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Import Optional Data from Shopify

Overview

  • DHL Express Commerce can import additional information from Shopify alongside your orders, helping to improve fulfilment, customs preparation, reporting and shipping workflows.
  • Optional import settings can be configured for individual Shopify stores and allow DHL Express Commerce to import data such as:
    • Tags
    • Order notes
    • Shipping charges
    • Product metafields
    • Product dimensions
    • Customs descriptions
    • Product Identifiers
    • Country-specific tax identifiers
    • Service Point selections
    • Bundle products

Most optional import settings can be found under:

Settings > Integrations > Shopify > Advanced > Field Mapping

Important: Changes only apply to newly imported orders. Existing orders will not be updated automatically.

 

Import Shopify Tags

Enable Import Tags from Shopify to import Shopify order tags into DHL Express Commerce.

Once imported, tags can be viewed within the order details and used to support filtering and order management workflows.

 

Import Order Notes

Choose how Shopify checkout notes are mapped when imported into DHL Express Commerce.

 

Available options

Option Result
Do not import notes Notes are ignored during import
Map to Delivery Instructions Notes are imported into the Delivery Instructions field
Map to Notes Notes are imported into the order Notes field
Map to Both Notes are imported into both locations

We recommend using Delivery Instructions when customers provide courier or delivery-related information, and Notes for gift messages, personalisation requests or internal processing information.

 

Import Shipping Charges as a Line Item

Enable Import Shipping as a Line Item to create a shipment line item named Shipping using the shipping charge provided by Shopify.

This can be useful when:

  • Shipping charges need to appear on commercial invoices.
  • Freight costs must be included in customs documentation.
  • Shipping costs need to be separated for reporting purposes.

If a Shopify Enhanced order is split into multiple fulfilments, the shipping charge is automatically apportioned across the resulting shipments based on item value.

 

Example

A customer pays £10 shipping.

Shipment Value Shipping Allocation
£50 £2.50
£150 £7.50

If Shopify has applied free shipping, discounts or minimum shipping charges, DHL Express Commerce will import the final shipping value supplied by Shopify.

 

Import Item Quantity Instead of Fulfillable Quantity

By default, DHL Express Commerce imports the Fulfillable Quantity for each Shopify line item.

This is generally the recommended setting, particularly when orders may be split into multiple fulfilments.

Enable Import Item Quantity Instead of Fulfillable Quantity only if your workflow requires the original ordered quantity regardless of fulfilment status.

 

Import Bin Location Metafields

Bin Location metafields can be imported from Shopify product or variant records to support warehouse picking and packing processes.

This setting is available for Shopify Enhanced integrations.

 

Shopify setup

Create a Shopify text metafield using:

custom.bin_location
 
Add the appropriate bin location value to each product or variant.
 

DHL Express Commerce setup

  1. Navigate to Settings > Integrations > Shopify > Advanced.
  2. Enable Import Bin Location Metafield.
  3. Select whether the metafield exists at Product or Variant level.
  4. Save the configuration.

Imported bin locations will appear against relevant order items.

 

Import Product Dimensions

DHL Express Commerce can import product dimensions from Shopify product or variant metafields.

Imported dimensions can help improve:

  • Package selection
  • Shipping calculations
  • Customs information accuracy
  • Warehouse workflows

 

Supported dimensions

Dimension Supported Metafield Keys
Length shipping_length, length
Width shipping_width, width
Height shipping_height, height

 

Configuration

  1. Navigate to Settings > Integrations > Shopify > Advanced.
  2. Enable Import Product Dimensions Metafields.
  3. Select Product or Variant metafields.
  4. Select the dimension unit:
    • cm
    • mm
    • in
    • m
  5. Save the configuration.

 

Notes

  • Decimal and whole-number values are supported.
  • Invalid or empty values are ignored.
  • Changes apply to newly imported orders only.

 

Import Customs Descriptions

For international shipments, product titles are not always suitable for customs documentation.

DHL Express Commerce supports importing a dedicated customs description from a Shopify product metafield.

 

Shopify setup

Create a product metafield using:

custom.customs_description

Add a clear customs-friendly description to the relevant products.

 

Example

Instead of:

Premium Lifestyle Collection

Use:

Cotton men's t-shirt

When present, this description will be used during order import and included within customs information.

If the metafield is not available, DHL Express Commerce will continue to use the standard Shopify product description.

 

Import EU Product Identifier Metafields

To support EU Customs Reform (EUCR) requirements, DHL Express Commerce can import Product Identifier information from Shopify product or variant metafields.

Supported Product Identifiers include:

  • Merchant Product ID
  • Manufacturer Product ID
  • Standardised Product ID

 

Shopify setup

Create Single Line Text metafields using the following namespace and keys:

Shopify Metafield DHL Express Commerce Field
custom.merchant_product_id Merchant Product ID
custom.manufacturer_product_id Manufacturer Product ID
custom.standardised_product_id Standardised Product ID

 

DHL Express Commerce setup

  1. Navigate to Settings > Integrations > Shopify > Advanced > Field Mapping.
  2. Enable Import EU Product Identifier Metafields.
  3. Save the configuration.

 

Behaviour

  • Variant values take priority over Product values.
  • Product values are used when Variant values are not available.
  • Existing Product Identifier fallback behaviour continues to apply.
  • Changes only apply to newly imported orders.

For more information, refer to the Navigating EU Customs Reform (EUCR) Product Identifier Requirements article.

 

Import Country-Specific Tax Identifiers

Enable this setting to import destination-country tax identifiers from Shopify.

Examples include:

  • CPF / CNPJ (Brazil)
  • RFC (Mexico)

These identifiers can be used within customs documentation where required.

 

Import Country-Specific HS Codes

When enabled, DHL Express Commerce will preferentially use country-specific HS Codes provided by Shopify.

If no country-specific HS Code exists, the standard product HS Code will be used instead.

 

Use Product Variant Names as Item Descriptions

Enable Map Product Variant Name for Order Item Descriptions to use Shopify variant names as order item descriptions.

This is particularly useful when products are available in multiple variations, such as:

  • Size
  • Colour
  • Material
  • Style

 

Example

Instead of:

T-Shirt

Display:

T-Shirt - Navy - Medium

Changes apply to newly imported orders only.

 

Expand Bundle Products

By default, Shopify bundle products may be imported as a single line item.

Enable Expand Bundle Products on Import to split bundle products into individual order items.

 

Configuration

  1. Navigate to Settings > Integrations > Shopify > Advanced > Field Mapping.
  2. Enable Expand Bundle Products on Import.

This allows individual bundle components to be processed separately for fulfilment and shipping purposes.

 

Using Product Catalogue with Shopify

Shopify provides order and product information during import, including:

  • SKU
  • Product title
  • Variant information
  • Barcode
  • Weight
  • Customs information
  • Country of origin
  • HS Codes

The DHL Express Commerce Product Catalogue can enrich imported Shopify orders when matching SKUs are found.

Depending on your configuration, Product Catalogue can supplement:

  • Customs data
  • Product dimensions
  • Product identifiers
  • Weights
  • Bin locations
  • Packaging information

We recommend maintaining accurate Product Catalogue records wherever possible to improve shipment quality, customs compliance and order processing efficiency.

 

Need Help?

If you need assistance configuring Shopify import settings, please don't hesitate to reach out by using our Submit a ticket feature. Please ensure you are logged into the dashboard to access this page. 

Our local DHL Express Commerce experts would be happy to hear from you.

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