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Card class: Non-HeroCategory: Shipping & Courier

At a glance

Shipments is a volume metric tracked from ShipTheory data. It surfaces operational signal at the volume layer so merchants can spot regressions, opportunities, and structural patterns in their store performance. The card pairs with sibling metrics in the Volume category to build a complete diagnostic picture; cross-reference the related cards listed below for context.
What it countsShipments as exposed by the ShipTheory integration. The metric is computed from the latest available data and refreshed on the standard data refresh.
Sample typeBackend API data from ShipTheory, refreshed on the standard data refresh.
Why it mattersThe metric appears in the Volume category and complements the sibling cards listed below. Track movement over time to identify regressions or opportunities.
Reading the valueCompare the current period to the prior period to identify direction. Cross-reference siblings for the full diagnostic picture.
Currencynumber
Time windowT/7D/30D vsP
Alert trigger—
Sentiment keyshi_shipments_total
Rolesowner, operations

Calculation

Calculated automatically from your ShipTheory data. See the At a glance summary above for what the metric tracks and the worked example below for a typical reading.

Worked example

A representative reading of Shipments for a typical merchant on ShipTheory. The card reports the current period value alongside a comparison against the previous period. Direction matters: rising values may be healthy or concerning depending on the underlying metric. Cross-reference the siblings below to triangulate cause when the value moves outside expected range. For deeper investigation, use Vortex Mind to trace upstream causes; for natural-language exploration, ask Ask Viq.

Sibling cards merchants should reference together

CardWhy merchants reach for it
shi_shipments_trendVolume sibling: Shipments Over Time.
ship_theory_carrier_mixService Mix sibling: Sub-Carrier Volume Mix.
ship_theory_carrier_otd_compareDelivery Performance sibling: Sub-Carrier OTD Comparison.

Reconciling against the vendor’s own dashboard

Where to look in ShipTheory’s own dashboard: The ShipTheory dashboard surfaces this metric (or its components) under the relevant report section. Confirm period boundaries and filter settings match the Vortex IQ profile to reconcile cleanly. Why the Vortex IQ value may legitimately differ:
ReasonDirectionWhat to do
Period boundary. Vortex IQ uses 30-day rolling by default; vendor dashboards may use calendar periods.VariableMatch the period range.
Time zone. Vendor uses account time zone; Vortex IQ aligns to merchant reporting time zone.MarginalConfirm time zone match.
Filter scope. Profile-level filters (channel, B2B, test orders) may narrow the Vortex IQ view.VariableMatch filter settings.
Cross-connector reconciliation: complement with sibling cards in the same category for the full diagnostic picture. For divergence investigations, use Vortex Mind.

Known limitations / merchant FAQs

Q: How often does Shipments update? The card refreshes on the standard data refresh (typically every 30-60 minutes for live integrations). For real-time signals, force a manual refresh from the dashboard. Q: Why does my ShipTheory dashboard show a different number? The most common reasons are period-boundary differences (Vortex IQ uses 30-day rolling vs vendor’s calendar months), time-zone alignment, and filter scope (profile-level vs vendor’s all-account view). Match these settings before assuming a real divergence. Q: How does Shipments relate to other volume metrics? Track this card alongside the siblings listed above to build a complete picture. Single-metric reads can mislead; the diagnostic value is in the cross-reference. Q: Can I customise the alert threshold? Yes, sensitivity thresholds are configurable per profile in the Sensitivity tab. Adjust to match your business baseline rather than relying on the generic default.

Tracked live in Vortex IQ Nerve Centre

Shipments is one of hundreds of KPI pulses Vortex IQ tracks across ShipTheory and 70+ other ecommerce connectors. Nerve Centre runs the detection layer; Vortex Mind investigates the cause when something moves; Ask Viq lets you interrogate any number in plain English. Start for free or book a demo to see this metric running on your own data.