DHL integration is a seamless connection between your business systems and DHL’s suite of APIs, enabling you to automate key shipping workflows such as parcel creation, tracking, and billing. By embedding DHL’s services directly into your application, you can eliminate manual data entry and reduce human errors. This integration supports real-time rate calculations, custom label generation, and end-to-end visibility of each shipment. With our implementation, you gain a unified dashboard that reflects live status updates, giving you peace of mind and operational efficiency.

Our solution covers the full spectrum of DHL’s global offerings, including Express Worldwide for time-sensitive parcels, Parcel for standard deliveries, and eCommerce APIs for multi-carrier retail fulfillment. We also support specialized services like Temperature-Controlled Logistics for perishable goods, Freight for large shipments, and Customs Clearance APIs. Each service can be turned on or off per your requirements, giving you the flexibility to tailor your shipping options by region or parcel type. As a result, you can offer your customers accurate delivery estimates and multiple service levels at checkout.

Our typical DHL integration projects span 4 to 6 weeks, but the exact timeline depends on the scope and complexity of your requirements. We begin with a discovery phase to map out your existing workflows and define the API endpoints you’ll need. Next, we design and develop the integration layers, including authentication, rate calculation, and label generation. After rigorous QA and user acceptance testing, we deploy to staging and then to production, providing training and support throughout. This phased approach ensures that your integration is robust, secure, and thoroughly tested before going live.

To kick off a DHL integration, you’ll first need a DHL developer account and the corresponding API credentials (client ID, secret, and any necessary certificates). You should also provide details about your shipment requirements—such as package dimensions, weight units, and default service levels. If you plan to automate customs declarations, we’ll need your HS codes and origin country information. Finally, share any branding requirements for labels or email notifications so we can configure those during development. Once we have this information, we can set up sandbox access and begin testing right away.

The Shipment Creation API allows you to submit complete shipment data—sender and recipient addresses, package dimensions, weight, and chosen service type—in a single POST request. Upon successful validation, DHL returns a JSON payload containing the shipment reference, tracking number, and a URL or binary data for the shipping label. You can specify label formats such as PDF or ZPL, and include custom packaging instructions or special services like signature confirmation. After label generation, you can immediately send the package metadata back to your warehouse or print station for dispatch, streamlining your fulfillment process.

DHL’s Tracking API offers multiple endpoints for comprehensive shipment visibility: the ‘Track by Waybill’ endpoint retrieves the latest status update for a specific tracking number, while ‘Track by Reference’ allows you to query shipments using your own reference IDs. There’s also a ‘Batch Tracking’ endpoint that handles multiple waybills in a single request and an ‘Event History’ endpoint for full lifecycle detail of each shipment. Each response includes timestamps, geolocation data, and event codes, enabling you to build real-time dashboards, trigger notifications, or integrate with your CRM. This depth of information empowers you to proactively address delivery exceptions.

Yes—using DHL’s Label Generation endpoint, you can request labels in various formats (PDF, ZPL, or EPL) directly from your system. Simply include your shipment reference and desired format in the API call, and DHL will return the label as a base64-encoded string or direct download link. You can then programmatically send it to your printer or embed it in email confirmations to customers. Our integration also supports label customization, so you can add your logo, adjust barcodes, or include special handling instructions before printing.

DHL’s Rate API provides instant, real-time shipping quotes based on origin, destination, package dimensions, weight, and service options. By integrating this endpoint at checkout, you can display accurate costs for different service levels—economy, express, or specialized freight—without manual lookups. The response includes detailed breakdowns of base rates, surcharges, and any applicable discounts, enabling transparent pricing for your customers. You can also cache frequently requested routes to optimize performance while ensuring the data remains fresh.

The Pickup API endpoint lets you programmatically request a DHL driver to collect your shipments at a specified address and time window. You provide pickup details—date, preferred time slot, package count, and any special instructions—in a JSON request, and DHL confirms with a pickup reference number. You can then query the Pickup Status endpoint to check driver arrival time or modify the request if plans change. Automating pickups ensures your logistics team never misses a collection and reduces administrative overhead.

DHL supports both OAuth2 token-based authentication and traditional API key methods, depending on the API suite you’re using. For OAuth2, you’ll exchange your client ID and client secret for an access token, which must be included in the Authorization header of each request. For legacy services, you can pass your API key directly as a header parameter. We help you configure secure token refresh workflows and store credentials following best practices, ensuring uninterrupted service and compliance with DHL’s security requirements.

Yes—DHL provides distinct sandbox and production endpoints so you can thoroughly test your integration without impacting real shipments. In sandbox mode, you can simulate shipment creation, rate queries, and tracking events without generating actual waybills. Once you’ve validated all workflows, you switch your base URLs and credentials to the production environment. We assist with credential provisioning and environment configuration to guarantee a smooth transition from testing to live operations.

DHL’s Webhook service allows you to receive automatic POST callbacks whenever a shipment’s status changes, such as ‘In Transit’, ‘Delivered’, or ‘Exception’. You register your callback URL and select the event types you want to receive. Each notification includes a secure HMAC signature in the headers, which you can verify against your secret to ensure authenticity. This push-based architecture lets you update your internal dashboard, trigger customer alerts, or adjust inventory in real time with minimal polling overhead.

DHL’s modern RESTful APIs primarily accept and return JSON payloads, making integration straightforward in any language or framework. You can specify your preferred content type in the request headers, and the API will automatically parse and validate your JSON data. For legacy SOAP-based services or specialized endpoints, XML support is also available. Our integration layer abstracts these differences, so you interact with a uniform JSON interface regardless of the underlying protocol.