[ic] USPS Webtools APIs

Grant interchange-users@icdevgroup.org
Sat Oct 5 18:30:01 2002


>About 2 years ago, just after FedEx Ground changed from RPS, they gave me
>such a kit.
>
>When I later tried to get support for the software, I was told that they no
>longer support it and urged me into an account on FedEx.com
>
>This method has the advantage that I can access my shipping history from
>anywhere in the world. I get an e-mail from a customer - "Where's my
>package?" and I can access the database from anywhere and work with them to
>resolve it.
>
>Setting up a cron job implies that one would be printing out all of the
>labels at once. And, that's probably nice. It makes more sense for us to
>print labels as we pack and ship, since we are using so many different
>methods.

Jim, I don't want it to seem like I'm trying to persuade you to switch your
methods, but there are some things I'd like to say in response to your
message.

I got the same flack from FedEx about how I should use FedEx.com instead
when I started looking into QuickShip.  I persisted though, and I'm glad I
did.  They definitely still support it with a dedicated 800 number and a new
version of the software is due out right about now.  It actually does have
the option to have FedEx send the customer an email with the tracking
number.

As far as accessing your shipping info from the Internet, you can use
FedEx's new system "Insight" which lets you enter your account number and
see all the info for your packages in route and any relatively recently
delivered packages.  There's no manual entry of shipments to get Insight to
work.  It keys automatically off of your account number which is pretty
awesome.  It shows (and is sortable by) all the info you entered about each
package such as customer name, invoice number, whatever.

I have to say I don't really understand what you mean by the chron job
meaning you have to print out all the labels at once.  All it does it
compile a .txt list of all your pending orders (along with all their
necessary information) at whatever time interval works for you (every 5
minutes?).  Then, when you're packing and shipping, you download the .txt
file, import it into QuickShip with a couple of clicks, select the order
number you want, and ALL of the info is populated for that order.  Click
"Process Order", out comes the label on the thermal printer, and you're
done.  When you're done for the day, click "Close the Day" and FedEx prints
out a manifest with all that day's orders listed.

It works pretty well.  I do use Quickbooks, and I'm currently checking out
the "ShipRush v2" program that allows you to ship from within QuickBooks
with just a couple clicks.  If it has all the features of QuickShip that I
need I may switch over.

- Grant