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

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

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

INTRODUCTION

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

If you haven't obtained your FedEx API Keys, follow the instructions here to do so: Getting FedEx Account Keys [Step-by-Step guide].

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, which will be detailed in due time.

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:

CARRIER SECTION

To set up the Baseline Carrier account in techSHIP in test mode, in preparation to label approval:

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
   
   

1. Account Number -> FedEx Test Account number 
2. User Key -> FedEx Test Key
3. User Password -> FedEx Test Key Password
4. Sender address info -> Warehouse induction address

OPTIONAL

1. Tracking user key & password -> Complete with FedEx Tracking API Keys if you have retrieved FedEx API Shipping Keys without Tracking API functionalities

NOTE: The FedEx Tracking API Keys need to be requested separately from the FedEx Shipping API Keys; Ideally, when the Shipping Keys are requested, the Tracking Keys can be selected to be included as a bundle, only needing one set of keys instead of two

3. Quote vs Shipping Rate Validation -> Allows to configure discrepancies in FedEx's rating which will produce error messages when processing according to the case by: 

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

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

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.

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:

• How to install the Techdinamics Print Client - [Step-by-step guide]

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 this process for the remaining batch files. Both are important and critical for complete approval.

SUBMIT YOUR LABELS FOR WIS APPROVAL

Your test labels will need to be reviewed by FedEx in order to have your account authorized to ship through techSHIP. Follow the instructions here, and once ready, return to this guide to complete the process:

How to send FedEx labels for WIS approval [Information]

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
   
   

1. Account Number -> FedEx Production Account number 
2. User Key -> FedEx Production Key
3. User Password -> FedEx Production Key Password
4. Sender address info -> Warehouse induction address
5. 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)
6. Weekends mode -> Specify the Weekends Mode (Ignore Weekends, Sunday, Saturday and Sunday)
   - Ignore weekends: Weekend days are considered like any other week day
   - Saturday and Sunday: Saturday and Sunday are blocked from operation
   - Sunday: Sunday is blocked from operation, while Saturday is considered like any other week day 
7. Hub ID -> To be detailed if you're using SmartPost