From time to time parcel carriers such as FedEx and UPS update the format of their shipping labels. The FedEx notices below may look familiar. This puts pressure on you to vigilantly follow pending changes from your Carriers and stay on top of implementing updates in your system. Depending on type of shipping solution deployed in your environment, you may also be responsible for maintaining rate tables, and applying software updates and bug fixes. Supporting your shipping application can add up to a significant investment of time and money over the course of a year. Isn’t there a better option for shipping from SAP?
Good news – There is a better solution… All of the leading parcel carriers offer an internet based ‘web services’ solution that lets you handle all shipping activity directly from your SAP environment. No third party application. No Middleware. Web Services provides all of the functionality of a third party shipping application without the headaches managing, maintaining, hosting and paying for one. And since the carriers generate the label image, they are free to determine the content and format that appears on the label. This insures that your labels are always compliant. The carriers also maintain the rate tables themselves, as well as the maintenance activities and bug fixes.
Want to learn more? Blue Harbors can connect your SAP environment to carriers’ internet based Web Services solution for you. Check out www.blueharbors.com/xsi for more info.
1 – Example of notice regarding change to shipping label
2 – Example of notice regarding change to shipping label
By Josh Riff / Blue Harbors Consulting