GLS ShipIT (test phase)

GLS stands for General Logistics Systems and is an international parcel service provider. Find out how to set up the integration in your PlentyONE system.

To be able to use the GLS integration, you must first create a customer account at GLS.
To be able to use the API, you must also request GLS access.

1. Requesting GLS access

  1. Register with a team e-mail address at GLS Developer Portal.

  2. After logging in, open the menu item {your e-mail address}/Apps.

  3. Click on + NEW APP.

  4. Define an app name, select Enable or Request for Authentication API v2, Customs API v3 and Shop Returns Customer Plus API v3.

  5. Save your settings by clicking on SAVE.

  6. Now contact your GLS contact person to tell them that you would like to use GLS via PlentyONE and require access authorisations for the GLS ShipIT Farm API, the CustomsAPI and the Shop Returns Customer Plus API. Enter the team e-mail address used and the generated App ID from the GLS Developer Portal.

GLS is working on making access easier and faster in the future. Until then, please be patient during the approval process. The Customs API and the Shop Returns API only need to be requested if customs or returns parcels are being sent.

2. Overview

You can find the GLS menu under Setup » Orders » Shipping » Shipping service provider » GLS ShipIT.
It is divided into the following areas:

  • Basic settings

  • Shipping settings

  • Return settings

  • Label settings

  • Checkout settings

3. Basic settings

Under this menu item you enter your GLS access data and addresses.

3.1. GLS access data

  1. Click on the plus (add) to add your GLS access data.
    → A pop-up window opens.

  2. Enter a name. This is freely selectable and should make it easier for you to assign the account.

  3. Enter an API key, a Secret key and an App ID. You received these from GLS.

  4. Decide whether you want to choose from the selection of endpoints in the drop-down list or enter a user-defined endpoint if you have received the data of a specific endpoint from GLS.

  5. Select from the drop-down list if you want to create an account for testing purposes or whether the account should be created in a live environment.

  6. Save (save) your settings.
    → Your GLS access data will be added.

3.2. Addresses

  1. Click on the plus (add) to enter addresses that you can select for further settings such as shipping combinations and returns.

  2. Enter the data in the corresponding fields. At least a name, street, city and country must be entered.

  3. Save (save) the address data you have entered.
    → The address will be added to the list.

Character limit

The number of characters in the name fields is limited to 40.

4. Shipping settings

In this menu, you enter the name and contact ID that identify the address stored at GLS from which your parcels are to be collected. You also create shipping combinations to ensure successful shipping registration in the regions where you sell.

4.1. Settings for shipping points

  1. Click on the plus (add) to create a shipping point.

  2. Enter a name and the GLS contact ID for your shipping point.

  3. Save (save) your settings.

4.2. Shipping combinations

  1. Click on the plus (add) to add a new shipping combination.

  2. Enter a name under General and select a shipping profile, your GLS access data, a region and a shipping point from the drop-down lists.

  3. Optionally, you can select an alternative shipper address.

  4. Under shipping services, select the desired shipping services from the drop-down list. The services listed in Table 1 are available.

  5. Select the hazardous goods classification (Hazardous goods - HG, Limited quantity - LQ) or None from the drop-down list.

  6. If required, select the exporter’s address (the same as on the invoice) in the Customs shipment area.

  7. Select the Incoterms from the next drop-down list.

  8. Activate the toggle if the shipping registration should also be made with missing or incorrect customs data.

  9. In the Return settings section, first select the return type (return label, QR code, or both).

  10. Activate the toggle if a return label is to be created together with the outbound label and made available to buyers.
    Note:

    • When the toggle is activated, a return address must be selected in the address widget.

    • If you select this option and an error occurs during the return registration, the shipping registration will also be cancelled. This prevents return labels from being created unnoticed.

  11. Optionally, select a parcel reference (parcel or track ID) to be saved for return shipments.

  12. Select a return address.

  13. Tick the box if the shipper address selected above is also to be used as the return address.

  14. Save (save) your shipping settings.

Customs numbers for customs shipments

In the Setup » Orders » Shipping » Customs numbers menu, you can enter customs numbers manually or have them determined automatically.
For more information refer to the Customs numbers chapter.
Shipping hazardous goods

If you want to ship hazardous goods, this option must be activated by GLS during onboarding.
Table 1. GLS shipping services
Shipping service Explanation

12:00Service

Delivery by 12:00

CashService

Payment on delivery

ConsignmentService

Collective shipment of consignments consisting of several individual items

DeliveryAtWorkService

Delivery to work, dispatch to business address with handover to the desired person. When this service is selected, buyers are shown fields at checkout that they must fill in.

DepositService

Receive parcels at a drop-off location. When this service is selected, buyers are shown fields at checkout that they must fill in.

Express-/EuroExpress-/GlobalExpressParcel

Fast shipping of time-critical consignments - national, Europe-wide and international express shipping

FlexDeliveryService

Preferred delivery, recipient can choose delivery options.
Note:
→ The FlexDeliveryService can only be used in the shipping registration if an e-mail address is stored for the recipient and consent was given for us to use it.
→ If FlexDeliveryService is to be used for Amazon orders, the external order ID must be specified as a reference in the label settings.

Guaranteed24Service

Guaranteed next-day delivery

IdentPINService

Identity check with PIN - secure and reliable delivery of the parcel to the right person. When this service is selected, buyers are shown fields at checkout that they must fill in. An additional check is performed to ensure that the date of birth complies with the age restrictions for the item, provided that this is enabled in the settings.

LetterboxService

Consignments that fit in the letterbox

Saturday12:00Service

Saturday delivery until 12:00

ShopDeliveryService

Send parcel to GLS Point (parcel shop or parcel station). A location finder is activated when the service is selected for customers in the checkout settings. Selecting a customer and saving the setting are required for the finder to be displayed. Optional features include automatic search, which uses the billing or delivery address, and specifying the Google API key to display the locations found on a map.

SignatureService

The delivery of the parcel is confirmed by the recipient’s signature, which ensures greater security and traceability.

TyreService

Tyre shipping. Mandatory for all retailers who ship tyres with GLS.

5. Return settings

In the Return settings section, you can configure settings for returns via GLS whose original orders do not have a GLS shipping profile.

  1. Click on the plus (add) to add a new return setting.

  2. Select a region, an address, a warehouse if applicable, a GLS contact ID and the desired GLS access data from the drop-down lists.

  3. Select the return type, i.e. the format in which you would like to receive the return label to offer to your customers. You can choose between the return label, a QR code, or both.

  4. Select which parcel reference you would like to save for returns. You can choose between the track ID and the parcel ID.

  5. Activate the toggle if you want to set this return setting as the default. This information is used if there is no separate setting for a region.
    Note: Only one setting can be set as the default.

  6. Save (save) your settings.

6. Label settings

Under the menu item Label settings you can specify one or more references that should appear on the label. Select the desired references from the drop-down lists. You can choose between the order ID, external order ID, item ID, variation ID and variation number.
Save (save) your settings.

If FlexDeliveryService is to be used for Amazon orders, the external order ID must be specified as a reference.

7. Checkout settings

In the Checkout settings menu, you have the option of making settings to offer your customers the delivery of their parcels to GLS Points (GLS parcel shops and parcel stations, ShopDelivery).

To do this, click on the plus (add) and select the client for which you want to make the ShopDelivery settings in the pop-up window. You have two optional toggles available to activate the Automatic search and the Map with the locations of the GLS Points.

  • If you enable Automatic search, the nearest locations will be determined based on the billing address and displayed for your customers to choose from.

  • If you enable the map, your customers will be shown a map for easier location searches.

Google Maps API key required

Adding a map for the simplified location search requires a Google Maps API key, which the merchant must enter. In addition, the Maps JavaScript API must be enabled.
Notice Regarding the Required Consent of Users in the EU

When using Google Maps, you are obligated to inform users about the nature of the data usage. We would like to point out that when using services that transmit personal data to a third country (e.g., the USA), the requirements for permissible data transfer pursuant to Articles 44 et seq. of the GDPR must be met. This applies, for example, when Google Maps is used.

8. Shipping list

In the Data » GLS ShipIT » GLS Shipping list menu, you can create a shipping list for all orders or for selected orders that were registered via the shipping service provider GLS ShipIT. Click on Create PDF () and save the file to your computer.

By clicking on Search (), all orders registered with GLS ShipIT are displayed. Use the filters to determine which orders are contained in the shipping list.

The following filters are available:

  • Order ID

  • Order status

  • Registration date from / to

  • Registration time from / to

It is possible to directly change the order status of registered orders via the drop-down list Change to order status.

9. GLS ShipIT Sporadic Collection

You don’t need your GLS parcels collected every day? Then, under Data » GLS ShipIT » GLS ShipIT Pick up, you will find a menu where you can request sporadic collections for orders already registered for shipping via Plenty.

Use the filter (tune) to search for jobs and add them to the list.
In the History, you will see a list of successful requests to GLS with the calculated number of parcels and weight, divided into express and parcel, with the collection date reported back by GLS.

10. Available event procedures for GLS

To simplify and automate processes in Plenty, events are available for certain operations.

On the Event procedures page, you can learn how to set up an event procedure.

You can set up the following event procedures for GLS processes in your system:

10.1. Event procedure for transferring customs information to GLS

Set up an event procedure so that your customs information is automatically sent to GLS.
In the Setup » Orders » Events menu, you will find the event GLS ShipIT | Send customs information to GLS (GLS ShipIT).

10.2. Event procedure for the automatic creation of return labels

Set up an event procedure so that return labels are created automatically.
In the Setup » Orders » Events menu, you will find the event GLS ShipIT | Create GLS ShipIT return label. There are two procedures available: * Creation of one label file per order * Creation of one label file per package

Once you have set up this event procedure, another procedure can be used to send the return label to your customers by email.

10.3. Event procedure for failed returns registration

Create an even procedure in case the returns registration fails. In the Setup » Orders » Events menu, you will find the event GLS ShipIT | Returns registration failed.

11. Shipping hazardous goods

Shipping hazardous goods
The transport of hazardous goods refers to the transport of substances or materials that pose a potential risk due to their hazardous properties. Such transports are strictly regulated to ensure public safety and protect the environment.

Hazardous goods can be divided into many categories. These include, for example, gases, flammable and corrosive substances, and explosive materials.

In order to prevent accidents and environmental damage, it is essential that these transports are carried out very carefully and responsibly.

If you want to ship hazardous goods, this option must be activated by GLS during onboarding.

In national GLS hazardous goods transport, a distinction is made between HG (Hazardous Goods) and LQ (Limited Quantity).

If you want to ship hazardous goods,

  1. create a shipping profile under Setup » Shipping » Options in the Shipping profiles tab.

  2. in the shipping settings under Setup » Shipping » Service Providers » GLS ShipIT, create a shipping combination in which you select the appropriate Hazardous goods classification (HG or LQ) under Shipping services.

  3. activate the shipping profile you created for the item.

  4. add the corresponding property or properties to the variation under Item » Variation overview » Properties » Character string » GLS Shipping - hazardous goods code.
    → You received the code for the GLS Hazardous goods classification, which you must enter here, during your onboarding with GLS.
    → Two properties must be added for HG (the hazardous code and a value for weight/volume), and one for LQ (a value for weight/value).

  5. enter a value for weight or volume under Item » (Variation) » Properties. → The unit of measurement can be kilograms or litres, but this is not specified.

  • Shipment registrations with HG (hazardous goods) are only possible with one shipping package per order.

  • For registrations with LQ (limited quantity), each shipping package for an order must contain at least one LQ item.

If you have any further questions about the services and activation, please contact your contact person at GLS.

12. Tracking URL for GLS

The currently valid, known tracking URL for GLS is:

https://gls-group.eu/track/$PaketNr/postalcode/$PLZ