Web API

Services

Standard

The most basic service. Normal ground shipping without any modifier to speed up the shipping time.

Returns

A shipment that the customer sends back to the store / sender

Notice:

  • We're also providing the option to create a QR code returns voucher. See QR code returns for all the details.

Express 08:00

The GLS service Express 08:00 ensures a next business day delivery (mon-fri) by 08:00 am throughout the country.

Requirements:

  • The sender and recipient both have to be located in Germany
  • service has to be gls_express_0800
  • The recipients' phone number (to.phone) has to be provided

Express 09:00

The GLS service Express 09:00 ensures a next business day delivery (mon-fri) by 09:00 am.

Requirements:

  • service has to be gls_express_0900
  • Can be used for shipments from Germany to the following countries
    • Belgium (BE)
    • Germany (DE)
    • Luxembourg (LU)
    • The Netherlands (NL)
  • Can be used for domestic shipments within Austria (AT) and Belgium (BE)
  • The recipients' phone number (to.phone) has to be provided

Express 10:00

The GLS service Express 10:00 ensures a next business day delivery (mon-fri) by 10:00 am.

Requirements:

  • service has to be gls_express_1000
  • Can be used for shipments from Germany to the following countries:
    • Austria (AT)
    • Belgium (BE)
    • Czech Republic (CZ)
    • Germany (DE)
    • Great Britain (GB)
    • Luxembourg (LU)
    • The Netherlands (NL)
  • Can be used for domestic shipments within the following countries:
    • Austria (AT)
    • Belgium (BE)
    • Denmark (DK)
  • The recipients' phone number (to.phone) has to be provided

Express 12:00

The GLS service Express 12:00 ensures a next business day delivery (mon-fri) by noon.

Requirements:

  • service has to be gls_express_1200
  • Can be used for shipments from Germany to the following countries:
    • Austria (AT)
    • Belgium (BE)
    • Switzerland (CH)
    • Czech Republic (CZ)
    • Germany (DE)
    • Denmark (DK)
    • Great Britain (GB)
    • Liechtenstein (LI)
    • Luxembourg (LU)
    • The Netherlands (NL)
  • Can be used for domestic shipments within the following countries:
    • Austria (AT)
    • Belgium (BE)
    • Denmark (DK)
    • Ireland (IE)
  • The recipients' phone number (to.phone) has to be provided

Pick&ShipService

Using the Pick&ShipService you can request GLS to pick up a parcel at the address of your choice and deliver it directly to the recipient.

Requirements:

  • the sender has to be located in Germany or Austria
  • you'll have to use your own contract with the carrier
  • only available when using GLS Web API integration

Additional information:

  • pickup will take place the next working day at the shipping address
  • the label within our response can't be used for shipping, since the carrier will bring a shipping label when picking up the parcel. It can be used for internal processes or for package assignment.

Package types

Parcel

The most basic package type for shipping parcels there is.

Additional services

Cash on delivery

"Cash on delivery parcels with GLS: The recipient pays for the goods on delivery in cash. GLS accepts the money and transfers it securely and quickly to the sender’s account – usually within five working days after delivery."

Requirements:

  • Maximum cash on delivery amount and liability limit: € 2,500
  • The currency has to be EUR
  • The sender has to be located in Germany or Austria
  • The recipient has to be located in Germany or Austria
  • You'll have to use your own contract with the carrier
  • Only available when using GLS Web API integration

DepositService

By using the additional service DepositService you can specify a location where the carrier should deposit the parcel.

Requirements:

  • service has to be standard
  • The sender has to be located in Germany
  • The recipient has to be located in Germany
  • You'll have to use your own contract with the carrier

FlexDeliveryService

"The FlexDeliveryService gives recipients numerous possibilities to customise parcel delivery. [...] The recipient gets information via e-mail about the upcoming parcel delivery, including the estimated delivery time frame. If the recipient will not be at home, he can choose from a range of practical delivery options – actively influencing the delivery of the parcel."

Requirements:

  • service has to be standard
  • properties.email is mandatory
  • Can be used for shipments from Austria, Belgium, Denmark and Germany to the following countries: AT, BE, CZ, DE, DK, ES, FR, HR, HU, LU, NL, PL, RO, SI, SK
  • Only available when using GLS Web API integration

Guaranteed24Service

When using the additional service Guaranteed24Service the carrier GLS is guaranteeing delivery on the next business day (except Saturdays) for shipments within Germany. If the delivery can't be made within time, GLS will refund the extra charges for the service.

Requirements:

  • Only applicable for shipments within Germany
  • The sender and recipient have to be located in Germany
  • You'll have to use your own contract with the carrier
  • Only available when using GLS Web API integration

Saturday delivery

When sending packages on a Friday you can specify that they should be delivered on Saturday (if the carrier supports this).

Requirements:

  • service has to be one of the following:
    • gls_express_1000
    • gls_express_1200
    • one_day_early
  • you'll have to use your own contract with the carrier
  • the sender has to be located in Germany, Austria or Belgium

Other attributes

Incoterms

To be able to send dutiable shipments you have to send GLS the shipment specific incoterm with your request.

Requirements:

  • incoterm is mandatory, its value can be ddp, ddp_untaxed, dap or dap_cleared

ShopDeliveryService

"GLS delivers parcels except tyres) directly to a ParcelShop. Recipients select in advance the ParcelShop to which the parcel should be sent. Once parcels have arrived, GLS informs recipients by e-mail or text message. They can collect their parcels from the GLS ParcelShop within the next eight working days after the day of delivery."

Requirements:

  • to.first_name is mandatory
  • to.last_name is mandatory
  • to.email is mandatory
  • drop_off_point.drop_off_point_id is mandatory (can be determined through the GLS parcelshop search)
  • drop_off_point.type has to be parcel_shop
  • The sender has to be located in one of the following countries: AT, DE, BE, DK, PL
  • The recipient has to be located in one of the following countries: AT, DE, BE, DK, PL
  • Only available when using GLS Web API integration

QR code returns

If you want to enable your customers to reduce their carbon footprint or they do not own a printer, you can provide them with a QR code they can then show at the respective store to get a returns label.

Notice:

  • When creating a QR code you will also always receive a normal returns label.

Requirements:

  • Returns from the following countries are possible:
    • Austria (AT)
    • Belgium (BE)
    • Denmark (DK)
    • Finland (FI)
    • France (FR)
    • Germany (DE)
    • Ireland (IE)
    • Luxembourg (LU)
    • Poland (PL)
    • Spain (ES)

Label formats

PDF

  • DIN A5: pdf_a5
  • DIN A6: pdf_a6

Misc

LetterboxService

"With the LetterboxService, we deliver small consignments directly to the consignee`s letterbox. This service is ideal for sending small items, mailshots or catalogues, where the consignee's signature is not required."

Requirements:

  • you have to use the additional service DepositService
  • the attribute message has to be Briefkasten
  • max. dimensions 40 cm x 28 cm x 5 cm
  • min. dimension: DIN C5
  • max. weight 1 kg

Trackers

A tracker can be used for tracking shipments that were created using a tool outside of shipcloud. This way you can get notified of shipment changes, even if your shipping label has been created somewhere else.

You can find all the details in our API reference.

Field lengths

  • shipments

    • company: 2 - 40 characters
    • last_name: 2 - 40 characters (first_name + last_name <= 40 characters)
    • care_of: 0 - 40 characters
    • street: 3 - 40 characters
    • street_no: 1 - 10 characters
    • zip_code: 1 - 10 characters
    • city: 2 - 40 characters
    • phone: 0 - 40 characters (with “+” prefix)
    • email: 3 - 100 characters