FedEx integration

Integrating a FedEx account with Odoo’s Inventory app makes it possible to calculate shipping rates, and generate shipping labels within Odoo. This is accomplished by enabling the FedEx shipping connector, then configuring at least one shipping method.

Notitie

This documentation contains configuration details specific to FedEx integration. See the documentation on third-party shippers for general shipper integration instructions.

Enable shipping connector

To enable the shipping connector for FedEx, navigate to Inventory app ‣ Configuration ‣ Settings. Scroll down to the Shipping Connectors section, and tick the checkbox next to FedEx Connector.

Finally, click Save to save the changes. After doing so, a FedEx Shipping Methods button appears below FedEx Connector.

The FedEx Shipping Methods button below the FedEx Connector.

Configure shipping method

Once the FedEx shipping connector is enabled, it is necessary to configure at least one shipping method. After doing so, the shipping method can be included in sales orders (SOs), and used to compute shipping costs, and print shipping labels.

To enable a shipping method, navigate to Inventory app ‣ Configuration ‣ Settings, and click the FedEx Shipping Methods button below the FedEx Connector checkbox. Doing so opens a page that shows all existing FedEx shipping methods.

Notitie

To see all shipping methods for every shipper with a connector enabled, navigate to Inventory app ‣ Configuration ‣ Shipping Methods.

Select a shipping method to open its form. Alternatively, click New to open a blank form, and configure a new shipping method.

The form for a FedEx shipping method.

Belangrijk

Enabling the FedEx shipping connector automatically creates two default shipping methods: FedEx US and FedEx International. Each of these methods are pre-configured with test credentials, allowing them to be used for testing purposes.

Before the shipping method can be used to create actual shipments, the test credentials must be replaced with credentials from a valid FedEx account.

Algemene informatie

At the very top of a shipping method form are fields used to configure the way the method operates in Odoo. In the Provider field, select FedEx from the drop-down menu, if it is not already selected.

The rest of the fields in this section are general to all shipping providers. For details on how to fill them out, see the documentation on third-party shippers.

Fedex Configuration tab

The options in the Fedex Configuration tab of a FedEx shipping method form are used to connect the method to a FedEx account, and configure the shipping details associated with the method (drop-off type, package type, etc.).

A FedEx business account is required to obtain the information needed to fill out the fields in this tab. To create a new account, navigate to FedEx’s Open Account page, click on Create Account, and follow the instructions.

Developer Key and Meter Number fields

A developer key is used to integrate a FedEx account with an external service, like the Odoo Inventory app. A meter number is a unique ID number used by FedEx to identify negotiated shipping rates for each account.

To get a developer key and meter number, begin by navigating to FedEx’s Developer Resource Center. Then, click on the FedEx Web Services drop-down menu.

Click Get Test Key to start the process of getting a developer key and meter number which can be used to configure a shipping method for testing purposes.

Click Get Production Key to start the process of getting a developer key and meter number, which can be used to configure a shipping method that generates real shipments with FedEx.

After clicking either option, follow the instructions until the Confirmation screen is reached. This screen displays the developer key and meter number.

Once the developer key and meter number are determined, enter them in the Developer Key and Meter Number fields on the Fedex Configuration tab of the shipping method form.

Password and Account Number fields

A password is used, along with a username, to log into a FedEx account. An account number is the unique number assigned to each FedEx account.

To find a FedEx account number, log in to a FedEx account at https://www.fedex.com. Click on the account holder’s name in the top-right corner of the screen, and select My Profile from the drop-down menu.

On the profile page, click Account Management on the left side of the screen. The account number is displayed on this screen.

Once the password and account number are determined, enter them in the Password and Account Number fields on the Fedex Configuration tab of the shipping method form.

Shipping details

The main section of the Fedex Configuration tab includes a number of additional fields used provide information about the shipping method:

  • Fedex Service Type: The FedEx service used to ship a package.

  • Fedex Drop-Off Type: The method for getting a package into FedEx’s possession.

  • Fedex Package Type: The type of package used for the shipping method.

  • Package Weight Unit: The unit of measure used to weigh packages.

  • Package Length Unit: The unit of measure used to determine the dimensions of packages.

  • Label Type: The type of shipping label used for packages.

  • Label Format: The file format used by Odoo to generate shipping labels.

  • Commercial Invoice Type: The dimensions and type of the paper used to print invoices.

Belangrijk

The options that should be selected on the Fedex Configuration tab of a shipping method depend on the negotiated shipping services of the associated FedEx account. To confirm the available services for a FedEx account, visit the Account Management page after logging in to the FedEx website, or speak with a customer service representative.

Options section

The Options section of the Fedex Configuration tab provides a few additional options to further configure the shipping method:

  • Saturday Delivery: Tick the checkbox to allow packages shipped with the delivery method to be delivered on Saturdays.

  • Generate Return Label: Tick the checkbox to automatically generate a return label upon validation of a delivery order.

  • Duties paid by: Use the drop-down menu to select whether duty charges should be paid by the Sender or Recipient.

Activate shipping method

By default, shipping methods in Odoo are created within a test environment. This means they can only be used for testing purposes, and are unable to generate actual shipping orders.

To activate a shipping method in a production environment, click the Test Environment smart button at the top of the shipping method form. After doing so, the smart buttons changes to read Production Environment.

With the production environment enabled, validating a delivery order using the shipping method generates an actual shipping label with FedEx.

Click the Production Environment smart button to return the shipping method to a test environment.

Waarschuwing

Do not enable the production environment for a shipping method before it is ready to be used for actual shipping orders. Doing so may lead to the creation of unwanted charges with FedEx.