# Getting Started with Orders

ShipEngine offers integration with many order sources. The platform is designed to handle everything from simple online order sources to enterprise ERP solutions through the **Sales Order API**.

Note
The Sales Order API is only available on the Advanced plan or higher.

## Key Features

- **SINGLE DASHBOARD ORDER PROCESSING** - Connect ShipEngine to import and process orders from multiple sales channels
- **PUSH NEW ORDERS** - Use webhooks to automatically push orders ready for shipment
- **GET SHIPMENT STATUS NOTIFICATIONS** - Send notices back to marketplaces after orders ship
- **CREATE YOUR OWN SHIPMENTS** - Manually create single or bulk shipments


## Sales Orders vs Orders

The Sales Order concept is broader than a simple order - it represents the topmost level encompassing all facets of an order.

**Key Distinctions:**

- Sales Orders and Sales Order Items are immutable by ShipEngine
- Only updated when order source is refreshed
- Shipments and Fulfillments can be manipulated by ShipEngine processes


The Shipment model has been expanded to include `sales_order_items` from multiple sales orders or portions of a single sales order.

## Guides

- [Quickstart Tutorial](/apis/shipengine/docs/sales-orders/quickstart-tutorial)
- [Create a Sales Order Manually](/apis/shipengine/docs/sales-orders/create-sales-order-manually)
- [Create a Label from an Order](/apis/shipengine/docs/sales-orders/create-label-from-order)
- [Create a Shipment from an Order](/apis/shipengine/docs/sales-orders/create-shipment-from-order)
- [Create a Shipment with Sales Order Items](/apis/shipengine/docs/sales-orders/create-shipment-with-order-items)
- [Get a Shipment with Sales Order Items](/apis/shipengine/docs/sales-orders/get-shipment-with-order-items)
- [Split Ship a Sales Order](/apis/shipengine/docs/sales-orders/split-ship-order)


## API Reference

- [Sales Order Object Model](/apis/shipengine/docs/reference/sales-order-object)
- [List Order Sources](/apis/shipengine/docs/reference/list-order-sources)
- [Test an Order Source](/apis/shipengine/docs/reference/test-order-source)
- [Notify an Order Source](/apis/shipengine/docs/reference/notify-order-source)
- [Refresh Order Source (Import Orders)](/apis/shipengine/docs/reference/refresh-order-source)
- [List Sales Orders](/apis/shipengine/docs/reference/list-sales-orders)
- [Get an Order by Id](/apis/shipengine/docs/reference/get-order-by-id)
- [Update an Order](/apis/shipengine/docs/reference/update-order)


## Get Started

Contact the sales team at sales@shipengine.com or through the [contact form](https://www.shipengine.com/contact/) for inquiries about the Sales Order API.