Integrating the Deutsche Post service Internetmarke in Xentral allows you to stamp your letter-size shipments directly in Xentral. The stamps are created for you in PDF format so that you can print them manually in a delivery note or automatically within various logistics processes.
Tip
All important information on the Internetmarke service are available in the Deutsche Post FAQ.
In order to integrate the Internetmarke service in your Xentral. you need to create the shipping method of the same name in Xentral. In addition, you need access to the Deutsche Post Portokasse (see chapter Creating a Portokasse with Deutsche Post).
The Xentral shipping method Internetmarke offers you the following features:
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Selection of the product that should be used by default for shipping
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Custom selection of the Internetmarke format
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Simple stamping via PDF printing - ranging from postcards to small packages (up to 1,000 g)
To use the Internetmarke service you need the so-called Portokasse provided by Deutsche Post. If you have not yet signed up your business for this portal, sign up here: https://portokasse.deutschepost.de/portokasse/.
After signing up, you will receive your user name and password. Those credentials are needed for setting up the shipping method in Xentral.
Important
As a business or private customer with Deutsche Post, you cannot use the Portokasse via the Deutsche Post online store after 31.12.2024. Adding credit to your Portokasse is possible for business customers under portokasse.deutschepost.de with the usual payment methods. If you are a private customer and you still use the Deutsche Post online store, we recommend that you create a business account at Deutsche Post as soon as possible so that this change will not affect you.
To use the Internetmarke as a shipping method in Xentral, you first create a new shipping method. Then, you activate the shipping method with your credentials for the Portokasse by Deutsche Post.
Note
If you are not using Internetmarke yet, refer to the official Deutsche Post website to learn more about this service.
Proceed as follows to set up the shipping method Internetmarke in Xentral.
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Use the Smart Search to search for Shipping methods.
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Click on + NEW in the upper right corner.
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Click on Internetmarke.
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Carry out the settings as described in the table below.
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Click on Save.
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Setting |
Explanation |
|---|---|
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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. |
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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! |
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Module |
Specify the appropriate Xentral module here. In this case, it is Internetmarke. |
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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. |
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Active |
Activate this option after you have carried all the necessary settings for the shipping method. NoteYou can deactivate shipping methods that are no longer in use later. Note, however, that deactivated shipping methods will only be displayed in documents that have already been created. In newly created documents and in user interfaces such as the sales order overview or in the customer data, a deactivated shipping method is no longer available for selection. You can also delete shipping methods. However, this will also delete the shipping history. Therefore, you should only delete incorrectly created shipping methods that you have not used productively. |
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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. |
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Printer shipping label |
Select the printer you want to use by default for the Internetmarke 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. TipIn case you have not set up a physical printer in Xentral, you can select the Document printer here. This way, the Internetmarke is provided as a PDF file. You can download this file and print it manually. However, we recommend that you integrate a suitable shipping label printer so that the printing process can be automated. More information on this is available in the article Connecting your printer to Xentral. |
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Printer export |
This option is not relevant for the shipping method Internetmarke, since no export shipments are carried out here. Thus, do not carry out any settings here. |
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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. |
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Deliveries supported |
When setting up the shipping method Internetmarke, 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 shipping center. |
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Returns supported |
Enable this option to allow your customers to send returns for sales orders originally created using the Internetmarke shipping method. |
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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 Internetmarke, 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. |
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Portokasse |
Enter the email address that you have used to sign up at https://portokasse.deutschepost.de/portokasse/#!/. |
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Password |
Enter the password for your account with Deutsche Post Portokasse. |
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Sender company / Street / House number / City / Postcode |
Enter your company name and enter your company's address details in the remaining fields. ImportantEnter the required data just like you have saved them in your Portokasse account. |
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Sender country (2-digit) |
Enter the ISO country code for the country you are shipping from. For Germany, the correct ISO code is DE. |
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Product |
From the drop-down menu, select the Internetmarke product (shipment dimensions and weight) that should be used by the shipping method. In case you want to select the desired product during shipping label creation, select the option Im Paketmarkendialog auswählbar. |
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Format |
Select the label format for printing the Internetmarke from the drop-down menu. |
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Apply tracking |
This option is not relevant for the shipping method Internetmarke, since Internetmarke products never include the provision of tracking numbers. Thus, do not carry out any settings here. |
Once you have carried out all the settings as described above, you can carry out a test print of the Internetmarke in the dispatch center or in an individual delivery note. To do so, proceed as follows.
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Click on the pencil icon on the right to open a delivery note in the Stock > Delivery note menu.
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Open the Details tab.
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Scroll down until you reach the Delivery note section.
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Select the shipping method Internetmarke from the Shipping method drop-down menu.
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Click on Save.
You will then be redirected to the Shipping label tab of the delivery note.
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Adjust the address details, if required.
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Click on Print shipping label.
Here is a sample of a printed Internetmarke:
After your test print is complete, you can cancel the Internetmarke in your Portokasse account.
Important
Note the following conditions for cancelling the Internetmarke:
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The Internetmarke must not have been used for shipping
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Cancellations are possible up until 14 days after the purchase
In this chapter, we have listed the error messages that can occur when using the Internetmarke shipping method in Xentral.
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Error message |
Explanation and solution |
|---|---|
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Problems creating SAAJ object model |
This error occurs when special characters such as a semicolon (;) or asterisk (*) are used in the sender’s name, recipient’s name, the item name or the Portokasse password. Make sure that you are not using special characters and remove them, if necessary. |