Integrating DHL Express

Designation

Enter a name for the shipping method that will later be displayed in Xentral during order processing.

The designation is only visible to you and your employees. Make sure that each designation exists only once in Xentral so that the shipping method can always be uniquely identified.

Type

This is an internal field label that is required for mapping to your online stores and other sales platforms. Do not change this type!

Module

Specify the appropriate Xentral module here. In this case, it is DHL Express. It is also possible to assign a different module to the shipping method. Note, however, that all existing settings will be lost and the module name will update in editable receipts if you make a change here.

Project

Optionally, specify a project assignment. This is required if you want to limit the shipping method to a specific sales channel or project (for example, a specific branch office). If not, this field remains empty and therefore applies to all projects and user groups.

Active

Activate this option after you have carried all the necessary settings for the shipping method.

No postage check

Use this option to disable the postage check in the order for the order traffic light. If the postage check remains active, a red traffic light icon is generated for orders as soon as at least one postage item is not included in the sales order. This usually prevents the postage item from being forgotten during manual order creation.

Consider whether you want to activate or deactivate this option based on your own workflows and how you work with Xentral. If you typically create many orders manually in Xentral, it may be useful not to activate this option, so that the postage is always reliably included in the sales order, especially for high-priced products or international shipments.

Printer shipping label

Select the printer you want to use by default for the shipping labels from the drop-down menu. Note that only printers that you have already set up in Xentral can be selected here. Depending on how and where the shipping process is handled in your company, you can select exactly the printer you need here - whether directly at your desk or at the packing table in the warehouse.

Printer export

Only relevant for international shipping: From the drop-down menu, select the printer to use by default for customs forms (CN23).

Shipping email to buyer

Determine rules regarding the way shipping notifications should be sent to your customers by email as soon as the shipment is on its way. The following three options are available:

Default behavior: The existing logistics settings from the project are used. You can carry out these settings in the Settings > Basic Settings > Projects > Open Project > Tab: Settings > Tab: Logistics / Shipping menu. In the Stage 1 (Picking/Order picking) and Stage 2 (Pack) sections, you can activate the check boxes named Email to inform your customers about the status of order processing.

No shipping email: No shipping information will be sent by email for this shipping method.

Custom text template: For this shipping method, the selected text template will be sent via email. You need to create this template in advance in the Settings > Basic Settings > Receipts > Text templates menu. Then select the desired template from the Text template drop-down menu. This selection will not use the project’s logistics settings for this shipping method.

Deliveries supported

When setting up the shipping method DHL Express, this option is activated by default. Once you have carried out all the other necessary settings and set the shipping method to Active, you can select the shipping method in sales orders, delivery notes and in the dispatch center. This allows you to manually select the shipping method during all important steps of order processing in Xentral.

Returns supported

Activate this option to allow your customers to send returns for sales orders originally created using the DHL Express shipping method.

Preferred return shipping method

Select a preferred shipping method for returns. If you create a return for a sales order in Xentral with the shipping method DHL Express, the shipping method selected here is automatically preselected in the return order. This setting applies to cases where you manually create returns in Xentral and also generate the return shipping label yourself and send it to your customers.

DHL Express Key

Enter the DHL Express Key.

DHL Express Password

Enter your password for DHL Express.

DHL Express Account Number

Enter your DHL Express Account Number.

Activate sandbox

Activate this option to use the test mode before using the shipping method DHL Express productively in your daily business.

Sender company / contact person / phone number / email / street / city / ZIP code

Enter your company name in the Sender name field and enter your company's address details in the remaining fields. The information you provide here will appear as the sender address on your shipping labels.

Sender country (2-digit)

Enter the ISO country code for the country you are shipping from. For Germany, the correct ISO code is DE.

Service type

Enter the abbreviation for the service type here. The possible service types are described in the chapter Available service types for DHL Express.

Optional local service type

Optional: Enter the abbreviation for the local service type here.

Local service types are particular additional shipping services that you can enquire about and book directly at DHL Express. Those services incur additional costs and differ depending on the area or country of destination of your shipment. For example, local services may cover the delivery of dangerous goods, products that require particular temperatures during transport or required recipient signatures upon delivery.

Ask your DHL Express account manager to obtain a list of all available local service types and book those services, if desired.

Currency

Enter the currency abbreviation, e.g. EUR for Euro or USD for US Dollar.

This information is only relevant for dutiable shipments.

Unit of measurement

Enter the unit in which length, width, height and weight of the shipment should be transmitted to DHL Express. This information is mandatory so that DHL Express is able to calculate the freight tariff and plan the further delivery process.

The options SI for kg and cm and SU for lb and in are available.

Label type

Enter the format in which the shipping label should be provided to you after it has been created. You can choose from the shipping label formats PDF, ZPL, EPL or LP. Entering PDF covers most use cases. Advanced users may select one of the other formats.

Label template

Entering ECOM26_84_001 covers most use cases. When in doubt, contact the IT specialist at DHL Express to clarify which label is suited for the respective requirements.

Payment Info

Enter the payment info. You can choose between DAP or DDP.

Default weight

Optional: Which weight do the shipments using the shipping method DHL Express usually have? Enter a default weight in kilograms. Unless it is changed manually before printing the shipping label in Xentral, this weight will be transmitted to DHL every time a shipping label is created.

Length / Width / Height

Enter the default dimensions of your shipments in cm. These measurements are then transmitted to DHL in case they are not adjusted manually before printing the shipping label in Xentral.

Description

Enter a short description of the package content.

The description is printed on the DHL Express shipping label, below the Reference on label. This information is mandatory for dutiable shipments and should be provided in English whenever possible.

Reference on label

Use the variables that are displayed to determine whether you want to print additional information on the shipping label. You can also enter a free text. The following variables are available: {DELIVERY_NOTE}, {PROJECT},{ORDER}, , {YOUR_ORDER_ID}, {NAME3}, {INTERNET}.

Content type

Select the content type from the drop-down menu. The DHL Express integration generally only works with the selection DOCUMENTS. There is an exception regarding international shipping in countries of destination outside of the EU (customs deliveries). Take a look at the chapter Important notes on using the shipping method to learn more.

Save tracking number in sales order

Activate this option to save the tracking number directly to the corresponding sales order in Xentral after the shipping label has been created. This means that the tracking number is permanently saved in your system and you do not have to rescan the shipping label after creation to record this data in Xentral.