Automatic printing of Packing Slips for new orders
Because this original request I made for this was closed when an unrelated feature was introduced, I'm creating a new one.
I would very much like to be able to have the automation in ShipStation be able to print. This would allow me to have it automatically print all new orders that have downloaded, so that warehouse personnel know an order has come in when the printer starts spitting out packing slips. This is something we're used to having in a different product we switched from to ShipStation and it's the main thing we miss. With printing being done through ShipStation Connect now, this should be entirely possible too.
The other thing that would have be added is another feature that ShipStation really does need anyway: an indication of some kind that an order has already been printed. This would allow automation to "print all unprinted orders" as well as greatly reduce the possibility of orders being double-packed when more than 1 person is working shipping. We've had this happen multiple times simply because there's no good way to tell when an order has already been printed right now.
Thank you!!

ShipStation’s new layout (formerly called V3) does currently show when both labels and packing slips have been printed through ShipStation (either via ShipStation Connect or downloaded from the Print pop-up… if you use the browser print option, we cannot track the print status). You can see the print status in the Shipments tab by showing the Label Printed and Packing Slip Printed columns, or by opening the Shipment Details screen.
We will consider the feedback around auto-printing packing slips when orders import, but there are a number of challenges around this approach that need to be overcome (for example, how to handle when the printer workstation is asleep or there is a hardware issue and printing is unsuccessful – ShipStation doesn’t have a way to receive that kind of feedback from the printer and it would not be desirable to show a packing slip as printed when it actually hasn’t been).
Could you let us know what platform you used previously that provided this ability?
123 comments
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walnutstudiolo commented
@ShipStation I'd rather have the order automatically print as soon as it comes in (ie, Sunday at 4 am), so when I go to work on Monday morning everything is already printed and waiting for me ready-to-go on the printer.
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John commented
@ShipStation My understanding is to have the order automatically print as long as ShipStation Connect is running (There doesn't have to be an active user using ShipStation.com in Google Chrome, for example).
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Owen Lillywhite MagneticCube.com commented
Give us the all the options. Personally, I'd prefer that when I create labels, the packing slip AND the shipping label print automatically on the printers (different) I have specified. But give us the option to have it print then, or automatically as soon as the order comes in. I might try that option. So when I walk in to my office to process orders, the packing slips are already printed. I grab them, prepare the boxes, then create the shipping labels with the boxes already prepared.
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nfnchris commented
I don't think it's necessary to over-complicate this process. Whenever an order comes in - the packing slip auto-prints to the designated ShipStation connect printer. If orders are printing overnight / over the weekend they can be picked up off the printer first thing Monday.
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nfnchris commented
This is such low hanging fruit - come on ShipStation. Order comes in -> packing slip auto prints via ShipStation Connect -> warehouse received packing slip -> picks and packs order. This would require such minimal development effort given the infrastructure already in place, and is a no brainer in terms of necessary functionality.
Is this being worked on? Is anyone listening? Please respond.
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Laura Vinson commented
This would be great!
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Yes, I would like to have an automation process to have ShipStation automatically send a print job to the printer to print out the packing slips once an order imports into ShipStation.
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zmdubs commented
Yes. We have a DYMO 4XL printer that's connected to the computer (which is always on) and on ShipStation Connect. When orders import, if they automatically printed their packing slips, it'd be super awesome :).
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Hi!
So, to clarify, you would like to have an automation process to have ShipStation automatically send a print job to the printer to print out the packing slips once an order imports into ShipStation?
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zmdubs commented
It'd be awesome if every time ShipStation loads in new orders from a selling channel (i.e. Etsy), it would auto-print a shipping label using ShipStation connect. This would make it easier to keep track of how many orders need fulfilled.
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monster2 commented
Not sure how this is set as completed? The answer is labels when the question was packing slips. The Quickship printing is the best. However when an order is imported into Shipstation i believe the question is : As a part of the automation of orders can this trigger a printing of packing slips so low level pickers can just grab a sheet of paper off the printer and start packaging up the order. This person was hoping for two packing slips automatically.
That would be next level automation. I think a ton of people voted for this but it is not active yet to my knowledge. Please reactivate this issue.
I want this feature for Saturday or Sunday guys that cannot even click a button in the software. I know it seems silly but papers sitting on a printer would be awesome. Thanks for the consideration. -
walnutstudiolo commented
Same here regarding auto packing slip printing - I don't need to auto print labels. Thanks!
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guntap commented
Same here regarding auto packing slip printing, it should have been implemented.
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nfnchris commented
We were also hoping for automatic packing slip functionality
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Brian Van Bogart SoftBums commented
This is nice, but we were really hoping for automatic printing of packing slips rather than shipping labels. Ideally this would be an automation rule and could be printed to ShipStation Connect or Google Cloud Printers. Thanks!
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Eric Hoppmann Diagnostic anSERS Inc. commented
We also would like to use this for packing slips only. Is there any chance you can extend this feature to packing slips? Thanks!
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mikemazzone commented
Thanks for implementing this but this works for labels only. Is there any way to have packing slips print automatically as the orders come in?
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Jon Smejkal Pier28, Inc. commented
WIth one click, we would like to send a 8.5x11 packing slip print job and a 4x6 label print job to two separate printers. Is there any technical reason why this can't be an option in the future? We really would like 1 - 4x6 label and 1 - 8.5x11 packing slip to pop out per shipment. As of today only the shipping labels print, and then we have to manually print out each packing slip 1 at a time and then match them up.
We can print both shipping label and packing slips with one click to the 4x6 printer if we choose that option but the packing slip is too small to read and there isn't enough room really. (full page packing slips are best)
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Daniel Melnechuk Racemaker Press LLC commented
I want to automatically print the packing slip for each imported order from all my channels, plus for each manually input order, to a laser printer via ship station connect.
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David Lopez Pomade Club commented
I agree with @guntap on BOTH points. Regarding the auto batch printing, after successful batch, I would like SS to automatically send labels to my printer 1 and packing slip and pick list to printer 2, then mark as printed in the checkbox. Currently i sit around and wait for the batch to complete. No point in closing the window because I print labels right after each batch. After its successful, i click print labels, then print packing slips, then print pick list, and finally click the checkbox that says printed.
Regarding the auto order printing, Most of my multiple orders are made within minutes. I would set a 1 or 2 hour delay between automatic printing. Also, I do not own a thermal printer yet and i do not print packing slip/invoice in 1 page. Therefore i would want it to auto-print only when there is an even number of orders so i wont waste labels/paper