Logistics platform
for ecommerce brands

Case of creating a Shopify app for shipping to reduce costs, simplify fulfillment processes, and ensure faster deliveries

Building a Shopify public app for a logistics company

Location:

Chicago, IL, USA

Cooperation model:

Fixed price

Industry:

Ecommerce

Partnership period:

July 2025 – August 2025

Improvements plan:

New features development, Shopify support and maintenance

Team size:

2 Shopify developers, Team lead, QA, Project manager

Technologies:

Shopify, Shopify GraphQL API, Shopify Polaris, Node.js, PostgreSQL, Azure, Shopify APIs

About the client

Our client is a US-based shipping and logistics company that helps ecommerce businesses deliver parcels faster, more reliably, and at lower cost. Serving brands nationwide, the company connects merchants with regional carriers through a single platform, eliminating fragmented shipping workflows and simplifying fulfillment operations.

What sets the company apart is its ability to deliver significant shipping cost savings without compromising performance – backed by clear communication and complete parcel visibility.

About the product

The nationwide shipping network enables ecommerce companies to save up to 30% on parcel costs while reducing delivery times. The solution integrates directly with existing ecommerce platforms, supporting on-site label printing and coordinated pickups to maximize speed and efficiency.

By providing pre-negotiated rates with regional carriers, the company empowers brands to offer more competitive shipping options. Combined with 100% parcel visibility and proactive delay notifications, the network delivers a seamless, reliable delivery experience that improves customer satisfaction and drives higher conversion rates.

Challenges in the case of developing a Shopify public app for shipping

When the client approached DigitalSuits' Shopify developers, they faced several challenges that needed to be solved in order to launch a scalable and merchant-friendly Shopify app:

Lack of native Shopify integration

The company relied on open APIs that were inconsistently implemented by third-party providers, resulting in fragmented workflows and limited control over the merchant experience.

Compliance with Shopify's standards

The client needed to develop a Shopify public app that meets all "Built for Shopify" requirements to ensure eligibility for app store listing and long-term stability.

Complex shipping flows

The app needed to handle multiple delivery statuses and sync them reliably to the corresponding Shopify orders.

Flexible customer notifications

Merchants wanted an option to choose whether they need to inform their customers about the shipping updates, or it is better to keep communication internal.

Tracking synchronization

To enhance transparency for merchants and customers, each order had to be updated with the appropriate Tracking URL & Tracking Link information in the Shopify Order.

Additional functionality

Two value-added features were required:

Adding tags in Shopify Orders as well as metafields.
Enabling the email notifications feature for customers on the Shopify native system, triggered by delivery statuses.

Our solutions – case of building Shopify public app for logistic

DigitalSuits partnered with the shipping company for a six-week transformation that resulted in the following solutions:

Native Shopify public app

We developed a Shopify application that directly links with Shopify Orders, eliminating reliance on fragmented third-party implementations and creating a seamless workflow.

Shopify compliance and app store readiness

The application was built using the latest Shopify technologies, including the GraphQL API, Polaris UI, and App Bridge, to ensure the app meets the “Built for Shopify” requirements and is fully prepared for public listing.

Reliable multi-status shipment tracking

Custom logic was developed to sync all levels of shipping (Confirmed, On its way, Out for delivery, Delivered, Attempted delivery) with corresponding Shopify orders, ensuring real-time accuracy.

Notification selector

A flexible toggle was implemented to allow merchants to decide whether customers are informed about shipping updates, providing businesses with complete control over communication.

Automated tracking updates

The app automatically updates every Shopify Order with the latest Tracking URL and Tracking Link, which enhances transparency and minimizes merchants’ workload.

Order tagging

Shopify Orders can now have tags assigned to them, as well as metafield updates, allowing for more accurate reporting and filtering.

Custom email notifications

Email notifications get triggered via Shopify Standard Notifications based on custom shipping statuses, keeping customers informed at key delivery stages.

Quality assurance

We conducted thorough testing to ensure seamless app performance, minimizing user frustration and preventing post-launch issues.

Results of developing the Shopify public app for shipping

The cooperation with the client has led to:

100% compliance with Shopify’s Built for Shopify standards, ensuring app store readiness and long-term stability.
44% decrease in the manual order management operations due to automated tracking synchronization and real-time status update process.
67% improvement in communication with the customer regarding options of notifications and real-time tracking links.

These improvements not only solved the instant problems that the company was facing but also created a public Shopify app that is scalable, merchant-friendly, and enhances efficiency, transparency, and increases customer satisfaction.

At DigitalSuits, we are ready to assist you in either developing or expanding your Shopify app. Reach out to the DigitalSuits team, and our specialists will help you get remarkable results.