Drop Shipping

Introduction

This chapter explains how Cadify with nopCommerce enables drop shipping for complex, configurable products.

The customer configures the product in the web store, approves the scope in checkout with Approve and Route to Manufacturer, and Cadify locks the configuration for production.
The order is then routed to a selected contractor. The contractor executes manufacturing and shipping, while status updates with traceability return to the store record.

Cadify supplies the complete, consistent data pack and binds traceability from approval to delivery.

The following sections describe the flow in clear steps, including roles and checkpoints, data handover, and integration options that keep customization standardized and quality predictable.

Preconditions

Product rules authored in Cadify (Excel logic plus SolidWorks models with validated ranges and dependencies)
Store set up in nopCommerce, including roles, pricing, taxes, and payment configuration
One or more approved contractors with an agreed integration profile

Checkout Actions

Approve and Route to Manufacture

A Checkout Web Control that records approval, locks the configuration, and initiates routing to a contractor.

Request for Quote

An alternative Checkout Web Control for cases requiring commercial review before approval.

The store owner decides which action is visible per product or per store.

Order Payload (Example)

The payload is customizable per customer and per contractor. The list below is an example only:

Order header, customer identity, delivery data, and commercial terms
Product snapshot with parameter values, version, and revision note
BOM at order time, including quantities and materials
Drawing set approved by the buyer
Machine-ready files per process (for example DXF, STEP, STL, bend tables, print parameters)
Attachments such as work instructions, material data sheets, and compliance records
Packing information and labeling artifacts
Routing header, target contractor code, and integration profile

Integration Profiles

Cadify supports three planned profiles for contractor handoff:

Profile A: Direct HTTPS API
JSON payload with file links or streams, synchronous acknowledgment, and webhook for status events.
Profile B: Secure SFTP Drop plus Webhook
Atomic file drop to a named inbox, webhook acknowledgment back to the store, and status events via webhook.
Profile C: ERP Webhook, Fan-out at Contractor
Order header and links sent into the contractor ERP. The ERP distributes data to MES, CAM, and labeling systems.

Traceability and Security

A unique Trace ID is bound at checkout. It is the tuple of Store Name, Timestamp, and Buyer Email.
The Trace ID is stamped into the order, BOM items, drawings, files, and status events.
Data is siloed by tenant with authenticated access. Audit logging is enabled.

Shipping and Notifications

Shipping is executed by the selected drop ship contractor, aligned with the buyer’s routing policy.

Cadify provides the complete document and data pack that the contractor needs, including packing information and required regulatory details. Tracking events are returned to the same store order, so the customer receives clear status updates without manual follow-up.

Changes After Approval

Any edit after approval creates a new version and requires re-approval.
Routing is blocked until the new approval is recorded.
If the order is already in manufacturing, a new version must be created, re-approved, and processed through the contractor’s change control.

Returns and Warranty

Cadify supports an insurance option for handling returns and warranty cases.
The trace pack (order, BOM, drawings, files, and events) enables rapid cause analysis and fair resolution.

Industry Archetypes

Cadify supports drop shipping across several industry types:

Sheet Metal
Laser cutting, bending, welding, finishing, and packing
HVAC Components
Duct sections, transitions, flanges, length rules, and installation notes
3D Printing
Mesh preparation, material selection, print parameters, and post-processing