Using Australia Post Parcel Contact (formerly eParcel)
From Spiffy Stores Knowledge Base
Spiffy Stores provides an easy to use integration with Parcel Contract (formerly eParcel). There are a number of steps that you need to go through in order to connect your store to your Australia Post Parcel Contract account.
Contents
- 1 1. Establish an Parcel Contract (formerly eParcel) account with Australia Post
- 2 2. Create an Australia Post Developer Centre account
- 3 3. Submit a request for API access
- 4 4. Activate your API access
- 5 5. Create your first project
- 6 6. Create an API key
- 7 7. Choose a name and a password for the API key
- 8 8. Enable the API Services
- 9 Further Reference
1. Establish an Parcel Contract (formerly eParcel) account with Australia Post
You will need to contact Australia Post to establish a Parcel Contract account, if you don't already have one.
Parcel Contract is a fulfillment service provided by Australia Post and is available if you're sending large numbers of parcels. Specific rates are established for your shipments at the time the account is opened.
2. Create an Australia Post Developer Centre account
Register for API access
Your store will communicate with Australia Post using an API key that you need to create using the Developer Centre. You can register for access here using your Australia Post account. You can also use this link to signup for an Australia Post account, if you don't have one. This account will need to be associated with your Parcel Contract account.
Once you've signed in, look for the Shipping and Tracking section, and click on the Register your interest today link.
3. Submit a request for API access
Provide your account details
Please fill in the form with your contact details, including your Australia Post Parcel Contract Account number. This is the account that is used to charge for the shipments submitted via the API.
Also, please ensure that you request access to all three services, Tracking, Product Pricing and Lodgement and Label Printing.
Connect to Spiffy Stores
On the following page of the form, please specify Spiffy Stores as the Platform Partner.
Once you're finished, submit the form for approval. Generally, you should expect to receive a reply within one business day.
4. Activate your API access
New Projects Menu Item
You'll receive an activation email from Australia Post once your request has been approved.
Just click on the Log in link in the email and you'll be taken to the Developer Center page, where you'll find that there's an additional Projects link in the toolbar.
If you don't receive a response from Australia Post, then you can send a follow-up email to Customer_Connectivity@auspost.com.au quoting your Parcel Contract account number and the email address you used to create your Developer Center Account.
5. Create your first project
Create a project
You need to follow the following steps in order to create a project.
Click on Create new project to begin.
Name the project
Give the project a name, such as Spiffy Stores, so that you'll know what the API key relates to.
Click Create project to create the project.
6. Create an API key
Create an API key
Create an API key
You don't have any API keys yet, so click on the links to create one.
7. Choose a name and a password for the API key
Choose a name and password
You need to choose a name and a password for the API key. The name can be something simple, like API Key 1.
Choose a password that is at least 8 characters long and contains at least one capital letter and one digit. Write the password down, as you'll need it later to activate your Parcel Contract fulfilment service in your store.
A generated API key
When the API key has been generated, you'll see it in the list of existing keys.
You'll also need the API Key value when you activate the eParcel fulfilment service in your store.
8. Enable the API Services
Enable Services
Next, you need to enable the services associated with the API key.
First, click on the Services link to go to the Services page.
Then, for each of the services listed, click on the On/Off switch to enable each one. Once they are all enabled, click on Update to save your changes.
It's recommended that you logoff from your account, and then login again to verify that everything is correct. Please check that all of the services have been enabled as requested.
Once this step is complete, you're ready to activate the eParcel fulfilment service in your store using your eParcel Account number, API Key and password.