Details about the ShipStation integration with DHL eCommerce. Includes requirements, connection process, features, notes, and troubleshooting tips.
DHL eCommerce is a cost-effective delivery service for e-commerce merchants. ShipStation's direct integration with DHL eCommerce allows you to create domestic labels as well as international labels destined for any country in DHL's extensive delivery network. For international shipments, ShipStation automatically generates and submits your customs documentation.
Contact your DHL representative to request a quote and begin the DHL eCommerce certification process.
Connection Requirements:
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An active account with DHL eCommerce.
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A Platinum, Enterprise, or High Volume plan in ShipStation.
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Account Client ID and Secret
Provided by DHL via email.
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Pickup Account Number
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Distribution Center Name
Manifest Requirements:
DHL eCommerce requires a printed manifest for each day's shipments. To manifest your shipments, use the ShipStation End of Day process.
To connect your DHL eCommerce account to ShipStation:
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Contact your DHL account representative and request the following information if you do not already have it:
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DHL eCommerce Client ID and Client Secret
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DHL eCommerce Pickup Number
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Distribution Center
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Log in to your ShipStation account.
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Your Carriers Add-On
Certain plans will require enabling the Your Carriers add-on before you can connect your carrier accounts. If you have not yet enabled it, you'll be prompted to do so before you can connect your accounts.
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Select the DHL eCommerce tile and click Connect.
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Enter your Client Id, Secret, and Pickup Account number. Then, choose a Distribution Center from the drop-down menu.
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Select the DHL eCommerce services approved for use with your account.
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Click Connect.
You can now create shipping labels in ShipStation using your DHL eCommerce account.
The ShipStation integration with DHL eCommerce supports the following standard features:
ShipStation integration with DHL eCommerce allows for the following additional features:
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Feature |
Description |
|---|---|
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Dangerous Goods |
You can ship Dangerous Goods or Hazardous materials using DHL eCommerce. Select the option in Other Shipping Options in the Order Details and select the type of goods from the drop-down menu. This will print the appropriate warnings on the label. ImportantYour DHL eCommerce account must be enabled by DHL to ship Dangerous Goods. Please contact your account representative if you are unsure if your account is enabled for shipping dangerous goods. |
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Ancillary Endorsements |
DHL eCommerce allows you to select the following ancillary endorsements on a per-shipment basis under Other Shipping Options in the Order Details popup: Forward Service Requested, Change Service Requested, Return Service Requested. |
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USPS tracking number associated with a DHL-created label (International Shipments) |
DHL eCommerce uses the USPS for the US domestic part of the journey and the local postal service in the destination country to make the final delivery. Use the DHL tracking number to track your package with USPS and through the DHL eCommerce site. |
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An End-of-Day Driver Summary Manifest is REQUIRED for both Domestic & International Shipments |
DHL eCommerce requires a printed EOD form for their drivers to collect at pickup. See End of Day Forms for instructions on how to print EOD forms in ShipStation. |
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Ship From Locations with the same address will be consolidated into one manifest. |
DHL eCommerce requires one manifest per Ship From Address. If you have multiple Ship From Locations that use the same address, all DHL eCommerce shipments will be consolidated into a single manifest for that address. Please note: The addresses in the Ship From Locations must match exactly for the manifests to consolidate properly. For example, if the addresses are technically the same, such as N. Lamar St and North Lamar St, the addresses do not match each other exactly and so will print as separate manifests. |
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DHL eCommerce Domestic will not display rates in ShipStation unless the Rating API is activated for your DHL account.
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DHL eCommerce supports 1 label message only. You must use Label Message 3.
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Labels can and will appear differently when they ship to different destinations. This is because shipments go to different DHL eCommerce stations to be sorted by destination.
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DHL eCommerce does not support printing store logos on labels.
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All DHL eCommerce shipments must be closed out, manifested, and printed through ShipStation using our End of Day forms process.
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DHL is likely to return shipments sent to residential addresses in Russia back to the sender. This is because Russian customs authorities examine all dutiable shipments with extreme scrutiny and there is no guarantee the package will be sent to its destination after inspection. You may wish to use a different carrier for shipments bound for a residential address in Russia.
DHL will deliver shipments to commercial addresses without issue.
Here are some common issues, potential causes, and troubleshooting tips.
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Issue |
How to Troubleshoot or Resolve |
|---|---|
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Error: The requested Special Service Codes AA is not available. Please make sure data entered is valid before proceeding or contact our customer service. |
What it means: You have likely selected non-supported options for your DHL Express shipments. This error likely indicates that incorrect Other Shipping Options are being used. What to do: See the Label Options section of the Available Shipping Options by Carrier help article to confirm which options are supported. Or, try removing the options one by one to see which option is causing the error. Then proceed with the shipment without selecting that option. |
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Error: Product Finder is not available from DHL for this account. Please contact your DHL account manager. |
What it means: Your DHL eCommerce account does not have the Rating API enabled. What to do:Contact your DHL account manager and request this be enabled for you. |
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Duplicate Tracking Numbers Tracking numbers created in the seller will always be unique. However, if one DHL eCommerce account (with the same pickup number) is connected to a different ShipStation account, duplicate tracking numbers can occur. |
What to do: To prevent this from happening, create a new DHL eCommerce sub-account to generate a new unique pickup number. When you connect your DHL eCommerce account to the secondary ShipStation account, use the unique pickup number for the new sub-account. If you aren't sure how to do this, contact DHL eCommerce directly to help set up the sub-accounts (or potentially add multiple pickup numbers to one account). |
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Error: The destination country code XX could not be found. Please check the destination country code. |
What it means: The country code is not valid in DHL’s system. This is common for very small countries that may have multiple country codes. For example, Curacao has an ISO address country code CW, but DHL is looking for ‘XC’ as the country code. What to do: Use this DHL Shipping Guide to find out if a country needs a DHL-specific country code. |