In the world of dropshipping, suppliers can go out of stock, raise prices, or stop delivering to certain countries—putting your business at risk. That’s where Zopi’s Update Supplier feature comes in. It allows you to replace an unavailable supplier with a better one, either for the entire product or a specific order.
In this guide, you’ll learn what the Update Supplier feature is, why it’s critical for your success, and how to use it from both the Product Center and the Order Center.
What is Update Supplier?
Update Supplier is a feature in Zopi that lets you change the source of a product from one AliExpress supplier to another. You can use this feature in two ways:
- From the Product Center: Replace the default supplier for all future orders of a product.
- From the Order Center: Replace the supplier only for one specific order if the original one is out of stock or cannot ship to the buyer’s country.
Instead of deleting and re-importing products, you can simply paste a new AliExpress link and remap your variants with just a few clicks.
Why is Update Supplier Important for Dropshipping?
Dropshipping relies on your supplier’s reliability. But issues can arise:
- Supplier goes out of stock
- Cannot ship to buyer’s location
- Shipping times too long
- Higher pricing than other options
Zopi’s Update Supplier feature helps you stay agile and profitable by letting you:
- Fix supplier issues on live orders instantly
- Prevent lost sales from products being out of stock
- Speed up delivery by switching to faster logistics
- Control costs by finding better pricing
- Keep your SEO and product reviews intact by not deleting listings
Step-by-Step Guide – Update Supplier from Product Center
Follow these simple steps to update a product’s supplier link:
Step 1: Go to the Product Center
- Log in to your Zopi dashboard
- Navigate to the Product Center from the left-hand menu
Step 2: Select the Product You Want to Update
- Locate the product you want to update from your list
- Click on it to view product details
Step 3: Open the Manage Supplier Section
- Scroll down until you see the Manage Supplier section
- Click on the Manage Supplier button
Step 3: Paste New Supplier Link
Now you’ll add the new supplier’s URL.
- Copy the supplier link you want to switch to
- Paste the link into the field and confirm
Zopi will fetch the new supplier’s data and create a list of available variants for mapping.
Step 4: Map Variants to the New Supplier
You’ll now choose which variants to switch to the new supplier.
- Scroll down to the variant list
- For each variant you want to switch, click on it
- Select the new supplier
- Select the matching variant from the new supplier and click Confirm
- After all, press the Map button
Zopi will automatically map the variants and prices to the new supplier, keeping your current product settings unchanged.
Step-by-Step Guide – Update Supplier from Order Center
Use this method if you’re having trouble fulfilling a specific order, such as:
- Supplier is out of stock
- Supplier can’t ship to the customer’s country
Step 1: Open Order Center
- In Zopi, go to Order Center > Order Placement
- Locate the order you need to update supplier
Step 2: Click the Chain Link Icon
- Click the chain icon (🔗) next to the product
- This opens the supplier update option for this order > Click Change
Step 3: Paste New Supplier Link
- Paste your new supplier link
- Select the matching variant from the new supplier and click Confirm
- Select the variant that matches the old supplier’s variant > Click Map. Zopi will fetch the info and allow you to map variants
⚠️ Note: This change applies only to this order. If you want to use the new supplier for future orders, you must also update it in the Product Center.
Common Challenges and Fixes
- Supplier link not working: Make sure it’s public and from a valid product page.
- Variant mismatch: Check images, color, and size labels to find the correct variant.
- Change didn’t apply to new orders: You likely updated the supplier from Order Center only. Go to Product Center to apply changes globally.
Tips and Best Practices
Here’s how experienced dropshippers use the Update Supplier feature effectively:
- Always cross-check shipping times and rates before switching
- Use Product Research in Zopi to find top-rated, cheaper suppliers
- Maintain consistent variant naming to simplify mapping
- Regularly monitor supplier performance and update proactively
Conclusion
Zopi’s Update Supplier feature is a powerful tool to protect your profits, prevent fulfillment delays, and keep your store running smoothly. Whether you need to switch suppliers for all orders or just a single customer issue, Zopi has you covered.
➡️ Start using Update Supplier now via your Product Center or fix individual orders in the Order Center. For further guidance, reach out to our support team!