How to set up a FedEx Baseline account (SOAP) [Step-by-Step guide]

Modified on Tue, 19 Sep 2023 at 04:39 PM

 

When setting up an FedEx Carrier account, you will have to:


NOTE: The requirements and instructions refer to the FedEx SOAP connection, if you will set up a FedEx account via a REST connection, refer to How to set up a FedEx Baseline account (REST) [Step-by-Step guide].


NOTE: This article describes how to set up the Carrier baseline account.
If the Carrier baseline account has already been set up and you intend to add a new Billing Account, refer to: How to add and set up a FedEx Billing Account [Step-by-Step guide]


NOTE: If you already have APPROVED FedEx API keys and Meters, SKIP the stages of this guide to the "FINAL PHASE - CREATE, SET AND TEST THE PRODUCTION ACCOUNT" section.



INTRODUCTION


The Fedex account setup consists of several stages, not only as techSHIP setup, but also on operations within the FedEx Web Services platform.


Besides of having the account set up at your Techship Portal, you’ll have to send the labels for review and approval to FedEx’s WIS team.


There is information defined by you, as well as FedEx

Once the labels are approved, and the testing account has been tested properly, you can start using the production account. The process is the following:



PHASE 1 - OBTAIN KEYS


To begin the process, you’ll need to access FedEx’s site with your FedEx credentials in order to request Test and Production keys


These keys will be used for the Carrier setup and the Client information within TechShip, allowing you to enable usage of the shipping services.

Before accessing, it’s important to understand who provides what information in the process:


YOU:


FEDEX:

  • Production Meter (to you, upon keys request)
  • Production Key (to you, upon keys request)
  • Production Password (to the FedEx Main contact via e-mail, who should forward the FedEx e-mail to you if you're not it)


Now that you know what's the source of the full set of keys, let's review the steps to get them:


ACCESSING FEDEX WEB SERVICES PAGE


Login to FedEx (https://www.fedex.com/us/developer/web-services/) with your Username and Password.

 


1.1 GETTING THE TEST KEY


First of all: What is a Test Key? 

It's a group of values that allows us to connect to FedEx, and at this particular stage, to setup a test account in techSHIP so we can print labels, which we will need to get certified by FedEx before you can move into Production stage.


Let’s see how to get them:


1. Access the Develop and Test section and click Get YourTest Keys



2. The FedEx system will guide you through a 3 step process:


    a)  Specify the contact info (will display your contact information), where you’ll have to press continue if no modifications are required. You do not have to change anything unless you consider so. 

    b) Accept the License Authorization terms (Continue)

    c) Receive the Developer Test Key and Meters. The main contact will receive an e-mail with the remaining information. 


3.    The main contact will receive an e-mail. If it's not you, get in touch with it asking for that information and save it with the information you already got in the previous step.

The mail will include:

a.    Test URL (we don’t use it)

b.    Test Password: The one related to the key

c.    Shipping account number: It’s the account number

d.    Meter number: Number associated with the process



1.2 GETTING THE PRODUCTION KEY


First of all: What is the Production Key? It’s the actual credential (together with more information which will be mentioned) with which TechShip will connect with the Carrier and through which you will operate.

Let’s see how to get them:

  1. Access the Move to Production section and click Get Production Keys

  2. The FedEx system will guide you through a 5 step process:

    a) Define your application profile as defined in the following screenshot and press continue:



    b) Comply and accept the terms of the license agreement and continue.

    c) Specify the contact info (will display your current contact information), where you’ll have to press continue if no modifications are required. Do not make changes unless necessary.




    d) Continue on the Developer info screen.

    e) Receive the Developer Key and Meter. The main contact will receive an e-mail with the remaining information.

      
  3. The main contact will receive an e-mail with the Production Password associated with that key. Save it with the information you already got in the previous step.

     The mail will include:
    1. URL (we don’t use it for setup)
    2. Production Password: The one related to the key
    3. Shipping account number: Your account number
    4. Meter number: Number associated with the process


You can move forward with the setup (if you already have the Production Password) after you get the first e-mail.


PHASE 2 - CARRIER SECTION


Now that you have the test key and password, to set up the Baseline Carrier account in techSHIP.


NOTE: The Carrier must be added by Techdinamics' staff, you won't be able to do it by yourself. Once the Carrier is available, you'll be in charge to set up the accounts under it.
If the Carrier has not been added yet, reach your Techdinamics representative.



1. Access Maintenance and select Carriers



2. Click the Carrier for which you'll add the account to from the list


3. Click the Accounts tab


4. Click Add Account



5. In General Options set:

  1. Name -> FedEx - [Account number] (e.g. FedEx - 123456789)
  2. Usage mode -> Test
  3. Status -> Active
  4. Label mode -> ZPL
  5. SCAC -> Carrier/SCAC code you're using in the WMS



6. In Carrier Options set and Save:
REQUIRED
  1. Account Number -> FedEx Test Account number 
  2. Meter Number -> FedEx Test Meter number 
  3. User Key -> FedEx Test Key
  4. User Password -> FedEx Test Key Password
  5. Sender address info -> Warehouse induction address


OPTIONAL


  1. Pick Up Open, Close and Ready Hours time -> Warehouse pick up open and pick up close time, as well as Ready Hours (how many hours will it take you to be ready from your open time)
  2. Smart Post Information -> If you will use Smart Post, provide HUB ID (if not sure find the code here, indicate if you want to close Smart Post orders when you finalize/manifest, and specify through which channel orders will be picked up (FedEx Ground or Small Parcel)





PHASE 3 - CLIENT AND BILLING ACCOUNT SETUP


To be able to import orders, you will need to create a Client Profile, and to process a test order, a Billing Account Profile bound to the Test Account you just set up under it. 



3.1 - CLIENT SETUP


Follow the steps here to create your client Profile: 10 - How to create a Client profile [Step-by-Step guide]


Call this client TEST, and set the Client Code to TEST (case sensitive), for which we will later push test files. You may discard or keep this test Client after the whole process is complete.



3.2 - TEST BILLING ACCOUNT SETUP



Once ready, proceed to setting up the Billing Account as described in How to add and set up a FedEx Billing Account [Step-by-Step guide], using the following values:


1. Payor Account: It’s the Test Account number you were provided by FedEx
2. Duties Payor Account: It’s the Test Account number you were provided by FedEx
3. Payment type: Switch to Sender
4. Duties Payment Type: Switch to Sender
5. Sender Name and Company: Your company name for both cases
6. Address validation: Change to No validation
7. Contact phone: The customer’s phone number. If you don’t have it, request it from the Sales Reps, or fill it up with yours temporarily.

Test Account Number with Payment Type as Sender instead of the Production one:



PHASE 4 - IMPORT TEST ORDERS


Since FedEx requires you to have the labels approved before moving into production.

You will need to send them test labels to verify these comply with their requirements. 

This is the preparatory stage for such process. You will need to import two test order batches, one for FedEx Express service, and another one for FedEx Ground service.


To do so, follow the steps:


1. Download the test batch files that apply to the country you’re creating the orders for from the following link: Test Batches Download Folder


2. You will have to import the batches into the system. Access Orders and Import Orders.

 
 

3. In the Carrier dropdown, select FedEx, and in the Batch # dropdown select File Upload.

 

4. Select one of the two files and press the Fast Import button.

 


5. If imported correctly, the system will show a list of the batch’s orders.

 

PHASE 5 - PROCESS AND PRINT LABELS


In this Phase, you will have to process and print the imported batches so you can have the labels ready for the next one.


NOTE: If you have problems when importing due to Missing the Service Code, choose an option from the Default Service Code dropdown that applies to the type of batch you're importing (e.g. if you are importing the FedEx Express batch, choose one of the FedEx Express options. Save and Retry.



PRINT THROUGH TECHDINAMICS PRINT CLIENT


To set up the Techdinamics Print Client and your Printer, follow the instructions here:



Once ready, press Process and Print in the batch to print the labels in your currently active printer.


Once the Processing has been successful, the batch orders should show that have been processed OK, as well as Status Printed.


WARNING: Do not proceed without repeating Phases 4 and 5 for the remaining batch file. Both are important and critical for complete approval.


PHASE 6 - SCAN AND SEND LABELS FOR APPROVAL


This step consists in two main tasks: 


1. Scanning the printed labels

2. Sending the labels over e-mail with a case sheet to FedEx WIS team


Labels should be scanned in a minimum of 600dpi and not have any cut off parts outside the scan area. We strongly suggest you stick 3 labels per page, on an A4 or Letter sized paper.


Once you’ve got the scans you’ll have to send the labels to FedEx WIS team for approval, together with the complete WIS Label Cover Sheet document, as indicated in each field. 

This Cover Sheet document should have been sent by FedEx to the main contact when the keys were requested.


Compose an e-mail to the following address: label@fedex.com 

The mail should contain:


1. Body text requesting the certification

2. The subject that applies to the case

3. The labels attached (Ground and Express)

4. The WIS Cover Label Sheet

5. Request to activate Address Validation Services for FedEx Web Services


An example of it would be the following (missing point 5), where the blurred out element is your Company Name:



WARNING: If you do not request to enable Address Validation Services and you attempt to use it, you will see the Address Validation failed - 1000 ERROR Authentication Failed error message.
If you requested it and still get it, reach your FedEx representative to solve the issue.



The approval procedure usually takes between 1 and 3 business days, so be patient. Once the approval is received, you will receive two e-mails, one with the approval, and another one with details, continue to the last step.



FINAL PHASE - CREATE, SET AND TEST THE PRODUCTION ACCOUNT


Once you've done so, you'll have to repeat a similar process to the one you followed for the Test Account, but for the Production one:


1. Access Maintenance and select Carriers



2. Click the Carrier for which you'll add the account to from the list


3. Click the Accounts tab


4. Click Add Account



5. In General Options set:

  1. Name -> FedEx - [Account number] (e.g. FedEx - 123456789)
  2. Usage mode -> Production
  3. Status -> Active
  4. Label mode -> ZPL
  5. SCAC -> Carrier/SCAC code you're using in the WMS


6. In Carrier Options set and Save:
  1. Account Number -> FedEx Production Account number 
  2. Meter Number -> FedEx Production Meter number 
  3. User Key -> FedEx Production Key
  4. User Password -> FedEx Production Key Password
  5. Sender address info -> Warehouse induction address
  6. Pick Up Open, Close and Ready Hours time -> Warehouse pick up open and pick up close time, as well as Ready Hours (how many hours will it take you to be ready from your open time)
  7. Hub ID -> To be detailed if you're using SmartPost


To finish, repeat Phase 3 and 4, to have a final, production test run:

1. Add a Production Billing Account to your Test client, now using your Production Account number instead of the Test one
2. Find and open (as described here 08 - How to find an order through Orders History [Step-by-Step guide])  one of the batches you've processed
3. Void the batch
4. Change the account from the account dropdown to make sure you've selected the Production Account (since you will have both, test and production) 
5. Save before you process 
6. Press Process

If the orders process correctly, the Production account is fully operational.

WARNING: Void and Delete (07 - How to delete a batch or an order within a batch [Step-by-Step guide]) the test batches to avoid any charges from FedEx.




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