Core Concepts
Orderly is built around a few key concepts. Understanding these will help you get the most out of the platform.
Bridges
A bridge is a connection between Orderly and an external platform. Bridges handle authentication, data syncing, and webhook processing.
Each bridge belongs to a category that defines what it can do:
| Category | Purpose | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| E-commerce | Sync orders and push fulfillments | Shopify, WooCommerce |
| Shipping | Create shipments, get rates, track packages | FedEx, UPS, ShipStation |
| Marketplace | Sync marketplace orders and listings | Amazon, eBay |
| ERP | Sync orders and inventory with accounting | NetSuite, QuickBooks |
Bridges are built using the Bridge SDK and can be developed by anyone. See Bridges for more.
Orders
An order is the unified representation of a customer purchase. Regardless of which platform the order came from, Orderly normalizes it into a standard format with:
- Customer information
- Line items with SKU, quantity, and price
- Shipping address
- Fulfillment status
- Tags and metadata
Orders flow through a lifecycle: pending → processing → shipped → delivered.
Shipments
A shipment represents a physical package being sent to a customer. Shipments are linked to orders and contain:
- Carrier and tracking number
- Label data (if generated through Orderly)
- Package dimensions and weight
- Tracking events and delivery status
See Shipments for the full lifecycle.
Operations
An operation is a bulk action performed on a set of orders or shipments. Think of it as a batch job — select items, choose an action, and execute.
Operations track every action taken, support undo, and maintain a full audit trail. See Operations.
Dispatchers
A dispatcher is an automation rule that routes orders based on conditions. For example:
- Orders over $100 → priority shipping
- Orders from California → West Coast warehouse
- Orders with fragile items → special handling carrier
Dispatchers use condition sets to evaluate orders and trigger actions automatically. See Dispatchers.
Transformations
A transformation is a code block that modifies data as it moves between systems. Transformations run at specific trigger points in the data pipeline, letting you normalize, enrich, or filter data. See Transformations.
AI Agent
The AI agent is a conversational assistant that can query your data, suggest actions, and execute operations on your behalf — with approval for anything destructive. See AI Agent.
Embed System
The embed system lets you white-label Orderly features into your own applications. Your customers can manage their own bridges and view their own data through embeddable components. See Embed.