Importing 3PL Data via CSV

How to import shipment and tracking data from your 3PL providers

Last updated: September 13, 2025

Learn how to import shipment data from your 3PL providers to track fulfillment performance.

Overview

3PL Pulse supports CSV imports from any fulfillment provider. This allows you to track performance even if your 3PL doesn’t have API integration.

Preparing Your CSV File

Required Columns

Your CSV must include these three columns:

  • Shopify Order Reference - Must match Shopify order numbers
  • Processing Started - When 3PL began processing (SLA clock starts)
  • Carrier Pickup - When carrier picked up (SLA clock ends)

Optional Columns

For better tracking, include:

  • Delivered Date - When delivered to customer
  • Tracking Number - Carrier tracking number
  • Carrier - Shipping carrier name
  • Shipping Method - Service level (2-Day, Ground)
  • Order Status - Current order status
  • Delivery Status - Shipment delivery status
  • Warehouse - Fulfillment location
  • Provider Order ID - Provider’s internal reference

Order Number Formats

We support flexible matching:

  • With hash: #1001, #1002
  • Without hash: 1001, 1002
  • With prefix: SHOP-1001, WEB-1001
  • Store prefixes: STORE-ORDER-ID-1001

Our system automatically handles the matching to Shopify orders.

Import Process

Step 1: Navigate to Import Page

  1. Go to Import 3PL Data in the main navigation
  2. You’ll see your list of providers and import history

Step 2: Select or Create Provider

  1. Choose an existing provider from the dropdown
  2. Or create a new provider by typing a name
  3. Each provider’s data is tracked separately

Step 3: Upload Your File

  1. Click Choose File or drag and drop your CSV
  2. Supported formats: .csv, .txt (tab-delimited)
  3. Maximum file size: 10MB
  4. Files can contain up to 50,000 rows

Step 4: Map Your Columns

The system will show a preview of your data:

  1. Review the automatic column mapping
  2. Adjust mappings if needed using dropdowns
  3. Ensure Order Number is correctly mapped
  4. Map optional fields for better tracking

Step 5: Import Data

  1. Click Import to process the file
  2. Monitor the progress indicator
  3. Review the import summary:
    • Total rows processed
    • Successful matches
    • Unmatched orders
    • Any errors

Sample CSV Formats

Minimum Required Format

Shopify Order Reference,Processing Started,Carrier Pickup
#1001,2025-09-10 08:00,2025-09-10 16:00
#1002,2025-09-10 09:00,2025-09-11 14:00

Full Format with Optional Fields

Shopify Order Reference,Processing Started,Carrier Pickup,Delivered Date,Tracking Number,Carrier,Shipping Method,Warehouse
#1001,2025-09-10 08:00,2025-09-10 16:00,2025-09-12,1Z999AA10123456784,UPS,Ground,NJ-01
#1002,2025-09-10 09:00,2025-09-11 14:00,2025-09-13,9400100000000000000000,USPS,Priority,CA-02

Multiple Shipments per Order

Shopify Order Reference,Processing Started,Carrier Pickup,Tracking Number,Carrier
#1001,2025-09-10 08:00,2025-09-10 16:00,1Z999AA10123456784,UPS
#1001,2025-09-11 09:00,2025-09-11 15:00,9400100000000000000001,USPS

Managing Multiple Providers

Why Use Multiple Providers?

  • Track performance of different 3PLs
  • Compare fulfillment speeds
  • Manage regional warehouses separately
  • Test new providers before switching

Provider-Specific Dashboards

Each provider gets:

  • Separate performance metrics
  • Individual SLA tracking
  • Comparative analysis
  • Historical performance data

Switching Between Providers

  1. Use the provider dropdown on the dashboard
  2. Performance metrics update automatically
  3. Compare providers side-by-side

Import History and Management

Viewing Import History

The import page shows:

  • Import date and time
  • Provider name
  • File name
  • Records imported
  • Import status

Handling Duplicates

The system automatically:

  • Detects duplicate shipments
  • Updates existing records with new data
  • Maintains data integrity

Updating Data

To update existing shipments:

  1. Include the same order number
  2. Provide updated tracking or dates
  3. System will merge the information

Common Issues and Solutions

Orders Not Matching

Problem: CSV orders don’t match Shopify orders

Solutions:

  • Verify order number format
  • Check for extra spaces or characters
  • Ensure orders exist in Shopify
  • Run Shopify sync first

Date Format Issues

Problem: Dates not recognized

Accepted Formats:

  • 2025-09-13 (ISO format - recommended)
  • 2025-09-13 14:30 (with time)
  • 09/13/2025 (US format)
  • 13/09/2025 (EU format)
  • Sep 13, 2025 (Text format)

Large File Handling

For files over 10MB:

  1. Split into multiple files by date range
  2. Import in batches
  3. Use date filters to create smaller files

Best Practices

  1. Daily Imports: Import data daily for accurate tracking
  2. Consistent Format: Use the same CSV format each time
  3. Complete Data: Include all available tracking information
  4. Provider Separation: Keep each 3PL’s data separate
  5. Regular Validation: Check import summaries for issues

Automation Options

FTP/SFTP Integration (Coming Soon)

We’re working on automatic imports via:

  • FTP/SFTP file pickup
  • Email attachment processing
  • API integrations with major 3PLs

Current Workarounds

Until automation is available:

  1. Schedule regular manual imports
  2. Use your 3PL’s export scheduling
  3. Set calendar reminders for imports

Next Steps

After importing your data:

  1. View the Provider Dashboard to see performance
  2. Set up SLA thresholds
  3. Configure alerts for issues

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