Managing orders efficiently separates thriving ecommerce stores from struggling ones. The BigCommerce orders API provides direct access to order data, enabling automated workflows, real-time inventory sync, and custom fulfillment processes that scale with your business.
This guide walks through everything you need to implement the BigCommerce order API effectively, from authentication to advanced automation strategies that reduce manual work and improve customer satisfaction.
Summary
Here’s what you’ll learn in this comprehensive BigCommerce order API guide:
- API Authentication Setup: How to generate credentials and secure access to your store’s order data through proper OAuth implementation
- Creating Orders Programmatically: Step-by-step process for using the BigCommerce order API to generate orders from external systems
- Order Retrieval and Updates: Methods to fetch order details, modify statuses, and track fulfillment progress in real time
- Shipping Integration: Connecting shipping providers through the BigCommerce shipping API for automated label generation and tracking
- Fulfillment Automation: Building workflows that sync inventory, trigger notifications, and update order statuses automatically
- Best Practices: Common mistakes to avoid and optimization strategies that improve API performance and reliability
What is the BigCommerce Orders API?
The BigCommerce orders API is a RESTful API interface that enables developers and merchants to interact programmatically with order data in their BigCommerce stores. Unlike manual order management through the admin panel, the API provides direct access to create, read, update, and delete order information.
The orders API serves as the foundation for custom integrations with ERP systems, warehouse management platforms, and third-party fulfillment services. By leveraging this API, businesses can automate repetitive tasks, reduce data entry errors, and maintain consistent order information across multiple systems.
Core API Capabilities
The BigCommerce order API supports several critical operations that form the backbone of automated order management:
| API Function | Description | Common Use Cases |
| Order Creation | Generate new orders programmatically | Point-of-sale systems, subscription services, B2B portals |
| Order Retrieval | Fetch order details and history | Analytics dashboards, customer service tools, reporting systems |
| Order Updates | Modify order status and information | Fulfillment tracking, inventory adjustments, refund processing |
| Shipment Management | Create and update shipping records | Carrier integration, tracking updates, delivery notifications |
The API uses standard HTTP methods (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE) and returns data in JSON format, making it compatible with most modern programming languages and integration platforms.
API Versions: V2 vs V3
BigCommerce currently maintains two versions of its order API, each with distinct characteristics and use cases. Understanding the differences helps you choose the right version for your specific needs.
- V2 Order API focuses on simplicity and backward compatibility. Released in 2016, it provides straightforward endpoints for basic order operations. The V2 API works well for simpler integrations where advanced features aren’t required. However, it has limitations in handling complex shipping scenarios, custom fields, and bulk operations.
- V3 Order API represents the modern approach to order management on BigCommerce. Launched in 2020, this version offers enhanced functionality for complex ecommerce operations. The V3 order API includes better support for multiple shipments per order, improved filtering capabilities, and more granular control over order items. Most new integrations should target V3 for future-proofing and access to the latest features.
Let’s move forward with understanding how to authenticate and start using these APIs effectively.
Setting Up BigCommerce Order API Access
Before making any API calls, you need to establish secure authentication credentials. This process ensures that only authorized applications can access and modify your store’s order data.
Creating API Credentials
Navigate to your BigCommerce admin panel and access the Advanced Settings section. Within the API Accounts area, create a new API account specifically for order management. BigCommerce will generate three critical credentials:
- API Path identifies your store’s unique API endpoint URL.
- Client ID serves as the public identifier for your API account.
- Access Token acts as the secret key that authenticates your requests.
Store these credentials securely—BigCommerce displays the access token only once during creation.
When configuring OAuth scopes, ensure your API account has appropriate permissions for order operations. The BigCommerce order fulfillment integration requires read and write access to orders, while read-only access suffices for reporting or analytics applications.
Authentication Best Practices
Implement proper credential storage using environment variables or secure credential management systems. Never hardcode API credentials directly in your application code, as this creates security vulnerabilities and makes credential rotation difficult.
Use HTTPS for all API requests to encrypt data in transit. The BigCommerce API enforces TLS 1.2 or higher for all connections. Configure your HTTP client library to validate SSL certificates properly and reject insecure connections.
Implement rate limiting awareness in your application. BigCommerce enforces API rate limits to maintain platform stability. Monitor your request volume and implement exponential backoff for rate limit errors to ensure reliable operation during peak periods.
Now that authentication is configured, let’s explore how to work with orders programmatically.
Working with the BigCommerce Order API
The BigCommerce API orders interface provides comprehensive methods for managing the complete order lifecycle. Let’s examine each operation in detail with practical implementation examples.
Retrieving Order Data
Fetching order information forms the foundation of most order management workflows. The API provides flexible filtering and pagination options to retrieve exactly the data you need without overwhelming your systems.
Use the GET method on the orders endpoint to retrieve order lists. Filter parameters let you narrow results by status, date range, customer ID, or custom field values. This filtering capability proves essential when processing large order volumes or building specialized reports.
| Filter Parameter | Purpose | Example Value |
| status_id | Filter by order status | 2 (Awaiting Fulfillment) |
| min_date_created | Orders after specific date | 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z |
| customer_id | Orders for specific customer | 12345 |
| is_deleted | Include/exclude deleted orders | false |
Pagination parameters (page and limit) control result set size. Start with smaller page sizes during development to reduce bandwidth and processing time. Increase page size for production workloads while monitoring memory usage and response times.
Single order retrieval uses the order ID in the endpoint path. This operation returns complete order details including line items, shipping addresses, billing information, and custom field data.
Creating Orders Programmatically
The BigCommerce order API create functionality enables external systems to generate orders directly in your store. This capability supports use cases like phone orders, B2B portals, point-of-sale systems, and subscription services.
Construct order objects with required fields including customer information, product details, pricing, and shipping data. The API validates all submitted data before creating the order, returning detailed error messages for any validation failures.
Required Order Components:
Customer data includes email address, first name, and last name at minimum. For guest checkouts, set the customer_id to 0. For registered customers, include their existing customer_id to associate the order with their account properly.
Product information requires product_id, quantity, and pricing details for each line item. Include variant_id when ordering configurable products. The BigCommerce shipping API integration starts at order creation by specifying shipping method and cost.
Address objects need complete information for both billing and shipping locations. Include all standard address fields (street addresses, city, state/province, postal code, country) to ensure proper order processing and shipping label generation.
Updating Order Information
Order updates handle status changes, tracking number additions, refund processing, and other modifications throughout the order lifecycle. The PUT method applies changes to existing orders while preserving unchanged fields.
Status updates transition orders through your fulfillment workflow. Change status_id values to move orders from pending to processing, awaiting shipment, shipped, or completed. Each status change can trigger automated actions through webhooks or custom integrations.
Tracking information gets added through shipment objects associated with orders. Include carrier name, tracking number, and tracking URL to provide customers with shipment visibility. The BigCommerce shipping provider API integration often handles this automatically for supported carriers.
Let’s explore how shipping integrations enhance order fulfillment automation.
Implementing BigCommerce Shipping API Integration
The BigCommerce shipping API connects your store with major carriers and fulfillment platforms. This integration automates shipping label generation, rate calculation, and tracking updates while reducing manual data entry.
Supported Shipping Providers
BigCommerce provides native integrations with leading shipping carriers through the shipping provider API. These integrations support real-time rate calculation, label generation, and automatic tracking updates.
| Provider Type | Examples | Key Features |
| Major Carriers | USPS, FedEx, UPS, DHL | Real-time rates, label printing, tracking |
| Regional Carriers | Canada Post, Royal Mail | Localized shipping options |
| Fulfillment Services | ShipStation, Shippo, EasyPost | Multi-carrier support, automation |
| Custom Providers | API-based integrations | Specialized shipping logic |
Each shipping provider integration requires specific configuration including carrier account credentials, service levels, and rate calculation rules. Access these settings through the Shipping Manager in your BigCommerce admin panel.
Configuring Shipping Methods
Shipping methods define how orders get delivered and what customers pay for shipping. The BigCommerce shipping API enables programmatic control over shipping method availability, pricing, and carrier assignment.
Set up shipping zones to control which methods appear for different geographic regions. Zone-based shipping ensures customers see relevant options based on their delivery address while optimizing shipping costs for your business.
Configure rate calculation rules using flat rates, percentage-based pricing, or real-time carrier rates. Real-time rates through the BigCommerce shipping provider API provide accurate costs based on package dimensions, weight, and destination.
Automating Shipping Label Generation
Automated label generation eliminates manual shipping processes and reduces fulfillment time. When orders enter the fulfillment stage, your integration can automatically create shipping labels through the carrier API.
The process starts with order data retrieval. Extract shipping address, package dimensions, weight, and service level from the order object. Pass this information to your shipping provider’s API endpoint to generate the label.
Store the generated tracking number and label URL in the order record using an API update call. This ensures tracking information appears in customer notifications and your admin panel automatically.
Now let’s examine how to build comprehensive order fulfillment automation.
Building Best BigCommerce Order Fulfillment Workflows
The best BigCommerce order fulfillment strategies combine API automation with business process optimization. Effective workflows reduce manual intervention while maintaining accuracy and customer satisfaction.
Automated Fulfillment Pipeline
Design your fulfillment pipeline with clear stages that orders progress through automatically. Each stage triggers specific actions through the BigCommerce order fulfillment integration, creating a seamless workflow from order placement to delivery.
Stage 1: Order Receipt
When new orders arrive, validate inventory availability and payment authorization. The BigCommerce order API webhooks notify your system immediately when orders are created. Use this webhook data to trigger inventory checks and fraud screening.
Stage 2: Order Processing
Confirmed orders move to processing where picking lists generate, inventory decrements, and warehouse systems receive order details. The BigCommerce API orders interface updates order status to reflect processing state.
Stage 3: Fulfillment Preparation
Generate shipping labels through the BigCommerce shipping API integration. Print packing slips, update order status to awaiting shipment, and prepare packages for carrier pickup.
Stage 4: Shipment and Tracking
Once carriers accept packages, update orders with tracking information. Send automated customer notifications with tracking links. Monitor delivery status through carrier webhooks or scheduled tracking updates.
Inventory Management Integration
Synchronize inventory levels between BigCommerce and external systems through the order API. When orders complete, the integration decrements inventory automatically, preventing overselling and maintaining accurate stock counts.
Implement inventory reservation during order processing to hold stock for confirmed orders. This prevents inventory allocation conflicts when multiple orders target the same products simultaneously.
Configure low stock alerts that trigger through the API when inventory falls below threshold levels. These alerts enable proactive reordering and prevent stockouts that impact customer satisfaction.
Error Handling and Recovery
Build robust error handling into your BigCommerce order fulfillment integration to handle API failures, network issues, and data validation problems gracefully.
Implement retry logic with exponential backoff for transient errors. API rate limits, temporary network issues, and server timeouts should trigger automatic retries rather than failing permanently.
Log all API interactions with sufficient detail to troubleshoot issues. Include request parameters, response codes, error messages, and timestamps in your logs for comprehensive debugging.
Create manual review queues for orders that encounter persistent errors. Rather than blocking fulfillment completely, route problematic orders to human review while allowing successful orders to proceed normally.
Let’s examine specific integration patterns that work well in production environments.
Advanced BigCommerce Order API Integration Patterns
Production-grade integrations require sophisticated approaches to handle scale, reliability, and complex business requirements. These patterns represent proven solutions for common challenges.
Webhook-Driven Automation
Webhooks provide real-time notifications when order events occur, enabling immediate response to order changes without constant polling. Configure webhooks for order creation, status updates, and shipment events to trigger automated workflows.
Set up dedicated webhook endpoints that receive BigCommerce notifications. Process webhook payloads asynchronously to avoid blocking BigCommerce’s delivery attempts. Acknowledge webhook receipt immediately, then queue the actual processing work for background execution.
Implement webhook verification to confirm notifications originate from BigCommerce. Validate the webhook signature included in request headers to prevent malicious webhook injection attacks.
Multi-Channel Order Consolidation
Many merchants sell through multiple channels—their BigCommerce store, marketplaces, POS systems, and wholesale portals. The BigCommerce order API serves as a central hub for consolidating orders from diverse sources.
Create orders programmatically from external channels using the BigCommerce order API create endpoint. Map external order formats to BigCommerce’s order structure, preserving channel-specific metadata in custom fields.
Tag orders with source identifiers to track which channel generated each order. This tagging enables channel-specific fulfillment rules, reporting, and customer service workflows.
Custom Fulfillment Logic
Implement business-specific fulfillment rules that extend beyond BigCommerce’s standard capabilities. The order API provides the flexibility to build exactly the fulfillment logic your business requires.
Route orders to different warehouses based on inventory location, customer address, or product type. Query the API for order details, apply routing rules, and update fulfillment location through API calls.
Split orders across multiple shipments when inventory exists in different locations. Create separate shipment records through the API, each with its own tracking number and delivery timeline.
Apply priority fulfillment for expedited orders or VIP customers. Fetch orders with specific customer segments or shipping methods and process them ahead of standard orders in your fulfillment queue.
Now let’s address common challenges developers encounter when implementing these integrations.
Troubleshooting Common BigCommerce Order API Issues
Even well-designed integrations encounter challenges during development and production operation. Understanding common issues helps resolve problems quickly and prevents recurring failures.
Authentication Errors
Authentication failures prevent API access entirely, making them critical to resolve immediately. Double-check that your API credentials match exactly—access tokens are case-sensitive and must be copied without modification.
Verify OAuth scope configuration matches your integration’s needs. Insufficient scopes return 403 Forbidden errors even with valid credentials. Review required scopes in the BigCommerce API documentation and update your API account accordingly.
Confirm your application includes the correct authentication headers in every request. The X-Auth-Token header must contain your access token, while the Accept header should specify application/json for proper response formatting.
Rate Limiting Responses
BigCommerce enforces rate limits to protect platform stability. When your integration hits these limits, the API returns 429 Too Many Requests responses with retry-after headers.
Implement request throttling in your application to stay under rate limits proactively. Track your request volume and adjust request frequency based on your API plan’s limits. Enterprise plans offer higher limits for high-volume integrations.
Use the X-Rate-Limit headers in API responses to monitor your rate limit status. These headers show your remaining requests and when the limit resets, enabling dynamic throttling before hitting the limit.
Data Validation Failures
Order creation and update requests fail when submitted data doesn’t meet BigCommerce’s validation requirements. Parse error response messages carefully—they identify specific fields causing validation failures.
Common validation issues include missing required fields, invalid product IDs, incorrect address formats, and price mismatches. Test order creation with minimal valid data first, then add complexity incrementally to isolate validation problems.
Validate data on your side before submitting to the API. Implement the same validation rules BigCommerce uses to catch errors early and provide better user feedback in your application.
Performance Optimization
Large-scale integrations must optimize API usage to maintain acceptable performance. Bulk operations, proper pagination, and efficient data filtering all contribute to faster integration execution.
Use batch endpoints when available to process multiple operations in single requests. This reduces network overhead and improves throughput for bulk order processing.
Implement caching for frequently accessed data that changes infrequently. Product information, customer details, and configuration data often remain stable and can be cached to reduce API calls.
Consider these optimization strategies as you scale your order fulfillment operations.
Security Best Practices for BigCommerce Order API
Protecting customer data and maintaining system security requires deliberate security measures throughout your integration architecture. These practices prevent data breaches and unauthorized access.
Credential Management
Store API credentials in secure, encrypted storage systems rather than application code or configuration files. Use environment variables, secret management services, or encrypted configuration stores to protect sensitive authentication data.
Rotate API credentials periodically to limit exposure if credentials become compromised. Create a credential rotation schedule and implement automated rotation processes that update credentials across all integration components simultaneously.
Restrict API account permissions to the minimum required scopes. Order management integrations rarely need access to store configuration, product catalog, or customer data beyond what’s included in orders. Limited scopes reduce potential damage from credential compromise.
Data Encryption
Encrypt sensitive order data at rest in your systems. Customer addresses, payment information, and personal details require protection even within your own infrastructure. Use industry-standard encryption algorithms and proper key management practices.
Transmit all data over HTTPS exclusively. The BigCommerce order API requires TLS 1.2 or higher, but your integration should enforce encryption for all network communication, not just API calls.
Access Control
Implement role-based access control (RBAC) in systems that interact with the BigCommerce order API. Limit which users and systems can trigger API operations based on their legitimate need for access.
Log all API interactions including successful operations and failures. Comprehensive audit logs support security investigations and help identify unusual access patterns that might indicate security issues.
Monitor API access patterns for anomalies. Unusual request volumes, access outside normal business hours, or unexpected geographic locations might indicate compromised credentials or unauthorized access attempts.
With security measures in place, let’s explore how to measure integration success and optimization opportunities.
Measuring BigCommerce Order Fulfillment Success
Effective measurement helps identify optimization opportunities and demonstrates the value of your BigCommerce order fulfillment integration. Track these key metrics to guide continuous improvement.
Performance Metrics
Order Processing Time measures how quickly orders move from placement to shipment. Calculate the average time between order creation and first shipment to identify bottlenecks in your fulfillment pipeline. Target reduction in processing time improves customer satisfaction and enables same-day shipping options.
API Response Time indicates integration health and performance. Monitor average response times for order retrieval, creation, and update operations. Increased response times suggest scaling issues, inefficient queries, or API performance degradation.
Error Rate tracks the percentage of API calls that fail. Low error rates (under 1%) indicate stable integration, while elevated errors suggest configuration problems, validation issues, or system instability requiring investigation.
Business Impact Metrics
| Metric | Description | Target |
| Order Accuracy | Orders fulfilled without errors | >99% |
| Fulfillment Cost per Order | Total fulfillment expense divided by orders | Decrease 10-20% |
| Customer Satisfaction | CSAT scores for order experience | >4.5/5.0 |
| Manual Intervention Rate | Orders requiring manual processing | <5% |
Shipping Cost Optimization measures savings achieved through automated carrier selection, rate shopping, and zone-based shipping strategies. The BigCommerce shipping API integration enables dynamic rate comparison that reduces shipping expenses while maintaining delivery speed.
Labor Efficiency quantifies how automation reduces manual work. Track staff hours spent on order processing before and after implementing your BigCommerce order API integration. Successful automation typically reduces order processing labor by 60-80%.
Continuous Improvement Process
Establish regular review cycles to assess integration performance and identify enhancement opportunities. Monthly reviews provide sufficient data for meaningful analysis while enabling rapid response to issues.
Analyze order fulfillment patterns to uncover optimization opportunities. Identify common fulfillment paths, bottlenecks, and edge cases that occur frequently. Focus optimization efforts on high-impact areas that affect the most orders.
Gather feedback from fulfillment staff about integration usability and pain points. The people using your systems daily often identify problems and improvement opportunities that metrics alone don’t reveal.
Let’s examine how this knowledge translates into real-world implementation success.
Real-World BigCommerce Order API Implementation Scenarios
Understanding how other businesses leverage the BigCommerce orders API provides valuable insights for your own implementation. These scenarios represent common use cases that demonstrate API capabilities.
Multi-Warehouse Fulfillment
A sporting goods retailer operates warehouses in three regions, each stocking different inventory. Their BigCommerce order fulfillment integration routes orders to the optimal warehouse based on customer location and inventory availability.
The integration queries orders through the API every five minutes. For each order, it checks inventory levels across all warehouses and calculates shipping cost from each location. The system selects the warehouse that minimizes shipping cost while maintaining target delivery times.
Once warehouse assignment completes, the integration updates order metadata with warehouse location and creates a fulfillment ticket in the warehouse management system. The BigCommerce shipping API integration generates appropriate shipping labels for the selected warehouse.
This automated routing reduced average shipping costs by 23% while improving delivery times by routing orders to regionally appropriate warehouses.
Subscription Box Service
A monthly subscription box company uses the BigCommerce order API create function to generate recurring orders automatically. Each month, their subscription management system creates new orders for active subscribers through the API.
The integration queries their subscription database for active memberships, generates order objects with appropriate products and pricing, and submits orders through the API. Custom fields track subscription cycle numbers and next billing dates.
This automation completely eliminates manual subscription order creation, processing over 5,000 orders monthly without staff intervention. The subscription system integrates seamlessly with BigCommerce order fulfillment workflows, treating subscription orders identically to standard orders.
B2B Wholesale Portal
A wholesale distributor built a custom B2B portal that creates orders in BigCommerce through the API. Approved wholesale customers place bulk orders through the portal, which validates pricing, applies quantity discounts, and generates orders automatically.
The portal integration maps wholesale pricing structures to BigCommerce’s price rules, calculates order totals with appropriate discounts, and creates orders with correct pricing through the BigCommerce API orders interface. Custom fields identify wholesale orders for different fulfillment handling.
This integration enabled B2B sales growth while maintaining order data in BigCommerce alongside retail orders. Centralized order management simplified fulfillment, inventory tracking, and financial reporting across both channels.
These implementations demonstrate the versatility and power of properly implemented order API integrations.
Key Takeaways
The BigCommerce orders API provides comprehensive tools for building scalable, automated order management systems. Successful implementations focus on these critical elements:
- Secure authentication protects customer data and system integrity through proper credential management and access control
- Automated workflows reduce manual effort by 60-80% while improving accuracy and fulfillment speed
- Shipping integration through the BigCommerce shipping API optimizes costs and enables real-time tracking updates
- Error handling ensures reliable operation even when facing API limits, network issues, or data validation failures
- Performance monitoring identifies optimization opportunities and measures business impact from automation investments
Conclusion
Mastering the BigCommerce orders API transforms order management from a manual bottleneck into a competitive advantage. The capabilities covered in this guide—from basic authentication to advanced fulfillment automation—provide the foundation for building robust integrations that scale with your business.
The best BigCommerce order fulfillment strategies combine technical implementation with business process optimization. Start with core functionality, measure results, and enhance your integration iteratively based on real-world performance data.
Ready to optimize your BigCommerce order fulfillment? Contact our team to discuss how we can help build a custom integration that meets your specific business requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Authentication Method Does the BigCommerce Order API Use?
The BigCommerce orders API uses OAuth authentication with API credentials including client ID, access token, and store hash. Generate these credentials through your BigCommerce admin panel under Advanced Settings > API Accounts.
Can I Update Order Status Through the API?
Yes, use the PUT method on the orders endpoint to update order status by changing the status_id field. Common statuses include Incomplete (0), Pending (1), Shipped (2), Awaiting Fulfillment (9), and Completed (10).
How Do I Handle Shipping with Multiple Packages?
Create multiple shipment objects associated with a single order. Each shipment includes its own tracking number, carrier, and items, enabling partial shipments and split fulfillment across multiple packages.
What Rate Limits Apply to the Order API?
Rate limits vary by BigCommerce plan. Standard plans allow 20,000 API calls per hour, while Enterprise plans receive higher limits. Monitor X-Rate-Limit headers in responses to track remaining requests.
Does the API Support Refunds and Returns?
The BigCommerce order API supports refund processing through order update endpoints. Create refund objects specifying amount, reason, and refund method. Returns require additional workflow logic beyond the base API.
How Do I Retrieve Orders From a Specific Date Range?
Use the min_date_created and max_date_created query parameters to filter orders by creation date. Combine with other filters like status_id or customer_id for more specific order queries.
Can I Create Orders for Existing Customers?
Yes, include the customer_id in your order creation request to associate the order with an existing customer account. Use customer_id of 0 for guest checkout orders.
What Data Does the Shipping API Require?
The BigCommerce shipping API needs complete shipping addresses (street, city, state, postal code, country), package dimensions, weight, service level, and destination. Real-time rates require accurate package data.
How Do I Track Order Fulfillment Status?
Query order details through the API to retrieve current status_id and shipment information. Implement webhooks for real-time status change notifications rather than constant polling.
Does BigCommerce Support Custom Order Fields?
Yes, use order metafields to store custom data associated with orders. Metafields support key-value pairs for tracking integration-specific information beyond standard order fields.
