Set up ASM on BigCommerce

In this tutorial you install Advanced Shipping Manager (ASM) on your BigCommerce store, add your first shipping rule, switch ASM on, connect it to your checkout, and see ASM's rates there. Follow the steps in order. You don't need to know anything about ASM yet.

Beginner · Step-by-step tutorial

Before you start

Your products need SKUs in BigCommerce. ASM matches products by SKU.

Step 1: Install the app

1. Find Advanced Shipping Manager in the BigCommerce app marketplace and install it.
2. Approve the access BigCommerce asks for.

ASM creates your account, starts importing your products, and opens inside your BigCommerce admin. You're signed in automatically. Your 7-day free trial starts now.

You also get an email titled Thank you for implementing Advanced Shipping Manager. It holds your username and password. Keep it. You only need them to sign in outside BigCommerce. See Sign in to ASM.

If the app doesn't open

• BigCommerce shows a Register button. ASM couldn't create your account automatically. Select Register to sign up on our website, or contact support.
• You see "Unable to load Advanced Shipping Manager". Reload the page. If it keeps happening, contact support. See Get help.

Step 2: Verify your phone number

On your first visit, ASM asks for a phone number and texts you a 5-digit code. You only do this once. See One-time phone verification.

Step 3: Check that your products arrived

You start on the Dashboard. At the top is a card called Finish setting up. It lists what's left to do and ticks each step off by itself.

The first step, Your products are in ASM, ticks once your products have synced. A large catalog can take a little while. You can carry on in the meantime. See How products get into ASM.

Step 4: Add your first shipping rule

A shipping rule is one shipping method shoppers can pick at checkout, such as "UPS Ground" or "Free Shipping", with the price ASM charges for it.

1. In the Finish setting up card, select Add a rule →.
2. Follow Add a shipping method to create it.

If your rule uses a carrier's live rates, connect that carrier first. See Connect a carrier account.

Step 5: Test your rule in the Shipping Estimator

1. Go to Shipping Estimator.
2. Enter a ZIP code, type a product's SKU in Product SKU, and select Calculate rates.
3. Your method appears under Your rates with its price.

If nothing shows, see Test your rates with the Shipping Estimator.

Step 6: Turn ASM on

New stores start with ASM off.

1. In the Finish setting up card, select Open settings →. This opens Settings → Shipping.
2. Under Global shipping settings, switch on Enable Advanced Shipping Manager in your store.
3. Select Save Settings. The badge changes to Live.

Step 7: Connect ASM to your BigCommerce checkout

BigCommerce only asks ASM for rates in the shipping zones where you've connected it. In BigCommerce:

1. Open Settings, then Shipping, and find Checkout shipping options.
2. For each zone under Default shipping rules, click Configure.
3. Find the Advanced Shipping Manager app and click Connect.
4. Click Submit, then Done at the bottom of the page.

More detail: BigCommerce: connect ASM to your shipping zones.

Step 8: See your rates at checkout

1. Open your storefront in a new browser tab.
2. Add a product to the cart and go to checkout.
3. Enter a shipping address in a zone you connected.

The shipping options come from ASM. Once the first live quote reaches ASM, the Dashboard step Connect ASM at your BigCommerce checkout ticks itself. When every step is done, the Finish setting up card goes away.

You're live. Next:

• Work through Finish setting up: your first-day checklist.
• Subscribe before your trial ends: Subscribe in the app.
• Selling on more than one storefront? See BigCommerce: multiple storefronts and channels.