What syncs between Katana and Shippingbo
The table below summarizes each data type and the direction it moves between Shippingbo and Katana.
Data | Direction | Status |
Orders | Shippingbo → Katana | Available |
Products | Shippingbo → Katana | Available |
Inbound stock transfers | Shippingbo → Katana | Available |
Inventory sync | Shippingbo → Katana | Available |
Locations and mapping
After you connect Shippingbo, the configuration screen opens on the Location tab. Each Shippingbo warehouse maps 1:1 to its own dedicated Katana location.
Not mapped: the warehouse has never been mapped. Click Add to Katana to create its Katana location automatically.
Unlink: pauses a mapped warehouse. Its status then shows Unlinked.
Relink: resumes syncing for an unlinked warehouse.
Only mapped warehouses sync.
Products sync
Product mapping creates a required link between each Shippingbo product and a Katana item. Choose how SKUs are matched:
Direct 1:1: the Shippingbo SKU must match the Katana SKU.
Via SKU aliases: an alias links a Shippingbo SKU to a different Katana SKU.
Products are imported by SKU:
If a matching Katana product exists, it is linked.
If the SKU is unknown, Katana creates the product when it is first needed.
Kits and bundles become Katana products. Add a bill of materials (BOM) of components to them in Katana. A kit order line stays a single sales order row.
SKU aliases
Use an SKU alias when the same product has different SKUs in Shippingbo and Katana. The alias tells Katana which of its SKUs a Shippingbo SKU refers to, so no duplicate product is created. Upload your SKU alias mapping before importing products.
Orders sync
Orders flow one way, from Shippingbo into Katana.
When orders import: an order imports once it reaches the configured import-from status. The default is the Open state.
Status updates: after import, the order keeps updating automatically through every later status change in Shippingbo.
How orders appear: each Shippingbo order becomes one Katana sales order, with one row per order line. The order source shows as Shippingbo.
Fulfillments and tracking
Each shipped package becomes a Katana fulfillment with its carrier and tracking number. A multi-package shipment creates one fulfillment per package, so one order can show several fulfillments. Together, these fulfillments never exceed the ordered quantities.
Cancellations
When an order is canceled in Shippingbo, Katana deletes the matching sales order only if that sales order is still open.
Inventory sync
Shippingbo is the source of truth for physical stock.
Read-only stock: Shippingbo's stock levels appear in Katana as read-only External inventory at each warehouse's mapped location. On hand is the number shown.
Reconciliation: Katana compares its in-stock quantity against Shippingbo's on-hand quantity. This runs on a schedule or on demand.
Adjustments: where the numbers differ, Katana creates stock adjustments for the difference.
Inbound shipments
Each Shippingbo inbound shipment becomes one Katana stock transfer. The transfer number is the PO number when there is one; otherwise it is the inbound ID.
Destination: the Katana location mapped to the inbound's warehouse.
Origin: the location assigned for that destination warehouse. It must be mapped.
The stock transfer follows the inbound's status, and received quantities update the transfer. Katana stock transfers have two states: in transit and received. Partial receipts appear as updated expected and received quantities until the shipment is fully received. If an inbound is canceled, Katana deletes its stock transfer.
What does not sync
Katana does not push orders to Shippingbo. Orders flow only from Shippingbo into Katana.
Katana does not push products or stock changes to Shippingbo.
Returns and RMAs do not sync.
Serial numbers are not tracked. Lot and batch data appears read-only where Shippingbo provides it.
Disconnecting
To disconnect, open the Shippingbo tile on Katana's Integrations page. Disconnecting stops all syncing immediately:
orders and fulfillments
products
inventory
inbound shipments
Records already imported into Katana stay in place. This includes sales orders, fulfillments, products, stock transfers and stock adjustments.