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NearShip (Locations) guide

NearShip is Pack to the Future’s retail fulfilment engine, allowing you to ship online orders from retail stores instead of a central warehouse. It’s designed for brands with physical locations that want faster delivery.

Updated over 3 weeks ago

What is NearShip?

NearShip routes orders to the closest retail store with available stock.

Why teams use NearShip

  • Same-day or local delivery

  • Lower shipping costs through shorter distances

  • Turn retail inventory into fulfilment stock

  • Faster delivery and happier customers

Plan requirement: Enterprise
Access: Click NearShip in the left-hand navigation


Accessing NearShip

  1. Click NearShip in the left navigation

  2. If you’re not on Enterprise, you’ll see an upgrade prompt

  3. Enterprise users see the full locations management interface

What you’ll see

  • NearShip overview banner

  • Feature explanation

  • Locations table

  • + Add Location button


Enterprise plan requirement

NearShip is available only on the Enterprise plan.

If you’re not on Enterprise

You’ll see:

  • A NearShip overview banner

  • Greyed-out feature preview

  • Contact Enterprise Sales button

How to unlock NearShip

  1. Click Contact Enterprise Sales

  2. Start a conversation via Intercom

  3. Discuss Enterprise onboarding and setup

  4. Once enabled, NearShip becomes available immediately


Key benefits of NearShip

Same-day delivery

Orders are fulfilled from the closest retail store with stock, enabling same-day delivery in many metro areas.


Zero wasted inventory

Retail stock can be used for online orders, reducing dead stock and improving sell-through.


Real-time inventory visibility

NearShip syncs inventory levels across all locations so routing decisions are always accurate.


Flexible last-mile delivery

  • Scheduled courier pickups

  • Instant Uber delivery for urgent orders


Lower shipping costs

Local fulfilment means shorter distances and cheaper freight.


More sustainable shipping

Shorter routes reduce emissions, paired with Pack to the Future’s sustainable packaging.


How NearShip works

1. Intelligent order routing

  • Customer places an order

  • NearShip checks inventory across all locations

  • Order is routed to the nearest store with stock

No manual allocation required.


2. Store alert & picking

  • Store staff receive an alert

  • Items are picked from the shelf

  • Order is marked ready for packing


3. Sustainable packing

Orders are packed in-store using:

  • Compostable mailers

  • Biodegradable fillers

  • Pack Points packaging rewards


4. Instant delivery booking

  • Book a courier pickup

  • Or dispatch an Uber driver

  • Customer receives live tracking updates


Locations table

The locations table shows all warehouses and retail stores connected to NearShip.

Columns explained

  • Location name – Store or warehouse name

  • Address – Full street address

  • Status – Active or Pending

  • Inventory – Available stock

  • Orders this month – Fulfilled order count

  • Actions – Manage location

Use this table to monitor performance and availability at a glance.


Adding a location

Add Location button

What it does
Adds a new warehouse or retail store.

How to add a location

  1. Click + Add Location

  2. Enter location details

  3. Save the location

Information required

  • Location name

  • Address

  • Location type (Warehouse or Retail)

  • Store hours (for retail)

  • Inventory sync settings

Once saved, the location becomes available for routing (after setup).


Location types

Warehouse

Best for:

  • Centralised fulfilment

  • Bulk inventory

  • Standard courier pickups


Retail store

Best for:

  • Same-day delivery

  • Local fulfilment

  • Flexible last-mile options

Retail locations unlock NearShip’s full benefits.


Managing locations

To edit a location:

  1. Find the location in the table

  2. Click Manage

  3. Update details

  4. Save changes

Editable settings include

  • Location name and address

  • Store hours

  • Inventory sync

  • Fulfilment rules

  • Delivery options


Location status

Active

  • Location can fulfil orders

  • Shown with a green Active badge


Pending

  • Location is still being configured

  • Not yet used for routing

  • Shown with a yellow Pending badge


Inventory sync

NearShip relies on accurate inventory data.

How inventory sync works

  • Syncs from Shopify by default

  • Can sync from ERP or WMS

  • Updates in near real-time

Where to configure

Settings → Integrations

Accurate inventory ensures orders are routed correctly.


Order routing logic

When an order is placed:

  1. NearShip checks all locations

  2. Finds the closest location with stock

  3. Routes the order automatically

  4. Alerts store staff

If stock isn’t available, routing falls back to the next best location.


Frequently asked questions

Do I need NearShip?
NearShip is ideal if you operate retail stores and want faster local fulfilment.

Can I use NearShip with only warehouses?
NearShip is designed for retail fulfilment. Warehouse-only setups should use standard order routing.

Can I override order routing?
Yes. Routing can be overridden in the order management interface if needed.

What happens if a store runs out of stock?
Orders automatically route to the next closest location with stock.

Can I set store hours?
Yes. Store hours are configured per location and used for routing and pickup timing.

Does NearShip support Uber delivery?
Yes. Uber delivery is supported for instant, same-day fulfilment.

How much does NearShip cost?
NearShip is included with the Enterprise plan. Pricing is discussed with sales.

Can I disable NearShip for a location?
Yes. Set the location to Pending or disable it in settings.

Can store staff book shipments?
Yes. Staff can book shipments for orders routed to their location.

What if I have multiple retail stores?
Add all stores as locations. NearShip automatically selects the best one per order.

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