If you have not shipped using the FedEx API in Shipstore, FedEx first requires that you certify your labels with FedEx to prove that you are able to generate scannable shipping labels. Below is our guide on this process with some best practices.


Registering a Test Account

NOTE: This next section requires FedEx API test credentials. Refer to the following link for instructions on getting these credentials: How to obtain FedEx API credentials

In order to generate the labels for certification, we first need to set up a test account in the system. To do this:
 
  1. Login to Shipstore portal with an admin user and click “Administration” link at the top of the page.
  2. Click the “Carriers” link on the left.
  3. Click blue plus button on the top-right of the Carriers table. This will open the Carrier Registration window.
  4. Select “FedEx” from the “Select Carrier” dropdown.
  5. Fill out the form with the needed info for the fields highlighted below.
    1. Freight Account Number can be left blank if not using the freight services.
    2. SmartPost Hub is not required if not using the SmartPost/Ground Economy services
  6. Click the arrow on the bottom-right when ready. The account should then display on the Carriers table on the main window.

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Adding the Test Account to a Profile

NOTE: This step requires a test profile. If you do not already have a test profile, you can copy an existing production profile if one exists and update the "Test Mode" setting under features.

Once the test account has been registered, you can assign that account to a test profile to generate your labels. To do this:

  1. While logged into SS with an admin, click the “Administration” link at the top of the page.
  2. Click “Profiles” option on the left.
  3. Select the desired test profile from the list.
  4. Click “Service Setup” and then “Carriers”.
    1. If there is already a FedEx account tied to this profile, you will need to remove that option.
  5. Click the plus button on the top-right of the header of the Carriers table. This will open the Add Carrier window.
  6. Check the box to the left of the desired FedEx test account, then click the plus button at the top of the window. The FedEx account should now display under the profile's carriers list.

Required Services

If this is a new profile or the profile did not already have a FedEx account, you may also need to add the FedEx services to the profile. The following services are required when certifying labels with FedEx.
                                                                                                       
  • FedEx First Overnight
  • FedEx Priority Overnight
  • FedEx Standard Overnight
  • FedEx 2Day AM
  • FedEx 2Day
  • FedEx Express Saver
  • FedEx Ground
  • FedEx Home Delivery
  • FedEx International First
  • FedEx International Priority
  • FedEx International Economy

Generating Test Labels

Now that the test profile and account are linked, we can generate the labels for certification. In SS, we have 2 main options for generating these labels: individually or batched.

Batching

If you are comfortable with batch processing, you can use the following excel file to import and process the records: FX Cert.xlsx

Individually

If you would prefer to generate the labels individually, you will first need to be logged into both the Shipstore and Merchant app on a station configured in the system with a label printer. Once logged in:

  1. Click the “Ship” link at the top of the page.
  2. Make sure the “Station” dropdown on the left is set to the station you're using.
  3. Make sure you have the profile dropdown in the top-right set to the desired test profile.
  4. For each service under the Required Services section above, process a shipment using a test address and a valid package weight (i.e. 5 lbs) to generate a label to the label printer.
    1. To speed up the process, you can make use of the reprocess function from the history screen, changing the service each time you generate a label. Make sure to press No on the void prompt when you click Reprocess Shipment


Scanning the labels

Once all labels have been created you will need to separate out the Express service and Ground service labels, then scan those 2 sets of labels separately. Labels need to be scanned at 600 DPI resolution, so we recommend saving those scans as JPG if possible.

When scanning, we recommend scanning 2 labels at a time to minimize the total size of the scans. Optionally, you can stick the labels to some pieces of paper to keep them together. The ideal scan would look like the below picture. 


International shipments require 2 labels, but the printer will generate 4 (with 1 label having 3 copies). Use the 2 labels in the picture below.



Sending the labels for certification

Now that the labels have been scanned, we can organize and send them. 

  1. On the computer you saved the scans to, create 2 folders: EXPRESS and GROUND.
  2. Move the scans for FedEx Ground and FedEx Home Delivery into the GROUND folder, and all other images into the EXPRESS folder.
  3. Right-click each folder, mouse over “Send to”, then select “Compressed (zipped) folder”. You can leave it named the same.
  4. Navigate to your email software and create a new email with the following:
    1. To address: label@fedex.com
    2. Subject: Label Certification - {company name}
  5. Attach the completed coversheet and the corresponding labels .zip folder to the email.
  6. Send when ready
Once sent, FedEx can take anywhere from 1-3 business days to respond.



Changing Carrier Credentials to Production

Once you have received approval back from FedEx, you can register the production account in Shipstore (the same way the Test account was registered) and tie it to the necessary profile(s) in the system.