Location Groups

Location Groups let you organize multiple fulfillment locations into reusable groups that can be applied across order routing rules. Instead of managing individual locations in every rule, you define a group once and reuse it wherever needed.

Location Groups are not inventory locations. They are logical groupings designed to simplify routing configuration and improve consistency as your fulfillment network scales.

This feature is most useful for retailers and brands with many locations and complex routing strategies, where manual location management becomes inefficient and error-prone.

When to use Location Groups

Use Location Groups if you need to:

  • Apply the same set of locations across multiple routing rules

  • Reduce repetitive setup and ongoing maintenance

  • Quickly update routing behavior when locations change

  • Manage complex fulfillment networks with greater control

If you operate only one or two locations with simple routing rules, Location Groups may not be necessary.


Creating Location Groups

  1. Go to Locations in the app.

  2. Select the Location Groups tab.

  3. Click Create location group.

  4. Enter a descriptive name for the group.

  5. Click Add locations.

  6. In the selection window:

    • Search for locations

    • Filter by integration source, if needed

    • Select locations using the checkboxes

  7. Click Add locations.

  8. Click Create location group.

After creation, the Location Group opens to its detail page, where you can review all included locations and their integration sources.


Viewing and Managing Location Groups

From Locations → Location Groups, you can see:

  • Group name

  • Number of locations in the group

  • Number of order routing rules using the group

  • Date created and last updated

Select a group to open its detail page.

Closest Distance Sort Priority

The Closest Distance priority routes orders to the fulfillment location nearest to the shipping address on the order.

How it works:

  1. Each location must have an address configured. Set the physical address directly on the location record in the Locations settings.
  2. When an order matches a routing rule using Closest Distance priority, Pipe17 makes an API call to calculate the distance between each eligible warehouse location and the order's shipping address.
  3. The location with the shortest distance is prioritized for fulfillment.

When to use it: Use the closest distance when shipping cost or speed is tied to proximity, for example, when you want to minimize last-mile delivery distance across a distributed fulfillment network.


Editing Location Groups

  1. Go to Locations → Location Groups.

  2. Select the Location Group you want to update.

  3. Click Edit.

  4. Update the group as needed:

    • Rename the group

    • Add locations

    • Remove locations

    • View JSON

  5. Save your changes.

Changes apply automatically to all order routing rules using the group.


Deleting Location Groups

You can delete a Location Group from its detail page if it is no longer needed by clicking the dotted menu and Delete or edit the group and clicking Delete group.

Before deleting:

  • Confirm the group is not used in active order routing rules

  • Update or remove any rules that depend on the group

Deleting a group that is still referenced may impact order routing behavior.


Using Location Groups in Order Routing Rules

  1. Go to Order Routing.

  2. Create a new rule or edit an existing rule.

  3. In the location selection section, set Type to Location group.

  4. Select an existing Location Group from the dropdown.

  5. Expand the group to review the included locations.

  6. Choose the location prioritization logic, such as Highest inventory.

  7. Save the rule.

Orders matching the rule are routed to locations within the group based on the selected priority.

Example

A retailer with six fulfillment locations creates one Location Group containing all six locations. That group is reused across multiple routing rules with different conditions. When a location is added or removed, the group is updated once, and all related rules stay in sync.

This approach reduces setup time, minimizes errors, and improves routing accuracy.


Troubleshooting

Location Groups are not visible

  • The feature may not be enabled for your account. Contact support to confirm availability.

Unable to delete a Location Group

  • Check whether the group is used in any order routing rules. Update or remove those rules first.

Changes did not take effect

  • Confirm the routing rule is using a Location Group, not individual locations.

  • Refresh the rule and verify the group contents.


Need Help?

If you need additional assistance:

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