As part of Automate, how can a customer tailor their shipping labels?
When booking a shipment through the 7bridges platform the key output of ordering a booking with a Logistics Service Provider (LSP) is a label that can be printed and stuck on the package.
The 7bridges software creates labels in two formats:
- ZPL suitable for zebra and compatible label printers
- PDF which can be printed on any normal office printer.
It is possible, to a certain extent, to control what goes on the label. This article described the key customisations available. Wherever possible the 7bridges software will retrieve labels to print from an LSP's API in ZPL format, and this allows the software to make certain customisations before printing or rendering to a PDF. However, labels and APIs from LSPs are generally different, and so there are variations between how each one is handled. If you have a question about a particular feature for a particular LSP for which the answer is not clear from this document please contact support.
Reference
All labels will include the reference provided for the shipment either through the 7bridges software user interface or through the HTTP API.
In some cases references may be truncated on labels by the LSP and so it is best to keep them under 30 characters.
Tracking code
The label should always include the tracking code assigned by the LSP to the shipment.
Package identifier
The package identifier is an optional reference that can be assigned to each package to make handling easier. It is usually in the form of a barcode which packers will stick on the package as they pack it and then scan into the 7bridges software.
Normally the package identifier is not something LSP APIs will provide a mechanism to add to the label, but the 7bridges platform can insert the package identifier onto the labels of some LSPs. Here are the LSPs and shipping methods that support this feature:
- DPD Poland
- DHL Parcel Poland
- DHL Connect Plus
- FedEx (included as an extra “customer reference” line)
- UPS (included as an extra “reference number”)
If you'd like to get support for this feature for other LSPs, Please contact support.