ShipTop supports two types of kits: Build Kits and Assembly Kits.
While both allow multiple products to be sold as a single SKU, they function very differently behind the scenes. Understanding the difference will help you choose the correct setup for your products and fulfillment workflow.
What is a Build Kit?
A Build Kit is a virtual bundle.
The kit SKU exists in the system, but the products are not physically assembled in advance. Instead, ShipTop builds the kit at the time an order is picked and packed.
When a customer orders the bundle, ShipTop picks the individual components and ships them together.
The inventory remains stored separately until an order is received.
Benefits of Build Kits
No pre-assembly required
Lower storage requirements
Greater flexibility
Easy to modify bundle contents
No need to forecast kit quantities
Best For
Product bundles
Promotional offers
Frequently changing bundles
DTC eCommerce orders
Brands with many bundle combinations
What is an Assembly Kit?
An Assembly Kit is a physically assembled product.
The kit is built in advance and stored as finished inventory. ShipTop combines the component inventory and creates a new finished SKU through an Assembly Work Order.
ShipTop assembles the finished kit and stores it as inventory before customer orders are received. When an order is placed, ShipTop simply picks the completed kit.
Benefits of Assembly Kits
Faster order fulfillment
Custom packaging presentation
Simplified picking process
Ideal for large production runs
Better suited for retail and wholesale programs
Best For
Subscription boxes
Gift sets
Retail-ready products
Wholesale packs
Pre-packaged promotional kits
Products requiring custom packaging
Which Option Should I Choose?
Choose a Build Kit if:
You want maximum inventory flexibility.
Products are bundled together only when ordered.
Bundle contents change frequently.
You do not want to pre-build inventory.
Choose an Assembly Kit if:
Products need to be physically assembled before shipping.
Custom packaging is required.
You sell subscription boxes or gift sets.
You need retail-ready or wholesale-ready kits.
You want faster order fulfillment for high-volume kit SKUs.
Need Help?
If you're unsure whether a product should be configured as a Build Kit or an Assembly Kit, please contact the ShipTop Support Team: [email protected]