Consider becoming a customer integrator and use the web XML API. It's not that complicated to implement if you're doing domestics only. If you're doing international, then it's a bit more complex but nothing like FedEx. We've been fully automated with both FedEx and UPS in terms of domestic/international shipment processing, credit card charging, billing, and invoice delivery for well over 2 years now. The drawbacks to using the UPS XML service are:
1) It's not a SOAP service so you have to do your own element checking for proper return document format. 2) The shipping process requires multiple submissions to the UPS server. First, a request to verify you can ship the package is sent. Then you send an "ok" to tell UPS that you're fine with the previous "inquiry" to ship a package. Then you get your label and charges. I don't understand this at all because the package will not get billed if it's not scanned at the hub. :-) 3) You're tied to a web service that can (and will) go down at some point. Have a backup processing plan with WorldShip. UPS has been good, for the most part. FedEx has gotten better, but there are still times when the FedEx Ground back-end disappears and we get goofy 'unavailable' errors. 4) If you process a lot of collect shipments, then be weary of the "fraud validation" step that validates the bill-to account's "set up" zip code to the account number being charged. If you can't get the zip code the account was set up under, then you'll end up having to run it through WorldShip. Most shippers are totally unaware of this and the fact that WorldShip does _not_ validate account status at all. It only performs an alphanumeric check on the 6-chars. You will get a chargeback after delivery, if the account has been closed or suspended. We have been fighting with UPS for over 2 years on this stupid "fraud check" that is practically worthless and makes us look like we don't want to do business with huge customers. The live account status check is great, though. 5) The validation/certification step is a breeze to do, but you will have to generate a handful of example labels to prove your stuff works properly for the services and features you want to integrate. The benefits of automation and full integration into the packing application on our system outweighed these drawbacks. If you ship over 1000 packages a day then you should consider an EDI or FTP based PLD build/transmit solution and generate your own labels. WorldShip changes too much too often for it to be a stable integration platform for my taste. We have to have it for HazMat shipments and as a fall-back shipping terminal. Regards, ---------------------------------------- Glen Batchelor IT Director All-Spec Industries phone: (910) 332-0424 fax: (910) 763-5664 E-mail: webmas...@all-spec.com Web: http://www.all-spec.com Blog: http://blog.all-spec.com ---------------------------------------- > -----Original Message----- > From: u2-users-boun...@listserver.u2ug.org [mailto:u2-users- > boun...@listserver.u2ug.org] On Behalf Of Brutzman, Bill > Sent: Thursday, July 16, 2009 11:20 AM > To: U2 Users List > Subject: Re: [U2] ODBC to UPS WorldShip > > ================================ > UniVerse ODBC Client > Version 4.0.3 > Build 7251 > February, 2008 > ================================ on both PC's > > We are not SHIMS. We are not Prelude. > > This may be a lost cause. Perhaps a better way to approach this problem > is via an external program talking to the UPS database. > > --Bill > > -----Original Message----- > From: u2-users-boun...@listserver.u2ug.org > [mailto:u2-users-boun...@listserver.u2ug.org] On Behalf Of Steve Romanow > Sent: Wednesday, July 15, 2009 8:29 PM > To: U2 Users List > Subject: Re: [U2] ODBC to UPS WorldShip > > I am in the process of doing this right now. What version of the ibm > odbc driver do you have installed? My var warned me against one > version, but they didn't elaborate why. Are you a SHIMS or Prelude > shop? > > -----Original Message----- > From: Brutzman, Bill <bi...@hkmetalcraft.com> > Sent: Wednesday, July 15, 2009 7:47 PM > To: U2 Users List <u2-users@listserver.u2ug.org> > Subject: [U2] ODBC to UPS WorldShip > > > Using a Windows PC, I am able to obtain a bona fide ODBC connection to > UniVerse... and then import UV data to Excel. > > However... When I try to connect from United Parcel Service's WorldShip > v11, WorldShip hangs up with Windows Task Manager indicating "Not > Responding". I had the same bad result on two different PC's... One > Vista-Ultimate, one XP-Pro. > > I am wondering if anyone out there was able to get WorldShip ODBC to > work with U2. Suggestions would be appreciated. > > --Bill > _______________________________________________ > U2-Users mailing list > U2-Users@listserver.u2ug.org > http://listserver.u2ug.org/mailman/listinfo/u2-users > > _______________________________________________ > U2-Users mailing list > U2-Users@listserver.u2ug.org > http://listserver.u2ug.org/mailman/listinfo/u2-users > _______________________________________________ > U2-Users mailing list > U2-Users@listserver.u2ug.org > http://listserver.u2ug.org/mailman/listinfo/u2-users _______________________________________________ U2-Users mailing list U2-Users@listserver.u2ug.org http://listserver.u2ug.org/mailman/listinfo/u2-users
