Now that you have connected Arta to your Shopify store, you can set and update the shipping details for your products. This is necessary because Shopify’s default product details are missing a few key fields like dimensions, current packing, and object types to indicate framing and materials. This supplemental data can significantly impact accurate shipping quotes for unique and high-value items.

Fortunately, this is a quick process. Let’s get started.

Required product fields

In addition to the data managed on this page, Arta requires the following data for each product: a value/price and an origin location.

Please note that, while the Arta API supports creating shipping quotes without precise object weights, it is recommended to add weights as well to best support Arta returning accurate shipping quotes.

These fields are managed in the “products” section of the primary Shopify admin.

From the Arta app’s homepage, click on the “manage” link in the “Inventory” section.

This takes you to the Arta app’s “Inventory” page on Shopify.

Search & filter

The Inventory page lists all the products in your Shopify store in one view. A combined search and filter bar at the top of the page enables you to find the specific products you intend to manage quickly. You can use the search input and filter menus together or separately.

The search field updates in real-time and matches the text you enter based on each product’s title and vendor fields.

The “Product status” filter enables you to select either “active” or “draft” and maps to whether your products are published in your store.

The “Shipping status” filter enables you to select either “incomplete” or “complete.” These statuses describe whether you have added the shipping details for your products. Products with an “Incomplete” status require additional data before Arta can successfully return shipping quotes for them during checkout.

Updating products

To update shipping profile details for your products, click on the product on the inventory list to open the “Shipping details” pop-up form for that product.

Once the “Shipping details” pop-up form is visible for the product,

• select the best corresponding type for the product in the required “Object type” field. This will enable Arta to determine optimized packing criteria for this object.

• Optionally, select the current packing type in the “Current packing” field if the object is currently packed. This will help Arta avoid pricing for additional when the current packing is sufficient.

• Provide accurate values in the “Width,” “Height,” and “Depth” fields as well as a corresponding “Unit” in inches or centimeters.

• Once this is complete, click “save” to update this product’s shipping profile and to close the “Shipping details” pop-up form.

You should now see that if the product was previously marked “incomplete” on the list view, that indicator has disappeared. Simply repeat this process for the additional products in your inventory to successfully return shipping quotes for your customers during checkout.

Product variants

The Arta app on Shopify also efficiently supports managing the shipping details for products with multiple variants (for example, framed or unframed versions of an otherwise identical print).

If a product has multiple variants, clicking the product on the inventory list will open a “Select variant” pop-up window that lists the variants for this product. This enables you to click on the variant you intend to update to proceed to the “Shipping details” pop-up form.

Customizing types

The Arta platform and API supports an extensive list of logistics-focused object and packing types. These types are presented as options in the “Shipping details” pop-up form’s “Object type” and “Current packing” fields. The full list of options may feel overwhelming when preparing a large number of products for shipping with Arta. If you know in advance that your inventory will only use a subset of these types, you can simplify the “Shipping details” pop-up form.

Filtering object types

• To specify which types appear in the “Shipping details” form’s “Object type” menu, click on the “Preferences” menu in the upper right corner of the inventory list view. This expands a short list of additional options.

• Click on the “Object types” link. This opens the “Configure object types” pop-up form.

• Select the items that match the types of products in your store. Any selected options will appear under the “Object type” menu in the Shipping Details form. If left blank, all of Arta’s object types will be presented in the “Shipping details” form.

• Once you have completed your selection, click “Save.” This will update your preferences.

Filtering packing types

• To specify which types appear in the “Shipping details” form’s “Current packing” menu, click on the “Preferences” menu in the upper right corner of the inventory list view. This expands a short list of additional options.

• Click on the “Packing types” link. This opens the “Configure packing types” pop-up form.

• Select the items that match the packing you use for your inventory. Any selected options will appear under the “Current packing” menu in the Shipping Details form. If left blank, all of Arta’s packing types will be presented in the “Shipping details” form.

• Once you have completed your selection, click “Save.” This will update your preferences.