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DHL eCommerce with ShippingEasy

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ShippingEasy Content Team

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DHL eCommerce Solutions is a parcel delivery service for high-volume sellers shipping domestically and internationally. Within ShippingEasy, customers can generate DHL eCommerce labels, end-of-day manifests and manage these shipments.

Interested in shipping with DHL eCommerce? Contact DHL eCommerce Solutions for a quote to start shipping!

DHL eCommerce Integration Requirements

Connection Requirements:

ShippingEasy Cannot Provide API Keys

Contact your DHL eCommerce account manager directly to generate your API keys.

Shipping Requirements:

  • Dimensions must be included on all DHL eCommerce shipments.

  • Manifests are required for domestic and international DHL eCommerce shipments.

  • Delivery confirmation is required for all DHL services except:

    • Marketing Parcel Expedited

    • Packet Priority

    • Packet IPA

Connect DHL eCommerce to ShippingEasy

To connect a DHL eCommerce account to ShippingEasy:

  1. Click CARRIER FUNDS from the left side navigation.

    Carrier Funds marked

  2. Scroll down to the entry for DHL eCommerce and click Connect DHL eCommerce.

    Box highlights Connect DHL eCommerce button

  3. Fill in the following information for your DHL eCommerce account:

    • Client ID

    • Username

    • Password

    • Pickup Number

    • Distribution Center

    • API Key

    • API Secret

    Box highlights 7 fields for DHL eCommerce account info

  4. Click Connect Account.

Available Services

When you configure ShippingEasy to use your DHL eCommerce account, ShippingEasy uses your DHL eCommerce Username and Password to determine which specific DHL eCommerce services are available to your account. If some services are listed, but other services are missing, contact DHL eCommerce to verify that your account is correctly configured.

DHL eCommerce Services Available in ShippingEasy:

Domestic

  • Parcel Expedited

  • Parcel Plus Expedited

  • Parcel Ground

  • Parcel Plus Ground

  • Bound Printed Matter Expedited

  • Bound Printed Matter Ground

  • Marketing Parcel Expedited

International

  • Packet IPA

  • Packet Plus

  • Packet Priority

  • Parcel Direct Express DDP

  • Parcel Direct Express DDU

  • Parcel Direct Priority DDP

  • Parcel Direct Priority DDU

  • Parcel Standard

DHL: Optimizing Customs Data for International Shipments to Prevent Delays

To ensure smooth customs clearance and minimize the risk of shipment inspections or delays, it is critical to provide high-quality data for every international shipment. Poor data quality, specifically vague descriptions and missing HS codes, often triggers manual reviews by destination authorities.

Key Takeaways for Merchants

  • Be Literal: Describe the item as if you are explaining it to someone who cannot see it.

  • Include Part Numbers: If your product has a Part Number (PAN), include it in the reference field to help customs verify the item.

  • The "Rule of Three": A great description usually answers What it is, What it's made of, and What it's for.

Write Accurate Line Item Descriptions

Customs authorities need to know exactly what is being imported, what it is made of, and its intended use. Avoid using internal marketing descriptions or vague terms.

  • Avoid Stop Words: Words like "Sample," "Variety," or "Gift" are frequently flagged and may trigger an automatic inspection. For a List of Common Stop Words, see the PDF attachment at the end of this article.

  • Include Material Composition: For items like footwear or apparel, specify the materials (e.g., "Men’s jeans, 80% cotton, 20% polyester" instead of just "Jeans").

  • Detail the Product Type: Instead of "VINTAGE FOOTWEAR," use "Women’s shoes - leather upper and rubber sole."

  • Be Specific: Instead of "Wheel adjusted," use "Bicycle rear pivot part."

Utilizing Harmonized System (HS) Codes

Providing a correct HS code (or Commodity Code) is the most effective way to help customs officials categorize your goods.

  • 🇺🇸 US-Based Shippers: Use the US Census Bureau’s Schedule B Search Engine to find the correct code.

  • Global Shippers: Ensure you are using the most current codes required by the destination country to avoid incorrect duty/tax calculations.

Provide Part and Reference Numbers

When possible, include the specific part or item number in your commercial invoice data. Mapping these to the correct reference fields in your shipping tool (e.g., the "PAN" reference type) provides an extra layer of clarity for clearance agents and helps verify the item against the provided description.

Prohibited Stop Words & Description Comparison

Using vague language is the fastest way to get a shipment flagged for inspection. Below are examples of poor descriptions found in recent audit data versus the clear, detailed descriptions required by customs authorities. For a List of Common Stop Words, see the PDF attachment at the end of this article.

Poor Description (Vague)

Better Description (Detailed)

Why it Matters

VINTAGE FOOTWEAR

Women's shoes: leather upper, rubber sole

Defines gender, material, and sole type.

JEANS

Men’s jeans: 80% cotton, 20% polyester

Specifies material composition for textiles.

SAMPLE / VARIETY

Stainless steel kitchen whisk (K792)

Stop Words like "Sample" or "Variety" trigger automatic flags.

HAIR PRODUCT

Organic argan oil hair serum (100ml)

Identifies the specific substance and volume.

The Mesa - Medium

Canvas messenger bag with brass buckles

Moves past marketing names to actual physical traits.

Merchant Checklist: International Shipping Compliance

To ensure your international shipments clear customs without delay, use this checklist to review your data before printing your labels.

  • [ ] Is the description specific? (e.g., "Men's 100% cotton t-shirt" instead of "Apparel")

  • [ ] Did you avoid Stop Words? (Ensure "Sample," "Gift," and "Variety" are not used)

  • [ ] Is the material composition listed? (e.g., "Stainless steel," "Leather," "Plastic")

  • [ ] Is the HS code/Commodity code included? (Use a search tool if you aren't 100% sure)

  • [ ] Is the Part Number (PAN) mapped correctly? (Helps verify the item in the clearance system)

  • [ ] Is the unit value and currency accurate? (Ensure values match your commercial invoice)

Description Logic: The "Physical" Rule

When writing descriptions, ignore your marketing names. Customs authorities don't know what a Polaris IGX 144+ Linkage Kit is. Instead, describe the physical object: Steel mechanical linkage parts for vehicle suspension.

Technical Note: Mapping Compliance Data

When integrating with international carriers, how you map data fields in your API payload directly impacts customs clearance rates. While the UI may show a single "Description" field, the backend mapping should prioritize the following:

  1. Reference Field Mapping (PAN)

    To assist customs authorities in verifying shipments against digital records, ensure that product part numbers are mapped to the correct reference type.

    • Reference Type: PAN (Part Number)

    • Usage: Map your internal SKU or manufacturer part number here. This allows clearance systems to match the physical item to the digital declaration more efficiently.

  2. Data Integrity vs. UX Display

    It is important to note that what the customer sees in the ShipStation or Shopify UI may not always reflect the full data payload sent to the carrier.

    • Payload Enrichment: Even if a merchant uses a short marketing title in their store, the integration should attempt to send the most granular description available in the product database to the description field in the customs object.

    • Stop Word Scrubbing: Consider implementing a validation layer that flags or prevents the use of Stop Words (Sample, Gift, Variety) in the description field before the API call is finalized.

  3. HS Code Automation

    Automating the harmonized_tariff_code field is the highest-value optimization you can provide. Ensuring this field is populated with a 6 to 10-digit code reduces the reliance on the text description alone, as the code provides a universal language for customs agents worldwide.

Creating DHL eCommerce Manifests

It is required to manifest DHL eCommerce shipments each day. Without a manifest, DHL will not be able to process the shipment.

  • Separate requests are not necessary to create international and domestic manifests. You can create a manifest from a single request. Multiple manifests will be received back if there are multiple shipment dates, multiple origins, or multiple destination types (international vs. domestic).

  • Up to 500 shipments can be put onto a single DHL manifest. If there are more than 500 shipments, ShippingEasy will automatically return multiple manifests.

  • When submitting a manifest request, it will manifest all DHL shipments that have not yet been manifested.

DHL eCommerce Driver's Manifest Shipment Summary

DHLeCommerce_Drivers-Manifest_Example1.png
DHLeCommerce_Drivers-Manifest_Example2.png

Item

Description

1. Soldto #

DHL account number. DHL will provide this number during account setup.

2. Pickup #

The pickup location. DHL will provide this number during account setup.

3. Customer

Your name and address information, as stored with your USPS postage account.

4. Date / Time

Noted in UTC time.

5. Processing Facility

The address where the shipments will be processed.

6. BOL #

Bill of Lading.

7. Shipment Summary

Details the service selected, quantity of packages included, and weight of total shipment.

8. To be completed by driver if empty

Container ID, Container Type, Scan on Pickup, Total Containers.

9. Shipper Signature & Date and Driver Signature & Date

Sign and date the bottom of the form before the driver picks up your packages.

Errors with Manifests Must Be Resolved by DHL

If there is an error with the manifest generated by ShippingEasy and it has been received by DHL eCommerce, you will need to reach out to your DHL account manager for assistance in resolving the issue.

Special Considerations for DHL eCommerce

  • DHL Shipping Unavailable to US Territories: Services for DHL (Express and Ecommerce) and DHL Express by ShipStation no longer support shipments to US territories.

  • DHL eCommerce labels cannot be canceled within ShippingEasy. If the label has not yet been scanned into the carrier system, your account will not be charged.

  • Returns are not allowed on DHL eCommerce shipments.

  • DHL eCommerce does not support APO addresses.

  • DHL eCommerce supports shipments valued up to $2500. Learn more about DHL eCommerce shipment limitations.

  • DHL eCommerce does not provide rate quotes. You will not see any cost information on the ORDERS or BATCHES pages. Shipments will show a cost of N/A on the READY TO PRINT and SHIPMENT HISTORY pages.

Disconnect a Carrier

To disconnect a UPS account from ShippingEasy, follow these steps:

  1. Click CARRIER FUNDS  in the sidebar of the app.

    Carrier Funds marked

    You will see your One Balance account overview.

  2. Click Manage Account under the UPS account.

    Box highlights Manage Account link / button

  3. Click the Disconnect button on the Manage Your Account Settings page.

    Manage ­Your account Settings page. Box highlights Disconnect button

  4. Click Disconnect in the confirmation popup.

    Disconnect UPS popup. Box highlights Disconnect button

The UPS account will no longer appear on the Carrier Funds page of your ShippingEasy account.

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