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Automatically Generating SKUs with Shuttle

Updated this week

Shuttle makes managing your products between Etsy and Shopify easier by automatically generating meaningful, context-based SKUs. Instead of random or meaningless strings, Shuttle generates SKUs based on flexible templates that incorporate details such as product titles, variation names, and vendor names—resulting in clear, organized, and easily identifiable SKUs.

Benefits of Automatic SKU Generation:

  • Saves Time: No need to manually assign SKUs to each product or variant.

  • Consistency: Ensures SKUs are uniform and easily recognizable across Etsy and Shopify.

  • Flexibility: Highly customizable SKU templates based on your unique needs.

How to Automatically Generate SKUs:

Step 1: Define Your SKU Template

First, create or modify your SKU template to define exactly how Shuttle will format your SKUs. You can that using the Automatically Generate SKUs settings section.


→ Learn how to set up your SKU template

Step 2: Enable SKU Generation

Shuttle allows separate configuration for SKU generation in both directions—Etsy to Shopify and Shopify to Etsy. This ensures precise control and consistency across platforms.

For Etsy → Shopify:

For Shopify → Etsy:

Make sure to save your settings after enabling SKU generation.

Step 3: Automatic SKU Generation During Product Transfers

With automatic SKU generation enabled, Shuttle behaves as follows:

When transferring from Etsy to Shopify:

  • If the Etsy product has no existing SKUs, Shuttle automatically generates SKUs based on your template, adds them to the Etsy product, and then transfers the product (including the new SKUs) to Shopify.

  • If SKUs already exist, Shuttle will not overwrite these existing SKUs unless explicitly instructed.

Step 4: Updating SKUs on Existing Products

You can also update existing product SKUs easily:

To update from Etsy → Shopify:

  1. Head to the Etsy products page within Shuttle.

  2. Locate the Etsy product you wish to update.

  3. Click "Update Product."

  4. In the update panel, select only the checkbox labeled SKU.

  5. If you wish to overwrite existing SKUs, check Overwrite Existing SKUs.

  6. Click the Update button. Shuttle will then generate and sync the new SKUs to Shopify.

Note: This SKU update method is also available for bulk product updates and transfers, simplifying SKU management at scale.

Important Considerations:

  • Ensure your SKU template accurately reflects your desired SKU format before enabling this automation.

  • Existing SKUs are respected and not overwritten unless explicitly specified.

If you have questions or require further assistance, please reach out—our support team is always here to help!

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