Carrier Cloud API is a multi-carrier platform: a network of more than 300 forwarders and parcel services that centrally handles shipment processing, label printing, and shipment tracking - without requiring you to connect and maintain each carrier individually.
The shipping API allows you integrate this platform into your own IT landscape: Your systems access the platform via API, create shipping orders, generate labels, and check the status of shipments. The added value thus lies in the platform and its carrier network; the API is the interface that enables automated access from your applications.
This makes the API option the ideal choice for all non-SAP systems. Users of SAP connect to the same platform via the ready-made SAP integration (see below).
Connecting the Carrier Cloud API via the shipping API is beneficial for companies that want to handle shipping directly from their systems rather than manually:
- Consignors with their own ERP, WMS/LVS, or shop systems who want to automate the entire shipping process in the background via the platform.
- Companies that work with multiple carriers and want to consolidate their connections through a single platform and offload the administrative effort for each forwarder.
- E-commerce and B2B consignors with fluctuating or growing shipment volumes who need to scale flexibly.
The Carrier Cloud API is the right choice if you want shipping to be fully automated from within your systems. For special manual cases, such as sample or marketing mailings, the same platform also offers a wizard-guided web interface. Both access the same carrier network.
The platform not only enables you to optimize the shipping of parcels, pallets, and containers, but also increase speed and process reliability for many other tasks:
Pallet shipping · Parcel shipping · Multi-package shipments · Full container loads (FCL) · Partial loads (LTL/LCL) · Refrigerated transport · Road transport · Rail transport · Sea freight · Air freight · Intermodal & combined transport
The shipping API uses flexible, small function calls: You create a shipment early in the process and gradually enrich it with data. At the packing station, a single "process shipment" call is all it takes to instantly generate and print shipping labels. This ensures your shipping processes remain highly efficient, and the platform integrates flexibly into your existing workflows. You can find all guides and references in the Carrier Cloud API Center.