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Understanding AfterShip Tracking's CSV Import Feature

Plans: All plans Platforms: All platforms


Overview


AfterShip Tracking’s CSV upload feature allows you to bulk-import trackings to the Shipments ** for auto-tracking and status updates email notifications. Additionally, you can upload CSV **manually or auto-fetch trackings from a CSV file on your server at a specific time.


What you’ll learn


In this tutorial, we will show you:



How to upload CSV


Upload a CSV file to bulk-import shipments to your AfterShip Tracking account. Select a basic or full CSV template. In one CSV file, maximum of 10,000 tracking numbers can be imported.


  • Basic CSV template: Enter the tracking numbers
  • Full CSV template: Enter additional data like customer name, account number, courier, order ID, tracking key, store URL, postal code, ship date, origin, and destination country


Duplicate shipments will be overwritten and CSV files must be at most 5 MB or 10,000 shipments.


  1. Go to Tracking dashboards > ** Shipments ** in the AfterShip Tracking admin
  2. Click on CSV import and select the Import by CSV option.


  1. Download one of the two CSV templates based on your requirement, fill it in according to the template format, and save it in the .csv (Comma Separated Values) format
  2. Add the CSV file from your desktop or drop the file onto the designated place to upload it
  3. Click Import file.


  1. All the successfully imported shipments will appear on the dashboard once you refresh the page.


  1. You will also receive an email notification confirming the same along with the time when the import was processed, total successful trackings imported, warnings, and errors.


Here are the common ** CVS import errors ** you need to look out for to ensure successful import of tracking data to the Shipments dashboard.


How to set up CSV auto-fetch


With CSV auto-fetch, you don't have to upload a CSV file every time because we will automatically fetch shipment details as per your import rule and time. Here's how to set up CSV auto-fetch:


  1. Go to Tracking dashboards > ** Shipments **.
  2. Click on CSV import and select the CSV auto-fetch option


  • Once you click on the CSV Auto Fetch option, you will be asked to set the import rule. Click on Create new rule.


a. Set the Daily import time

b. Input the HTTP, HTTPS, FTP or SFTP link that points directly to the CSV file you want AfterShip to download at the time you specify

c. Fill in the username and password, if the URL is password protected. With this, you can simply update the CSV file at the URL you specify, and AfterShip will automatically download the file and import the shipments




  1. Click Save to finish the procedure


CSV Fields


To learn what each field in the template refers to, check our help article on importing CSV files.


All the fields in the CSV file need to be filled just like the examples given against each of the CSV field in the article.


CSV auto-fetch using Google Drive spreadsheet


Automatically import tracking numbers to AfterShip using Google Drive Spreadsheet via CSV auto - fetch You can use Google spreadsheet to use the CSV auto-fetch option.


Step 1: Prepare auto-fetch file


  1. Download the ** AfterShip CSV Sample **
  2. Create a new Google spreadsheet
  3. Copy the template from the sample CSV and paste it on the newly created sheet
  4. Enter the required tracking data within the Google spreadsheet
  5. Select Share
  6. Choose the option Anyone with the link can view to make the spreadsheet public for people with the link, in this case AfterShip Tracking


Step 2: Upload the CSV file


The process is the same as the CSV auto-fetch. While adding in the Feed URL, just add the Google spreadsheet URL with the trackings you’ve created in the above step.


Please note that if you are using excel for editing the CSV, make sure you change format of the cells into text before editing. Otherwise, the tracking number will be truncated or the phone number "+" sign will be identified as a formula.


FAQs


1. Under what condition duplicate tracking numbers can be imported to AfterShip?


Duplicate or identical tracking numbers can be imported to AfterShip via CSV only when they have different carrier slugs. The same tracking number could have been assigned to shipments of different carriers, making them eligible to be imported to AfterShip dashboard via CSV manual, auto-fetch, and Google Spreadsheet upload.



Key takeaways


  • Bulk-import shipments easily: Use AfterShip Tracking’s CSV import feature to upload up to 10,000 tracking numbers in one go using either a basic or full template.
  • Two import methods available: Choose between manual CSV uploads and automated CSV auto-fetch to keep your shipments updated regularly.
  • CSV auto-fetch flexibility: Set scheduled imports via HTTP, HTTPS, FTP, or SFTP, or connect a Google Drive spreadsheet as your CSV source.
  • Accurate tracking ensured: Include fields like tracking number and carrier to improve tracking accuracy. Keep headers intact and format cells as text to avoid data loss or misinterpretation.
  • Duplicate handling supported: Identical tracking numbers can be imported if they belong to different carriers (carrier slug is different).
  • Error insights provided: Post-upload emails detail successful imports, warnings, and errors to help you monitor and fix issues quickly.


Updated on: 11/06/2025