Shopify Order Status Woes? Why DHL Express Isn't Showing "Delivered" (and How to Fix It)
Why Your Shopify Orders Aren't Showing "Delivered" with DHL Express
Ever notice how some of your Shopify orders using DHL Express just stay stuck on "Fulfilled," even though your customer has definitely received their package? You're not alone! This is a common head-scratcher for many Shopify store owners, and it popped up recently in the Shopify Community. One user, @gabbihive, asked about this exact issue, noting that DPD seemed to update order statuses correctly, but DHL Express wasn't playing ball.
So, what's the deal? Well, it boils down to how Shopify integrates with different shipping carriers. As Designifyang explained, Shopify doesn't automatically update the fulfillment status for all carriers. It's all about the level of integration.
Shopify's Limited Native Carrier Syncing
Shopify's order status pill only updates automatically when:
- The carrier is fully integrated with Shopify's tracking system, and
- Shopify actively receives delivery status webhooks from that carrier
Basically, Shopify needs to get real-time updates directly from the carrier to change that status. And, unfortunately, DHL Express doesn't fully push those delivery confirmations back to Shopify, even though the tracking number is valid and customers can see the shipment progress on DHL's website.
Think of it this way: "Fulfilled" in Shopify simply means you've shipped the order. "Delivered" means Shopify has received explicit confirmation of delivery. For many carriers, including DHL Express, Shopify never receives that confirmation.
The Good News: It Doesn't (Necessarily) Hurt Your Customers
The good news is, this usually doesn't negatively affect your customers, as long as the tracking link works and they can track their package externally. Shopify treats "Delivered" as optional metadata, not a guaranteed state.
Okay, But How Do We Fix This? Your Options for DHL Delivery Status Updates
So, what can you do if you want those sweet, sweet "Delivered" status updates in Shopify?
Option 1: Embrace the Power of Tracking Apps (Recommended!)
This is the most reliable solution, hands down. Several community members, including Designifyang and Channelwill, suggested using a dedicated tracking app.
Popular and reliable options include:
- AfterShip
- 17TRACK
- Parcel Panel
- TrackingMore
These apps can detect DHL Express delivery events, update order notes or tags, trigger "Delivered" emails, and show the delivery status right inside Shopify. Channelwill even specifically mentioned ParcelWILL Order Tracking (formerly ParcelPanel Order Tracking), noting that it pulls live updates from DHL and displays them on a branded tracking page.
Using a tracking app is really the only reliable way to get that "Delivered" behavior with DHL.
Option 2: Shopify Flow (For the Shopify Plus Crowd)
If you're on Shopify Plus or Advanced, you can combine a tracking app with Shopify Flow. This allows you to auto-tag orders as Delivered and trigger internal notifications or post-purchase flows. However, as Designifyang pointed out, this still requires an external tracking app.
Option 3: Manual Updates (Not Recommended for Most)
You could manually mark deliveries in notes or tags, but this isn't practical at scale and doesn't change Shopify's native fulfillment status. It's really only suitable if you have a very small number of orders and absolutely need that "Delivered" status for internal tracking.
Basically, if you want that "Delivered" status to automatically appear in Shopify when using DHL Express, a tracking app is your best bet. It's a small investment that can save you a lot of time and hassle in the long run. And hey, happy customers are worth it, right?
This is expected behavior
Shopify does not auto-update DHL Express deliveries
DPD works because Shopify has deeper integration
Use AfterShip / Parcel Panel / TrackingMore if you need delivery status visibility