Introduction

Accessing delivery instructions for Shopify orders has been a significant challenge for developers creating custom apps for local delivery services. Although Shopify added features for local delivery, the lack of API access to retrieve delivery instructions remained a common frustration among merchants. Recently, however, Shopify has introduced updates to the API that allow access to these critical details.

1. Importance of Delivery Instructions for Local Deliveries

Delivery instructions often contain critical details like specific drop-off locations, entry codes, and contact preferences. For merchants who rely on local deliveries, these instructions ensure customer satisfaction and smooth operations, particularly for businesses managing high order volumes. Previously, merchants were forced to review each order individually to access these details, which created inefficiencies.

2. Issue Overview

Prior to Shopify’s 2024 updates, delivery instructions added by customers at checkout were unavailable via Shopify’s API. Developers and merchants frequently requested a solution, but for years, these instructions were not accessible, resulting in manual processes and the potential for missed or incorrect deliveries. Shopify acknowledged the need for this feature in community forums, but the feature’s absence slowed automation efforts for many businesses.

3. Previous Workarounds and Community Solutions

Before the API update, developers and merchants devised several creative workarounds to capture delivery instructions:

• Repurposing Fields: Some merchants used the “Company” field during checkout, renaming it to capture special delivery instructions.
• Order Notes: Merchants asked customers to use the “Order Notes” field, though this solution still required manual extraction from the Shopify admin dashboard.
• Third-Party Apps: Many turned to apps like EasyRoutes and Zapiet for workarounds that enabled limited access to delivery instructions. However, these third-party apps often involved extra costs.

While these solutions were helpful, they were not ideal, especially for large-scale operations that required full automation through API access.

4. 2024 API Update for Delivery Instructions

In response to ongoing feedback, Shopify introduced new fields in the 2024-07 API version that allow access to delivery instructions through the FulfillmentOrder endpoint. The new field, deliveryMethod.additional_information.instructions, makes it possible to retrieve customer-provided delivery instructions for each order. This change allows developers to integrate these details into apps and ERP systems, streamlining order processing and reducing manual input.

5. Steps to Access Delivery Instructions via API

Follow these steps to access delivery instructions via Shopify’s 2024-07 REST API:

1. Check Your API Version: Ensure your app uses Shopify’s 2024-07 or later API version.
2. Use the FulfillmentOrder Endpoint: To retrieve delivery instructions, use the /admin/api/2024-07/fulfillment_orders.json endpoint.
3. Query Delivery Method Information: Within the FulfillmentOrder response, navigate to delivery_method.additional_information.instructions to retrieve any special delivery instructions.
4. Test and Implement: Test the API call to confirm that it pulls delivery instructions as expected. Integrate this information into your app or ERP workflow for automated handling of local delivery notes.

This new API field simplifies delivery management and enhances Shopify’s support for local delivery operations.

6. Alternative Methods for Local Delivery Management

If you’re not using the API or prefer alternative solutions, here are a few other options:

• EasyRoutes App: This app now supports delivery instructions integration directly through Shopify’s API, providing a comprehensive solution for routing and delivery tracking.
• Zapiet’s Local Delivery App: Zapiet’s app offers custom pickup and delivery options and can help bridge gaps in Shopify’s native delivery management.
• Manual Field Use: For merchants unable to use apps or the API, manually using fields such as “Order Notes” or the renamed “Company” field can capture delivery notes, though it requires more manual processing.

Conclusion

Accessing delivery instructions via Shopify’s API is now possible, thanks to recent updates that directly address long-standing community requests. By utilizing the delivery_method.additional_information.instructions field in the FulfillmentOrder API, merchants can streamline local delivery management and minimize errors. While workarounds and third-party apps were once essential, this new API feature enables fully automated workflows, improving efficiency for Shopify merchants.

FAQs

• How can I access delivery instructions through Shopify’s API?
  Use the FulfillmentOrder endpoint with the field delivery_method.additional_information.instructions in the 2024-07 API version.
• Is the new field available for all Shopify plans?
  API access varies by plan. Confirm your eligibility for API access, especially if using custom apps.
• What if I don’t want to use the API?
  You can use apps like EasyRoutes or Zapiet, or use the “Order Notes” or “Company” field as a manual workaround for capturing instructions.
• What was the previous workaround for delivery instructions?
  Merchants used fields like “Company” or “Order Notes,” often requiring manual review of each order for the delivery notes.
• Will the new API field work with older API versions?
  No, the delivery instructions field is available only in API version 2024-07 and later.