Shopify FedEx Guide for Domestic and International Shipping

Running a successful eCommerce store goes far beyond having great products and a user-friendly website. One of the most crucial aspects of customer satisfaction is efficient and reliable shipping. That’s why combining FedEx and Shopify can elevate your online business, ensuring a seamless experience from checkout to doorstep.

Whether you’re managing domestic shipping or expanding into international shipping, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know about shipping through FedEx in your Shopify store.

Why Integrate FedEx with Shopify?

Integrating FedEx with Shopify unlocks a wide range of features, but by integrating Shopify directly with FedEx, merchants get only limited functionality. To unlock the full potential of FedEx shipping on Shopify, merchants can use the PluginHive MCSL. With this integration, you can display live FedEx rates at checkout, automate label and document generation, and provide customers with real-time FedEx tracking updates all from within Shopify.

Integrating FedEx and Shopify using PluginHive MCSL allows you to:

Display live FedEx shipping rates at checkout to give customers accurate pricing based on destination, service type, and package details.
Offer a full range of FedEx domestic services as well as FedEx international services directly through your Shopify store with maximum flexibility.
Automate the generation of shipping labels and required FedEx documents to save time and reduce manual errors in order fulfillment.
Provide customers with real-time FedEx tracking updates for full visibility from dispatch to delivery.

Getting Started with FedEx Shipping on Shopify

To begin your FedEx shipping journey on Shopify, the first step is installing and configuring the PluginHive MCSL app. You can use the comprehensive guide to install and set up the app in your Shopify store. Once the app is installed, the next step is to add your FedEx carrier account to the app.
To do this, you’ll need a FedEx account with live rates enabled. You can find an article on setting up fedex account for live rates.
After getting the account on the app’s landing page, locate the ☰ icon (hamburger menu) at the top left corner. then go to Settings>Carriers>”+” From the list of carriers, select FedEx and click on “Add Account”.

On the tab, add the relevant account details and click on “Connect and Save”

After adding your FedEx account, the app will be automatically configured by default to provide shipping rates and services for both domestic and international shipments.

Shipping Options Overview

Before you start shipping, it’s important to understand the available FedEx shipping options. This helps you choose the right service and plan your shipping strategy effectively. Below is an overview of all the FedEx shipping services, both domestic and international, to help you make informed shipping decisions.

Domestic Shipping:

FedEx Ground: Cost-effective, reliable delivery within 1–5 business days.
FedEx Express Saver: Delivery in 3 business days by by afternoon to businesses or evening to homes.
FedEx 2Day: Have it in 2 business days, as early as 10:30 to businesses or noon to homes.
FedEx Standard Overnight: Get it by the next business day by morning, noon, or evening.
FedEx Priority Overnight: Get it by the next business day by morning, noon, or evening.
FedEx First Overnight: Get it by the next business day by morning, noon, or evening.

International Shipping:

FedEx International Priority: Get it in within 1 to 3 business days, with delivery in more than 210 countries and territories.
FedEx International Economy: Cost effective delivery in 2 to 3 business days to select countries, or in 2 to 5 to 210+ countries and territories.
FedEx International First: Get it within 1 to 3 business days, with delivery in more than 210 countries and territories.

Using Real-Time FedEx Rates

Once the setup is complete, the app is now configured to display live FedEx rates at checkout. Let’s place a test order to verify that accurate shipping costs are shown.
Head over to your storefront and place an order. On placing the order, you will see all the FedEx services listed on the Shopify checkout page. These services also come with built-in FedEx tracking so your customers can monitor delivery progress in real-time.

In this way, FedEx rates are now fetched in your store using the PluginHive MCSL app. Additionally, you can customize the setup to show only specific FedEx services for particular domestic or international zones. This ensures you’re always displaying the most relevant and cost-effective FedEx rates for your customers. For detailed steps, please check out the article.

Tracking and Shipping Documents

Once your FedEx integration is live, managing shipping documents and tracking becomes seamless. The PluginHive MCSL app eases the entire process from generating shipping labels to handling required documents.

Document Printing:

The app allows you to print all the documents associated. All you have to do is click on the label generated order and navigate to print documents to get a list of all the documents that can be printed.

This option allows for all the required documents to be printed, including a commercial invoice.

Order Fulfillment and Tracking:

The app also allows you to fulfill orders directly, automatically updating the order status in Shopify. Plus, it provides a tracking option, so both you and your customers can monitor shipments in real time, ensuring a smooth and transparent shipping experience.
To do this, go to an order with a generated label and click “Mark as Fulfilled.” As soon as you do this, the order will appear under the Tracking tab in the app,

The tab will be updated with FedEx tracking information, where the current status of the shipment is updated. This FedEx tracking sync provides complete shipment visibility in your shipment process.

Best Practices

To get the most out of your FedEx setup with PluginHive MCSL, follow these key tips:

Domestic Shipping Tips:
Use FedEx One Rate boxes for consistent pricing. Group products by size and weight to simplify packaging. Enable only relevant FedEx services (e.g., Ground or Express) based on delivery needs and customer expectations.
International Shipping Essentials:
Always include accurate HS codes and product descriptions on Commercial Invoices. Enable Electronic Trade Documents (ETD) to avoid customs delays. Configure custom shipping zones and rules for major regions.
Check out the full international shipping guide.

Conclusion

FedEx and Shopify together create a strong foundation for managing both domestic and international shipping efficiently. While Shopify offers a strong platform for e-commerce, it lacks built-in support for advanced FedEx features.

That’s where the PluginHive MCSL app comes in. It bridges the gap, unlocking the full capabilities of FedEx shipping within your Shopify store. Whether you’re shipping across the country or around the globe, PluginHive ensures a seamless experience with real-time rates, order fulfillment, and live tracking all in one place.

FAQ’s

Does FedEx integrate with Shopify?

Yes. Shopify does integrate with Shopify, but with only limited functionalities for full functionalities like automated label generation, international document support, and real-time tracking, an app like PluginHive MCSL is recommended.

Do I need to manually mark orders as fulfilled in Shopify after shipping with FedEx?

No. You can use the “Mark as Fulfilled” option in PluginHive, which automatically updates the order status and sends tracking information to the customer.

Can I sell internationally with Shopify?

Yes. But native Shopify shipping only provides limited options. To get full control over your shipping, PluginHive MCSL is recommended

Can I show FedEx live rates directly at checkout on Shopify?

Yes. By using the PluginHive MCSL app, you can display real-time rates from FedEx directly at checkout based on the customer’s location and selected services.

Blog, Shopify

Shopify FedEx Guide for Domestic and International Shipping

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