Using the shipping method DPD (API) in xentral, you can send parcels via DPD and you can connect DPD with xentral. DPD offers a number of features and you can select ShipServices.
For an overview of all shipping methods and parcel labels, see this link.
DPD offers the following features:
-
Define settings of ShipServices
-
Define the printing format
-
Classic Predict
-
Shipping handover to DPD
After connecting DPD to Xentral, you can use the automated parcel label printing and the shipping handover to DPD.
The interface is via Elogs API to the cloud service of DPD that is also used for MyDPDbusiness-SmallCustomers. Xentral does not offer a connection to DPD's WebConnect service.
xentral connect to the DPD cloud, so that you only need user credentials for connecting. MyDPD Business uses the same type of cloud-based connection.
In addition, there's the MPSEXPDATA interface that is however not implemented in Xentral. This interface is used to create information for your own export labels for non-EU countries. Export shipments that are affected by Brexit, cannot be handled via DPD. In the future, shippings to the UK cannot be handled through Xentral anymore because the DPD API and the DPD Webservice will not be enhanced any further.
In the following, you'll find information about setting up DPD.
If you do not have DPD credentials and/or your DPD access yet, please refer to your DPD account manager. Your DPD account manager can provide information on how to get your credentials. Alternatively you can find them in your DPD account. In any case, you must get the credentials activatated for the end point.
After you've received the credentials, enter them in Xentral, in the DPD shipping method page, in the UserCredential-cloudUserID and UserCredentials-Token fields.
In the Shipping methods module, in order to establish the connection, you can select the shipping method DPD (API) after clicking the pen icon and entering your credentials. If DPD has not yet been added as shipping method in your Xentral, go to Administration > Settings > Shipping methods > Overview > +NEW > DPD (API).
Specify the settings in the following fields:
-
Name → Enter the name of your choice for the shipping method.
-
Type → Enter the field name, e.g. DPD API. You can generally choose this as long as it is not needed for the store mapping or other mappings. Ideally, however, you should keep the default setting
-
Module → Select the module "DPD API" from the drop-down menu
-
Project → Optionally select a project from the drop-down menu or enter one manually
-
Active →Check the box to activate the shipping method and make it visible and usable, e.g. in the delivery note
-
No postage check → By checking this box, you deactivate the postage check in the order
-
Printer Parcel Label → Select the default printer that prints the parcel labels from the drop-down menu
-
Printer Export → Select the default printer that prints the export documents from the drop-down menu
-
Shipping Mail → Select from the drop-down menu if and how the shipping mail should be sent
-
UserCredentials-cloudUserID → Enter the ID that you have received from the customer portal or from your DPD account manager.
-
UserCredentials-Token → Enter the token that you have received from the customer portal or from your DPD account manager.
-
send with "Classic Predict" → Set the check box to activate DPD's live tracking service.
Note
Without Predict, an additional charge may be incurred.
-
Alternative other ShipService → Enter the shipping service if it differs from Classic or Classic Predict.
-
Minimum weight → Specify the minimum weight to be transferred via the interface. This supersedes the weight from the shipping page.
-
Printing format → Select the printing format from the drop-down list.
-
Reference 1 on label → Enter the text to be displayed on the parcel stamp or the DPD label respectively. You can use variables here, optionally. The following variables are available: {LIEFERSCHEIN}, {AUFTRAG}, {PROJEKT}, {IHREBESTELLNUMMER}, {NAME3}, {INTERNET}
-
Reference 2 on label → Enter the text to be displayed on the parcel label, optionally, by using the following variables: {LIEFERSCHEIN}, {AUFTRAG}, {PROJEKT}, {IHREBESTELLNUMMER}, {NAME3}, {INTERNET}
-
Close immediately → By selecting this check box, you prevent the creating of several parcel labels for the same package if there's a number defined in the shipping page. This can only be the case if a shipping is distributes across several parcels. Parcel labels are created according to the specified number of parcels. The corresponding tracking numbers are automatically saved. In the following, the system sends a shipping mail that contains the links and tracking numbers from DPD. Do not select Close Immediately, if the parcel label printing and the printing of the delivery note is supposed to happen in the Stage 1 of the logistics process.
-
Apply Tracking → If you select this check box, the tracking number will be shown in the next page of the shipping dialog box. The tracking number is automatically applied to Xentral when you create the parcel label. In this way, you do not need to scan it from the actual parcel label anymore.
You can enter the various DPD services in the "Alternative other ShipService" field.
The following services are available with DPD according to your agreements with your account manager:
-
DPD 8:30 (Express_830)
-
DPD 10:00 (Express_10)
-
DPD 12:00 (Express_12)
-
DPD EXPRESS (Express_18)
-
DPD 12:00 Samstag (Express_12_Saturday)
For further information, click here.
If you wish to use several DPD services in parallel, you need to create separate shipping methods in Xentral and enter unique type settings, such as DPD_Express18, DPD_Express12.
As soon as you have defined all settings as described above, you can test the parcel label printing in the shipping center or from a specific delivery note. To do so, in the delivery note, in the Delivery note tab, select the shipping method "DPD (API)" from the corresponding drop-down list.
Click Save, before switching to the parcel label dialog box.
Afterwards, in the delivery note, in the parcel label tab, click Print Parcel Label to print a parcel label for the respective products.
After finishing the printing test, you can cancel the parcel label in the DPD-BusinessCustomerPortal.
In some cases, the error message Invalid credentials: Please check your settings. appears.
First of all, check the DPD credentials: There might be a copy-paste error, or a blank space at the beginning or end of the credentials.
In addition, there seem to be some issues with the correct setting of account with DPD currently.
For this reason, please cross-check the following points with DPD:
-
What kind of DPD customer are you? There are myDPD-Business customers or "field" customers (depository customers)
-
You need the credentials for the cloud connection.
-
You need assistance with the correct settings of your account and with enabling the cloud. Also, verify that you have actually been activated for the cloud.
Just like every shipping methods, DPD (API) must be mapped to shipping methods from your shop in the DPD connection. Go to Administration > Shop Connection > Overview (up until version 21.1, Administration > Online shops/marketplaces), via the pen icon to the DPD view. In the shipping methods tab, you take care of the shipping method mapping. To do so, enter the name of the shipping method in the shop, select "DPD (API)" from the Shipping method Xentral drop down list, enter the country code, select auto shipping and click Save.