[ic] Ideas on Integrating Shipping

[Dan Browning]

* Jon <prtyof5@attglobal.net> [2003-06-28 12:36]:
> 
>     Bottom line I'd like to integrate FedEx APIs with IC.
> Unless someone says that's a bad idea to even think of.
> 
> [snip separate locations, label printing, ship info, tracking]

Perhaps you will find the Business::FedEx::DirectConnect software on CPAN 
of some use.  I haven't used it yet, because as far as I know, FedEx 
requires a paid shipping account just to do development (unlike UPS and 
USPS).  

I've been wanting to create a new FedEx rating module for my "Online XML 
Shipping API", called Business::Shipping:

http://www.kavod.com/Business-Shipping

Currently in beta, it only does shipping calculation for UPS and USPS, and 
has an Interchange usertag.  I'd like to upload it to CPAN after I work out 
some namespace issues.

There seems to be a glut of shipping software recently.  :-)  Mike Heins 
created a really great off-line shipping calculator, using data tables from 
UPS and USPS -- it even handles multiple packages.  

Also, a really nice guy has brought the old Business::UPS package into the 
21st century, and called it Business::Shipping::UPS (unfortunately, 
conflicting with the namespace I proposed several weeks prior, unbeknownst 
to him).

> Or better yet anyone else that has already been down these paths with say 
> either UPS or FexEx can shed some light on their experiences.

You pretty much have to bend to the will of the vendor.  Perl, luckily, lets 
you bend pretty far.  UPS WorldShip is easy to work with, but if I had to do 
FedEx, I would start with the open source modules, and then expand them, if 
I were you.  HTH and good luck,
-- 
Dan Browning, Kavod Technologies, <db@kavod.com> 360.843.4074x217
6700 NE 162nd Ave, Ste 611-210, Vancouver, WA.    Random Fortune:
Faith goes out through the window when beauty comes in at the door.