Every Shopify Hero Needs a Sidekick.

Tag: Shipping Accuracy

  • Master Dimensional Weight: Build a Shopify Product Dimensions Manager in Seconds

    Master Dimensional Weight: Build a Shopify Product Dimensions Manager in Seconds

    Product Dimensions Manager

    PREREQUISITES:

    • Time: 60s
    • Access: Shopify Sidekick AI
    • Plan: Grow / Advanced / Plus

    The “Dim Weight” Trap

    Have you ever been shocked by a shipping invoice that was double what you quoted a customer? Welcome to the world of Dimensional Weight. Carriers like Canada Post, UPS, and FedEx don’t just care how much a box weighs; they care how much space it takes up. If you ship a 1lb pillow in a large box, you’ll be charged for the space, not the weight. If you aren’t tracking Length, Width, and Height, you’re flying blind.

    The Solution: Sidekick It

    Today, we’re using Shopify Sidekick to build a custom Product Dimensions Manager. This app creates a central dashboard to audit your entire catalog and save dimensions as Metafields—without needing a third-party paid app. By tracking these in Shopify, you can provide accurate data to 3PLs and use advanced apps to calculate exact box fits.

    The Exact Prompt

    Create a brand new Product Dimensions Manager app. 
    The app should: 
    - Display physical products that require shipping in a table. 
    - Show columns for: Product name, Variant, SKU, Length, Width, Height, 
      Dimension Unit selector (Inches, Centimeters, Meters, Feet), 
      Last Updated, and an Update button. 
    Include filter toggles: 
    1. "Show only products with missing dimensions" 
    2. "Hide out of stock products"
    Logic:
    - Allow users to enter L, W, and H values and select units. 
    - Store dimensions as custom metafields using the productVariantsBulkUpdate mutation. 
    - Show a "Last Updated" column for tracking modifications.
    - Include a Share button with instructions in an expandable section. 
    Keep it simple and functional.

    Triple-click the box above to copy the magic.

    Key Features of Your New App

    • Metafield Integration: Automatically creates and updates Metafields in the sidekick namespace (length, width, height).
    • Smart Filtering: Instantly isolate products that are missing data or hide out-of-stock items.
    • Bulk-Ready Table: Update your L x W x H and Unit (Inches/CM) on one screen.
    • Data Validation: Prevents “fat-finger” typos by ensuring only numbers are entered for dimensions.

    ⚠️ Technical Note: The data saved by this app is stored as Variant Metafields (Key: sidekick.length, sidekick.width, etc.). Ensure your shipping or 3PL software is configured to read these specific metafield keys for automated calculations..”

    Common Questions

    Why store dimensions as Metafields?.

    Shopify’s core product fields don’t include L x W x H by default. Metafields are the standard way to store this extra data so other apps and carriers can access it

    Sidekick Challenge” question to encourage comments.

    Can I change the units later?

    Yes! The app includes a unit selector (Inches, CM, etc.). If you switch units, the app will update the sidekick.dimension_unit metafield accordingly.

    Is there a limit to how many products I can update?

    The productVariantsBulkUpdate mutation is very efficient, but if you have thousands of variants, Sidekick may process them in batches.

    The Sidekick Challenge: Check your last UPS or FedEx bill. How much did “Dimensional Weight” cost you this month? Let us know in the comments if this tool helped you bridge the gap!