier's exact variant.
- The routed quantity equals what the customer bought, line by line.
- The supplier can see the order and has accepted it.
- Tracking shows against the same lines on your order. For partial shipments, follow the tracking guide.
When this is not the right tool
FulfillRelay connects suppliers you already work with. It does not find suppliers, list their products or buy stock for you. If you are still looking for suppliers, start with the marketplace comparison first.
If your supplier does not use Shopify, the two stores cannot connect, so FulfillRelay will not fit that relationship yet.
FulfillRelay
Put the supplier workflow into practice.
Connect a supplier you already work with. Retailer plans start at $49 USD/month; Supplier Connect is free.
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