Setting Up SFTP Integration

Import fulfillment data automatically from your 3PL’s SFTP server. Once configured, 3PL Pulse fetches CSV files on your sync schedule without manual uploads.

When to Use SFTP

Use SFTP integration when your 3PL:

• Exports fulfillment reports to an SFTP server
• Doesn’t have a direct API integration
• Provides scheduled file exports

If your provider has a direct API integration (like ShipBob), use that instead for real-time data.

Setting Up SFTP

1. Go to Providers and select your provider
2. Click the Connection tab
3. Choose SFTP Import as the sync method
4. Click Configure SFTP Connection

Server Settings

Field	Description
Host	Your SFTP server address (e.g., sftp.your3pl.com)
Port	Usually 22 (the default)
Username	Your SFTP login username
Authentication	Password or Private Key

For password authentication:

• Enter your SFTP password

For private key authentication:

• Paste your private key
• Add passphrase if the key is encrypted

File Settings

Field	Description
Remote Path	Directory where your 3PL exports files (e.g., /exports/)
File Pattern	Which files to import (default: *.csv)
After Import	What to do with files after importing

After Import options:

• Leave in place (recommended) - Files stay on the server
• Move to archive folder - Files move to a folder you specify
• Delete after import - Files are removed after importing

Advanced Settings

Field	Description
Host Fingerprint	Optional. For extra security, verify the server’s identity
Connection Timeout	How long to wait for connection (default: 30 seconds)

Testing Your Connection

Before saving, click Test Connection to verify:

• Server is reachable
• Credentials are correct
• Remote path exists
• Files matching your pattern are found

Fix any errors before saving.

How Sync Works

Once configured:

1. On your sync schedule, 3PL Pulse connects to the SFTP server
2. Finds files matching your pattern in the remote path
3. Downloads and processes each CSV file
4. Updates your dashboard with the new data

Files are processed based on your “After Import” setting.

File Format Requirements

Your CSV files should include:

• Order reference numbers (matching your Shopify orders)
• Ship dates
• Tracking numbers
• Carrier information

See Importing 3PL Data for detailed CSV format requirements.

Troubleshooting

Connection Failed

• Verify host address is correct
• Check username and password/key
• Confirm your IP isn’t blocked by the SFTP server
• Try increasing the connection timeout

No Files Found

• Check the remote path exists
• Verify your file pattern matches the actual filenames
• Confirm files are in the expected location

Authentication Errors

• For password auth: verify the password is correct
• For private key: ensure the full key is pasted, including header/footer lines
• Check if passphrase is required for encrypted keys

Files Not Processing

• Verify CSV format matches expected columns
• Check for encoding issues (use UTF-8)
• Look for malformed rows in the CSV

Security

• Credentials are stored encrypted
• Connections use SFTP (SSH File Transfer Protocol)
• Optional host fingerprint verification prevents man-in-the-middle attacks
• We only read files from the specified path

Next Steps

• Configure your provider settings to set SLA terms
• Understand your metrics once data starts flowing
• Set up automatic sync to keep data fresh