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How to set up DHL Express

Updated

Table of Contents

Overview

  • This article outlines how to set up DHL Express as a courier service in Starshipit.
  • DHL Express’s integration with Starshipit allows you to use all of Starshipit's features including generating shipping labels and packing slips, auto-correcting addresses, using branded tracking pages and shipping notifications – plus much more.

Supported features

DHL Express’ integration with Starshipit supports the following features:

Name Supported
Ships From All countries
Domestic Shipping ✅
International Shipping ✅
Estimated Rates ✅
Returns ✅
Insurance/Warranty ✅
Dangerous Goods ✅
Alcohol Delivery ✅
Signature Required ✅
Authority to Leave ✅
SKUs on Label ✅

 

Before you begin

You will need the following:

  • DHL Account Number
  • MyDHL API username (this is different to your MyDHL username)
  • MyDHL API password (this is different to your MyDHL password)

If you don't have these credentials, please follow the below instructions as outlined by DHL Express:

  1. Go to the MyDHL API Portal.
  2. Click Get Access.
  3. Click on sign up or if you have already registered, please sign in with your login username & password.
  4. You will receive similar registration email as below with your username & password.
    mceclip1.png
  5. Login to https://developer.dhl.com/form/dhl-express-onboarding to complete & submit the onboarding request form. This will be sent to DHL for approval.mceclip2.png
  6. You will be asked the following question:
    • How would you like to use the API?
      Select: I require credentials to DHL Express – MyDHL API for an existing plugin/ecommerce platform/third-party solution.
    • Enter Starshipit in the Requestor Platform Name field. mceclip0.png
  7. Once you complete the above onboarding request form, DHL will receive your credential request. They will then approve it and provide the credentials to you directly.
  8. When you have received your MyDHL API credentials, please follow the below steps or alternatively send your MyDHL API credentials to our team and we will help you get set up. 

Setting up DHL Express in Starshipit

  1. Go to Settings > Couriers > Add Courier > DHL Express.
  2. Check the Enable DHL checkbox.
  3. Select MyDHL API.
  4. Fill in your account number, MyDHL API username, and MyDHL API password.
  5. Click Save.
  6. Set up your product codes.

Add your product codes to complete the integration.

  1. Click Add new product codes.
  2. Fill in details as required.
  3. Click Add.
The most common product code for DHL Express is WPX for international and DOM for domestic.

Order DHL labels

To order DHL labels (100*200), you can request a supply from DHL here.

Commercial Invoices & Archive Waybills

International shipments sent via DHL Express require a Commercial Invoice and an Archive Waybill (label) to be supplied with the shipment. The Commercial Invoice should be attached to package and the Archive Waybill is to be given to the DHL driver.

In most cases DHL will approve your account to be setup with a service called Paperless Trade.

Paperless Trade allows the Commercial Invoice and Archive Waybill to be uploaded electronically to DHL instead of being printed.

If you are setup with Paperless Trade in Starshipit, then you will only receive a single DHL label. This is all that is required for international shipments. 

Some countries do not support Paperless Trade. When you create a shipment to a country which does not support Paperless Trade, Starshipit will automatically supply you with a Commercial Invoice and Archive Waybill.

How to enable Paperless Trade:

  1. In your Starshipit account, go to Settings, then select Couriers.
  2. Select Settings, next to DHL Express.
  3. Under the Advanced tab, tick the option Paperless Trade.
  4. Scroll to the very bottom of the page, and click Save.

Optional: Adding custom information to the commercial invoice

If you have information you would like to include on the commercial invoice which only applies in certain scenarios, you can use the rules engine.

  1. Go to Settings > Rules > Create a new Rule.
  2. For the condition, select when you would like it to apply (For example Destination Country contains US).
  3. For the action, select Set Invoice Declaration Text and then enter what you would like to include.
  4. Click Save.

The commercial invoice will now include this on the invoice like so:
mceclip0.png

Alternative account for duties and taxes

To set up your duties and taxes account number follow the below steps
  1. Go to Settings > Couriers > DHL Express > Advanced.
  2. Scroll down to the Customs Invoice section.
  3. Enter the DHL Express account number that you would like to charge duties and taxes to for your DHL Express shipments. This can be a third party DHL Express account.

GoGreen Plus

Reduce your carbon emissions with the DHL Express GoGreen Plus service. If you select the GoGreen Plus service you will incur and additional charge from DHL Express. This cost is visible in the Shipping Breakdown in UI2.0 or by hovering over the estimated rate in the classic UI.

To default the GoGreen Plus service on all eligible DHL Express shipments follow the below steps:

  1. Go to Settings > Couriers > DHL Express > Advanced.
  2. Navigate to the Delivery Options section.
  3. Select the option GoGreen Plus. This will default and automatically apply the GoGreen Plus service to all DHL Express shipments. 

Troubleshooting

  1. Error: "Please provide a package description"
    • In Settings > Options > Package Description, provide a general description of your products (e.g. Clothing, Cosmetic Product, Swimwear).
  2. Error: "The system could not verify your shipping account number. Please correct this number and resubmit. For assistance call your DHL customer services representative."
    • Contact your DHL account manager because there is an issue with your DHL account.

Other relevant information:

 

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