Re: Endicia/USPS integration.

Method_Greg — Wed, 09 Jul 2014 16:20:48 GMT

Hello Ben,
     I can answer some of the simpler questions, but this looks like a post for the MethodAPI forums. You may be able to find a Method Partner to help you use the API and link Encidia to your Method account.

    To answer your Question for Method. The leads are on the Customer table and vendor on the Vendor table. Both are children of the Entity table. You can add a custom field to any of these tables or create a new table and link it to the table(s). You can auto-number for the TrackingNumber field.

    You can create a new table from Customize -> Tables / Fields. The CSV can be imported from the Imported Tools. under teh Customize tab. The API can do this, but it is out of my scope on how it is done.

Greg

Endicia/USPS integration.

Ben — Wed, 02 Jul 2014 20:28:51 GMT

The easy answer to this post - (I'll answer it before I ask for a current workaround solution) is to accept the Endicia API into the METHOD suite of features.

SITUATION:

I am working with a third party integration team and they are trying to help me get everything set up as much as possible prior to involving METHOD consulting - because the other company doesn't charge anything for development or interface integration. So he is trying to get everything all but set up with METHOD, so that when I do involve METHOD, the time needed to finish the setup should be very minimal.

So here is what we are trying to do. I am trying to create an interface that will allow me to click one button and have it do multiple things - including activate certain features on this third party's site. We are trying to create USPS return postage labels (.pdf) to send via email to my vendors (I'm a reverse logistics - end of life cycle disposal company). ...So from my leads or vendors screen I want to have the button send out the information that the third party is requesting. If you are reading through this, please read through the whole thing so that you can get the full scope of what we are trying to accomplish here.

Thanks! and happy reading!

Here are some questions that he asked me to get answered by METHOD to see if they can add (auto-populate) the tracking number to the Lead or Vendor records after the labels are generated by Endicia Software:

Questions for Method:

In Method CRM is there an existing table to import a CSV file with RecordID, and TrackingNumber so that the TrackingNumber is added to the records for the Lead or Vendor?

If yes, which table, what are the field names, and how is the data associated with the correct Vendor or Lead?

If no, how can a table be created, how can a CSV be imported into that table, and the TrackingNumber added to the records of the matching RecordID?

This is what we have setup so far.

Temporary Setup:

Using the Method CRM's export of Vendor table, export RecordID, and the needed address fields to a CSV file.

Endicia Professional with Dazzle is configured to read the addresses from the CSV file.

1. Shipping person retrieves the address with the RecordID

2. Prints the label by selecting the Return option

3. The label is printed to a PDF file

4. The PDF is manually emailed to the recipient

The answers to the questions for Method (above) are so we can determine if Method can import a CSV file to update the Lead or Vendor with the tracking number, and exactly what needs to be setup in the Endicia Professional Post-Back CSV

For future reference, this outlines the ideal setup to enable minimal manual work by the shipping persons.

Desired Ideal:

When viewing a Lead or Vendor in Method CRM

1. Click a button in Method CRM

2. Return label prints in PDF, and is emailed to the recipient

3. Tracking number is populated in Method CRM

This can be setup by programing Method CRM to use one of Endicia's Developer Integrations.

To use the customized label (with the Rubber Stamp and the added text box), the DAZzle XML integrations should be used. This would require having the Dazzle software installed on the shipping computer(s).

For more information Method can look here:

http://www.endicia.com/developer-resources/desktop-xml-integration

Click "Download DAZzle XML Interface for PC", fill in the form, and submit to get the documentation.

If the custom label is not required, the Endicia Label Server API can be used. This could be advantageous because no Endicia software is needed on the shipping computers.

For more information Method can look here:

http://www.endicia.com/developer-resources/endicia-label-server-apis

Click "Request more information", fill in the form, and submit to get the documentation.

Either of these methods would require programing and implementation by Method CRM, and would benefit Method CRM by adding shipping to their capability. And as an Endicia Partner, they may receive referrals from the Endicia Partners pages. http://www.endicia.com/all-partners/integrated-partners

Method:Classic General Q&A

Re: Endicia/USPS integration.

Endicia/USPS integration.