This guide provides technical steps and required prerequisites for successfully integrating your United Parcel Service (UPS) shipping account with the ShipHero platform.
United Parcel Service (UPS) is a global leader in logistics, parcel delivery, and freight services. For e-commerce and fulfillment operations, integrating your UPS account with ShipHero allows you to leverage your negotiated rates, generate shipping labels, and automate tracking updates using the UPS API.
Examples of Key UPS Services
| Service | Description | Time Frame (Typical) |
|---|---|---|
| UPS Ground | Economical, day-definite domestic shipping. | 1–5 business days |
| UPS 2nd Day Air | Guaranteed delivery by the end of the second business day. | 2 business days |
| UPS Next Day Air | Guaranteed next-business-day delivery. | 1 business day |
| UPS Worldwide |
Comprehensive international shipping services (Express, Expedited, Economy, Saver). *To use these options with our rate shopping tools Worldwide options must be enabled on your UPS account first and then cheapest rate shopping specific to Worldwide services enabled by our Support team. |
Varies by service and destination |
To learn more about discounted rates between UPS and ShipHero, please contact your CSM or email Support@shiphero.com. Our team will connect you with our Carrier Analyst for further assistance.
Note: This program is currently available only to customers who meet UPS prerequisites, operate warehouses within the United States and must use ShipHero WMS to process the UPS labels.
Requirements Before Connecting
Before attempting the connection in ShipHero, you must ensure the following are correctly configured on the UPS side.
- Active UPS.com Account (Profile): You must have an active UPS.com login credential (username and password).
- Valid UPS Account Number (Shipper Number): Your UPS account number (a 6- to 10-digit alphanumeric billing ID) must be linked to your UPS.com user profile.
Verification Steps on UPS.com:
- Log in to UPS.com using your credentials.
- Navigate to your User Menu (top right) and select Accounts and Payment.
- Verify that your active UPS Account Number is listed. If it is not, select Add a Payment Method and follow the prompts to link your existing UPS Account Number.
Connecting UPS to ShipHero
The integration utilizes the UPS API to establish a secure link and retrieve real-time rates and label generation capabilities. The connection process leverages OAuth 2.0 for secure authentication.
Step 1: Connecting the Account in ShipHero
- Go to the Shipping > Carriers page and click the Connect Carrier button.
- Select UPS from the list of available carriers.
- Enter Account Credentials. (Required fields are marked with an *asterisk. Connection fields defined below.)
- Click Connect.
Step 2: Complete the OAuth Authentication
Upon selecting the Connect button:
- You will be redirected to the official UPS.com website. This is the OAuth handshake process.
- You will be prompted to re-enter your UPS.com password to confirm your identity.
- You will be asked to Agree to the UPS Technology Agreement, which grants ShipHero (the third-party application) authorization to access your UPS shipping account data (rates, label creation, tracking) on your behalf.
- Click Continue or Authorize.
Step 3: Verification
- You will be redirected back to the ShipHero Shipping > Carriers page.
- The UPS carrier connection should now appear in your Connected Carriers list.
Connection Fields Defined
| Field | Required Input |
|---|---|
| Profile (Required) | Profiles have multiple uses in ShipHero. When connecting a carrier you can set different settings to the carrier account connection and have them only apply to orders with that profile selected. Learn more about the uses of profiles HERE. |
| Warehouse (Required) | Select the physical warehouse the account is being connected to. If you have multiple warehouses, carrier connections are managed separately for each. |
| Account Number (Required) | Your UPS Account Number (Shipper Number). |
| Deliver Duty Paid | When enabled the connected account will be charged international duties and fees. Learn more about international Duties and Fees HERE. |
| 3rd Party Billing Fields | These fields are used when you want the carrier fees charged to a different account than the main account connected. After connecting the account, you can configure the 3rd party billing account to be charged shipping labels, duties and taxes, or both. Learn more about connecting a 3rd Party billing account HERE. |
| USPS Endorsement for Mail Innovations | Required field when setting up a UPS Mail Innovations account. Learn more about connecting a UPS Mail Innovations account HERE. |
| Cost Center | Required field when setting up a UPS Mail Innovations account. Learn more about connecting a UPS Mail Innovations account HERE. |
Additional Settings (available after connecting)
| Carrier Setting | Definition |
|---|---|
| Cut-Off time | Determines the shipping date printed on the label. Once the cut-off time is reached, labels will be generated for the following day. The carrier's cut-off time generally coincides with your carrier pick-up times; labels generated after pick-up don't ship that day, so you'd want the label to reflect the next shipping day accordingly. |
| Enable SurePost | This needs to be enabled on your UPS account by your UPS rep before it can be used in ShipHero. [Content incomplete — needs manual review] |
| UPS Carbon Neutral | All labels with this profile will be UPS carbon neutral. UPS charges per package for this option. |
| Disable Quoting | Do not include this carrier as part of quoting or cheapest rate calculations. |
| 3rd Party Billing Fields (for Shipping Charges) |
If you entered third party billing information during the connection process, the information will automatically be populated into these fields. If DDP is enabled then the shipping charges and the duties and taxes will be billed to this account. There is no need to re-enter the information into the 3rd Party duties fields. Learn more about setting up 3rd party billing with UPS HERE. |
| 3rd Party Billing Fields (for Duties and Taxes) |
Use these fields to charge duties and taxes to a different account than the one that is charged the shipping fees. Information from the connection page does not automatically populate to these fields. Learn more about setting up 3rd party billing with UPS HERE. |
Troubleshooting and Special Considerations
| Issue | Resolution |
|---|---|
| Invalid Account Number/Authentication Failure | Action: Verify your UPS Account Number is correctly typed and is actively linked to the UPS.com profile used for the connection. Ensure your UPS.com password has not recently changed. |
| OAuth Upgrade Needed | Action: If you are editing an existing connection, you may see a Refresh OAuth Connection button. Click this to be redirected to UPS.com and re-authorize the connection, which ensures it is compliant with the latest UPS API security standards. |
| Third-Party Billing | Action: To use a client's or third-party UPS account number for billing, you must first create a separate Warehouse Profile in ShipHero and connect the account to that specific profile. You must also have authorization from UPS to bill against that third-party number. Find more information about connecting a 3rd Party Billing account HERE. |
| UPS Mail Innovations | Action: This service often requires manual rate upload. Contact your UPS Representative for your Mail Innovations Cost Center ID and Rate Files (CSV), and then submit this information to ShipHero Support for configuration. Find more information about Mail Innovations HERE. |
Please see attached for instructions on how to Add a UPS Account to your User ID in UPS.com.