Setting up UPS Mail Innovations with ShipHero is a process that requires working with both your UPS representative and the ShipHero support team, as the rates are uploaded directly into ShipHero's database rather than retrieved via an API.
What is UPS Mail Innovations? UPS Mail Innovations is a shipping service for businesses that send out a lot of mail. UPS picks up your mail, gets it ready, and then hands it off to the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) within 24-48 hours. After that, the USPS takes over and delivers your mail within one to five business days.
Want to learn more? Contact your UPS rep or visit the official UPS website.
This article covers:
- Pre-Connection Requirements with UPS
- Prepare and Submit Templates to ShipHero
- Helpful Tips and Limitations
Pre-Connection Requirements (Work with UPS)
Before you start the integration in ShipHero, you must ensure your account is properly set up on the UPS side. You will need to contact your UPS representative to obtain the following key pieces of information and approvals:
- UPS Account Approval: Your UPS shipping account must be approved for Mail Innovations.
- Mail Innovations Cost Center: Your unique Cost Center ID.
- Mail Innovations Endorsement ID: Your Endorsement ID.
- Rate Files: Separate CSV files for your Domestic and International shipping rates.
Prepare and Submit Rate Templates to ShipHero
Unlike standard carrier connections, UPS Mail Innovations rates must be manually uploaded to the ShipHero database.
- Download Templates: Attached are the templates (e.g., UPS MI Domestic Rate Example Sheet, UPS MI International Rate Example Sheet) that you need to fill out with your approved rates and zones.
- Fill in Details: Populate the downloaded templates with your account's domestic and international shipping rates.
- Send to Support: Email the completed rate CSV files, along with your other required Mail Innovations IDs (Cost Center, Endorsement ID), to the ShipHero support team at support@shiphero.com for them to complete the setup.
Helpful Tips and Limitations
Once ShipHero Support has uploaded your rates, your UPS Mail Innovations connection will be active.
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ShipHero uses the actual weight of a package NOT dimensional (DIM) weight to calculate rates for UPS Mail Innovations.
What is DIM weight? Dimensional weight (DIM weight) is a package's volume expressed in terms of weight, calculated by multiplying a package's length, width, and height, then dividing by a specific dimensional divisor set by the carrier. Carriers use dimensional weight to determine shipping costs, charging based on the greater of the package's actual weight or its dimensional weight, encouraging the use of smaller, denser packaging.
- "Bound Printed Matter (BPM)" CANNOT be used with UPS Expedited Mail Innovations. For that service, you must use the "BPM Flat" and "BPM Parcel" package types. Please note, these UPS box types need be active in the Shipping > Boxes to be able to select them in the packing interfaces. More information on Shipping Boxes can be found here: How to Set Up Shipping Boxes.
- ShipHero can't selectively turn on or off specific services within UPS Mail Innovations. Please see our article on the Rate Shop+ tool if you want to use select services within our cheapest rating tools.
- If you'd like your Order Number to show up on the shipping label (under "Package ID"), please contact support@shiphero.com for assistance.
- To disconnect UPS Mail Innovations from your account, please contact support@shiphero.com to remove your UPS MI rates from your account.