Parcelforce Guide

Parcelforce Worldwide is a leading provider of express parcel delivery services in the UK and internationally. As part of the Royal Mail Group, Parcelforce offers a wide range of delivery options to suit the needs of businesses and consumers alike, ensuring timely and reliable shipping solutions across more than 200 countries.

This guide includes detailed information on utilizing Parcelforce shipping with the EasyPost API, focusing on account setup, rates, label creation, manifests, tracking, and more.

Sign up for an EasyPost account to obtain a Test and Production API key. See Authentication and Key Management for more information.

Upon sign-up with EasyPost, users gain immediate access to Default Carrier Accounts, which can be enabled directly from the Dashboard. For additional carriers, EasyPost supports a Bring Your Own Account (BYOA) option. This requires users to register directly with the respective carrier.

1. Contact Parcelforce to request a shipper account. A representative will be in touch for additional details regarding the account.

2. Inform Parcelforce about using EasyPost’s API for label purchases.

3. Acquire rates and align any additional shipping needs.

4. Obtain the following production and test credentials:

   1. Parcelforce Contract Number
   2. Department ID (optional)
   3. expressLink API Password
   4. expressLink API Username

5. Input carrier-specific credentials within the EasyPost Carrier Account Dashboard for comprehensive rate access.

The API structure specified by EasyPost can also be used to add the Parcelforce carrier shipper account.

curl -X POST https://api.easypost.com/v2/carrier_accounts \
  -u "$EASYPOST_API_KEY": \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  -d '{
  "type": "ParcelForceAccount",
  "description": "ParcelForceAccount",
  "carrier_account": {
    "credentials": {
      "account_number": "VALUE",
      "department_id": "VALUE",
      "password": "VALUE",
      "username": "VALUE"
    },
    "test_credentials": {
      "account_number": "VALUE",
      "department_id": "VALUE",
      "password": "VALUE",
      "username": "VALUE"
    }
  }
}'

Download an EasyPost Client Library or utilize the REST API with cURL.

Examine the EasyPost Objects section to understand the API's structure, which is critical for constructing requests and interpreting responses.

When integrating a Parcelforce account with EasyPost, users should be aware of how rates are managed and displayed. Here’s a breakdown of key points:

• EasyPost initially returns a $0.01 rate for shipments once the Parcelforce account is set up.
• Parcelforce will charge the appropriate amount for postage via their billing system.

• Parcelforce representatives provide rate cards detailing expected costs based on shipment parameters (package size, weight, location, etc.).
• Acquiring this custom rate card from Parcelforce is crucial, as EasyPost is not automatically privy to these rates.

Once the rate card is received from Parcelforce, users should contact EasyPost support at support@easypost.com for assistance installing the rate card into their account.

All services are for Monday – Friday delivery unless the shipment option for Saturday Delivery service is selected. Set shipment options to saturday_delivery: true to return Saturday delivery services.

There are no predefined packages for Parcelforce.

With EasyPost, generating shipping labels for Parcelforce is the same process as generating them for any other carrier.

Review the Getting Started Guide for help generating a shipping label.

1-call buys enable streamlined label purchasing through the EasyPost API by consolidating multiple operations into a single API request. This feature is designed to simplify and accelerate the shipping process by combining the creation of a shipment, retrieval of rates, and purchasing the shipping label into one efficient step.

See Reducing API Response Times for more information.

Manifesting is supported for Parcelforce integration.

Voiding Parcelforce labels through EasyPost is supported.

EasyPost offers native Parcelforce labels in ZPL, PNG, and PDF formats.

The Parcelforce policy on hazardous materials is not explicitly detailed in this guide. Shippers are advised to contact Parcelforce directly for specific hazmat inquiries.

Parcelforce accommodates pickups based on individual agreements with customers. While regular pickups can be arranged directly with Parcelforce during the account registration process, they cannot be scheduled via the EasyPost API.

EasyPost simplifies package tracking by offering two methods:

• Tracking with an existing number and carrier.
• Using a Tracker included with an EasyPost-purchased shipping label.

The service integrates webhooks for timely shipment updates. For detailed information on tracking methods, visit the Tracking Guide.

The Carrier Metadata endpoint can programmatically return information about service levels, predefined packages, supported features, and shipment options.

Use this information to quickly integrate and make educated decisions about the mix of carriers for shipping needs. Additionally, the Carrier Metadata endpoint is available to retrieve comprehensive information about all carriers on the EasyPost platform, enhancing decision-making for carrier services.

In addition to the guidance provided in our Carrier Guides, EasyPost offers support to assist with FAQs, troubleshooting issues, and inquiries related to the EasyPost platform.

Please visit the Help Center for more information.

For questions about getting started with the EasyPost API please talk to a Shipping Expert or contact our Support team.