How to configure UPS (UPSPARCELREST) in techSHIP [Guide]

UPS (UPSPARCELREST) uses the UPS Shipping REST API with OAuth-based authorization instead of the legacy SOAP connection method. The integration supports the EU product identifier requirements effective November 1, 2026, for qualifying business-to-consumer shipments.

The UPS integration supports:

• Void Orders

• Rate Shopping

• Time in Transit

• Tracking History

• Third-Party Billing

• Collect on Delivery (COD)

• Address Validation

• Return Labels

• Label References

• Signature Required

• Dangerous Goods

• Manifesting

Information to be Provided

The following information is needed to connect and configure UPS:

For UPS Mail Innovations, obtain the applicable Mail Innovations Customer Number and GUID from the UPS representative.

Before starting, confirm that the UPS user can sign in and has access to the shipper account and its payment options. The account must be authorized for the intended services and shipping locations.

The REST integration uses UPS authorization rather than the legacy UPS developer access key.

Specifications and Constraints

Operational Details

UPS provides domestic and international small parcel shipping. Service availability depends on the UPS account, origin, destination, package type, and applicable UPS agreements.

Commercial Invoice (CI): The integration supports international trade-document information. When the shipment requires a commercial invoice, ensure the applicable commodity, customs, and export information is provided. The corresponding settings are available at the Client (Billing) Account and Order levels.

UPS Mail Innovations and SurePost: These services are subject to account eligibility and carrier-specific configuration. Their rating and package requirements may differ from standard UPS services.

EU Product Identifier Requirements

Starting November 1, 2026, at 00:00 UTC, qualifying B2C shipments imported into the European Union from outside the EU must include the following item-level product identifiers:

UPS REST includes available product identifiers in international shipment trade-document information.

For qualifying shipments processed on or after the effective date, techSHIP prevents shipment submission if an item is missing its SKU or Manufacturer Product Identifier.

The following conditions determine applicability:

• The shipment originates outside the European Union.

• The destination is an EU member state.

• The recipient is classified as a consumer.

• International trade-document processing applies to the shipment.

Manufacturer Product Identifier must represent the identifier assigned by the product manufacturer. Do not automatically copy the merchant SKU into this field unless it is genuinely the same manufacturer-assigned identifier.

UPC is included when available. Empty identifiers are omitted from the UPS request.

Product identifier values submitted to UPS are limited to 100 characters.

Ensure the Integrated system provides the correct values for each item. Supported Order Management Rules can also populate the corresponding item fields.

Configuring a Baseline Account

A Baseline Account serves as the fundamental connection point between techSHIP and the carrier's system. It acts as a template that holds the credentials and fundamental properties required to process shipments.

The techSHIP AI Assistant is available from the Carrier page for supported Carrier configuration tasks. For detailed conceptual information and advanced configuration, refer to 📄 techSHIP AI Assistant: Overview & Availability [Information].

Adding a Carrier

Before adding an account, you must ensure the Carrier entity is available for your location.

1. Click My Carriers from the left menu under the Carriers category.

2. Click Add Carrier.

   

3. Select the desired Carrier.

You may encounter additional messages depending on the carrier status or your plan:

• Subscription Required (⭐): If the carrier has a star icon, you will see a message stating "To use this carrier, a subscription upgrade is required." Press Contact to Upgrade to proceed.

  

• Carrier Suspended: If the carrier has not been used for an extended period, you will see a message stating “This carrier is currently on hold...” Click Request Assistance to reactivate it.

  

• Setup Fee Waived: If a carrier from the same carrier group is already installed in your location, you can add this carrier without incurring additional fees.

  

4. If needed, update the carrier Name.

5. Click Add Carrier.

   

If the purchase confirmation appears, complete the following steps:

• Review the purchase notice and any applicable charge information.

• Optionally enter a PO Number.

• Select I am authorized to complete this purchase on behalf of my organization.

• Click Purchase to confirm the Carrier addition.

Once the Carrier is added, you will be automatically redirected to the Carrier page to continue setting it up.

6. Enter the Code of the Carrier as it appears in your host system.

The Code of the Carrier must match exactly the value defined in the host system. Any discrepancy (including casing or extra spaces) may prevent the carrier from working correctly.

7. Click Save.

   

If your facility utilizes the centralized Pickup Schedule, we highly recommend adding this new carrier to your calendar now. While not required to process labels, this ensures accurate induction metrics for your Insights dashboards. To learn more, see 📄 Understanding the Centralized Pickup Schedule & Expected Induction Logic [Information].

Adding a Baseline Account

From the Carrier page, click Add Account to create a new Baseline Account.

You will be redirected to the Baseline Account page to complete the setup.

Entering incorrect values will prevent the system from generating shipping labels.

General Tab

In the General tab, define the administrative properties:

• Name: Enter a descriptive name for the account.

Enter a descriptive name based on unique properties. E.g.:

• Carrier Name - Account Number (CarrierX - 123456789)

• Carrier Name - Consolidator Name (CarrierY - MyConsolidator)

• Carrier Name

• Usage: Select the most suitable option:

  • Test: Used for sandbox or onboarding purposes.

  • Production: Used for live shipping.

Keep the Status field set to its default Active value. An account must be Active to remain fully editable. For detailed conceptual information on account statuses, refer to 📄 How to Inactivate and Activate a Carrier Baseline Account [Step-by-Step Guide].

Carrier Tab

UPS Account Registration

To authorize a new UPS REST connection:

1. Navigate to Plugins and select UPS Register account.

2. Enter an Account Name to identify the UPS account.

3. Select Is sandbox only when registering a test account.

4. Click Register to open the UPS authorization process.

5. Sign in with the UPS account and approve the authorization.

6. Return to techSHIP and configure the registered Baseline Account.

The connection uses an authorization token associated with the registered account. If that authorization becomes unavailable, the account may require registration or reauthorization.

UPS Setup

The Carrier tab contains the UPS-specific Baseline Account settings:

• Registration id: Identifies the UPS registration associated with the Baseline Account. It is populated during registration.

• Pickup mode: Select the applicable pickup or drop-off arrangement.

• Contact name: Enter the contact responsible for pickup operations.

• Pickup open time: Enter the beginning of the pickup window.

• Pickup close time: Enter the end of the pickup window.

• Pickup ready hours: Configure the applicable shipment preparation time.

• Weekends mode: Configure how weekend days are handled.

• Fetch zone info from ups: Enable this option when UPS zone information is required.

Mail Innovations Setup

For UPS Mail Innovations, configure:

• MI customer number: The customer number supplied by UPS.

• MI customer Guid: The corresponding Mail Innovations GUID.

• MI rate timeout: The configured timeout for Mail Innovations rating.

Ship From Address

The Ship from address settings identify the shipment origin.

• Sender name: Enter the originating sender name.

• Phone: Enter the warehouse contact telephone number.

• Complete the applicable sender address fields using the induction location associated with the UPS shipping operation.

Labels Tab

The Labels tab of the Baseline Account contains the label output settings.

UPS REST supports thermal label output and image-based label processing.

• ZPL: Supported for thermal label output.

• PDF and PNG preferences: Supported through the integration's image-conversion workflow.

• Label stock sizes: The UPS REST implementation supports 4 × 6 inches and 4 × 8 inches.

Select the appropriate label preference and stock size for the configured printing process.

Label References are configured separately in the Client (Billing) Account, under the General tab.

Finalizing the Setup

Once you have entered the required information, click Save.

After you save the Baseline Account, check whether the Registration tab or a registration status badge is available.

If neither is available, the Carrier does not use this Registration workflow in techSHIP. If registration is still pending, open the Registration tab and press Registration, then complete 📄 How to Register a Carrier Baseline Account [Step-by-Step Guide] before creating shipments.

From the Carrier page, you can now see the Baseline Account listed with the administrative status Active. The Active status is separate from the account's registration status.

The Baseline Account configuration is now saved. You can continue with Configuring a Client Account below to assign the Baseline Account to a specific Client.

Configuring a Client Account

Adding an Account

Before adding a Client Account, ensure that the Client has been created. For instructions creating a Client, see: 📄 10 - How to create a Client profile [Step-by-Step guide].

1. Click Clients from the left menu under the Clients section.

2. Click the Edit icon for the desired Client.

   

3. Click Add Accounts.

   

4. Optionally, use the Search box to search by Baseline Account Name or Carrier.

5. Select the Baseline Accounts that will serve as the foundation for your new Client Accounts.

6. Click Add Accounts.

   

   A toast notification will confirm the accounts were successfully assigned. Click the Refresh icon if recently added accounts are not displayed.

   

7. Click Edit on each newly created account.

   

8. Configure the available options in each tab (except Carrier).

   

For complete instructions on configuring this settings, see 📄 How to configure the Billing Account General Options tab [Step-by-Step guide].

Carrier Tab

The UPS Client (Billing) Account inherits the registered Baseline Account connection and provides settings specific to the client and shipment workflow.

Service Configuration

• Service code: Select the UPS service used when an appropriate service has not been supplied by the Order, according to the configured service-selection behavior.

• Override WMS Service Code: Enable this option when the Client Account's configured service code must override the service code received from the Integrated system.

• Default commodity description: Enter a default description for shipments without an applicable commodity description.

• Package type: Select the package type appropriate for the UPS service.

• Address validation: Configure the required UPS address-validation behavior. Street-level validation is available for supported US and Puerto Rico addresses.

• Handle unclassified as residential: Specify how addresses without an established classification should be treated.

Rate Shopping Options

The following carrier-specific settings are available:

• Rateshop SurePost: Enables consideration of eligible SurePost rates.

• Rateshop Mail Innovations: Enables consideration of eligible Mail Innovations rates.

• Skip generic UPS rateshop: Excludes standard UPS rates when used with the applicable SurePost or Mail Innovations configuration.

Availability of these services depends on the UPS account and shipment details.

Accounts and Billing

Configure the relevant account information:

• Shipper account #: The UPS account used for shipping.

• Bill receiver account #: The receiver's UPS billing account, when applicable.

• Bill third party account #: The third-party UPS billing account, when applicable.

• Bill postal: The billing postal code.

• Bill country: The billing country.

• Duty payment terms: The party responsible for applicable duties.

• Duty account #: The UPS account used for duty billing when applicable.

• Duty account postal: The postal code associated with the duty account.

• Duty country code: The country associated with the duty account.

Export

For international shipments, configure the applicable export information:

• Skip trade documents: Controls whether trade-document information is submitted. Do not enable this option when the shipment requires UPS trade-document data.

• Reason for export: Identifies the export purpose.

• Shipper tax number: The shipper's applicable tax identifier.

• Currency code for export: The currency used for export values.

• Terms of sale: The shipment's applicable trade terms.

• Additional comments: Additional commercial invoice information.

• Declaration statement: The declaration included with the commercial invoice.

• Commercial invoice copies: Configures the number of commercial invoice copies.

Returns

The integration supports return-label processing for eligible shipments.

• Print return labels: Enables generation of return labels.

• Configure the applicable return address, return service, and return billing information when required for the shipment.

Ship From (Induction) Address

The Client Account can override the originating address inherited from the Baseline Account.

• Override sender address: Enables the client-specific sender address.

• Ship from phone: Enter the telephone number associated with the shipment origin.

• Reformat ship-to phone: Enables supported formatting of the recipient's telephone number.

• Substitute missing ship-to phone: Enables substitution when a recipient phone number is unavailable.

• Ship-to phone substitution: Enter the substitute number when the preceding option is enabled.

Dangerous Goods

UPS REST supports Dangerous Goods processing for eligible shipments and services.

Use the applicable client-item and Order-level Dangerous Goods settings rather than relying on the deprecated Hazardous materials account section.

ECO mode and rate estimation are not available for shipments with Dangerous Goods in the UPS REST rating implementation.

Specifying Rate Shopping Service Codes

When using Rate Shopping, configure the services that should be included or excluded from the rating process.

For detailed instructions, see Include or exclude Service Codes when Rate Shopping [Step-by-Step Guide].

Label References

The UPS REST integration supports Label References and UPS reference types.

To configure reference values, open the Client (Billing) Account's General tab and locate the Labels section.

The available fields include Reference 1, Reference 2, Reference 3, and Reference 4, along with their corresponding reference-type fields.

The number of references transmitted depends on the service:

The Client Account can use configured reference values or inherit the corresponding Baseline Account values.

Where Auto truncate references is enabled, the integration applies the configured UPS reference length restriction.

For a comprehensive guide, see Using order References in your labels [Step-by-Step guide].

Finalizing the Setup

Once you have entered the required information, click Save.

With the account configured and requirements verified, you can now proceed to process orders as described below.

Configuring an Order

The steps described in this section are not required for carrier setup, and they are offered as an optional review if further order-level configuration is required.

Follow the UI Navigation steps in 📄 05 - How to edit an order’s information - [Step-by-Step guide], using the carrier-specific values provided in this guide.

The following UPS-specific settings are available when editing an Order.

Service and Shipment Options

• Service code: Select the applicable UPS service.

• Ship date: Set the date used for shipment processing.

• COD amount: Enter the collection amount when Collect on Delivery applies.

• Print return labels: Configure return-label processing for the selected Order.

• Skip address validation: Override address validation where appropriate.

• Residential: Specify the residential classification when applicable.

• Commodity description: Enter the shipment commodity description.

• Dangerous Goods: Identify shipments requiring Dangerous Goods processing.

• Signature required: Enable the applicable signature service.

Commercial Invoice

For international shipments, review the UPS-specific Commercial invoice section.

• PO Number: The purchase order number.

• Invoice number: The commercial invoice number.

• Shipper type: Identifies the shipping party.

• Receiver type: Identifies the receiving party.

• Reason for export: Identifies the export purpose.

• Terms of sale: Specifies the applicable trade terms.

• Consignee tax number: The consignee's tax identifier.

• Shipper tax number: The shipper's tax identifier.

• Additional comments: Additional commercial invoice details.

• Declaration statement: The applicable export declaration.

Shipper and Receiver Classification

The integration supports the following party classifications:

• Business

• Direct consumer

• Government

• Private

• Reseller

• Other

The integration resolves these values in the following order:

1. The Order value.

2. The corresponding Client Account setting.

3. The integration default: Business for the shipper and Direct consumer for the receiver.

Select the classification that accurately identifies each party.

For an EU-bound shipment addressed to a business, use Business as the Receiver type when the consignee is genuinely a business.

Do not change a consumer shipment to a business classification merely to bypass the product-identifier requirements.

Item-Level Product Identifiers

For qualifying B2C shipments imported into the EU, ensure every item contains:

• SKU: The merchant product identifier.

• Manufacturer Product Identifier: The manufacturer-assigned product identifier.

• UPC: The standardized product identifier, when available.

These are item-level values, not the Order's general reference fields.

The identifiers must be associated with their corresponding commodity lines. They can be supplied by the Integrated system or populated through supported Order Management Rules.

From November 1, 2026, at 00:00 UTC, the integration blocks applicable consumer shipments when a required identifier is missing.

Click Save to apply the Order-level changes. After the Order is updated, continue with the standard shipping workflow.

Troubleshooting

• UPS authorization token is missing: If the integration reports Authorization token is missing, review the registered UPS Baseline Account and complete the required authorization or reauthorization process.

• UPS rejects shipment creation: Verify the shipper account, selected service, shipping lane, and applicable account permissions. Successful rating does not independently establish that an account can generate shipping labels.

• EU product identifiers are missing: For applicable B2C shipments imported into the EU on or after November 1, 2026, verify that every commodity line contains SKU and Manufacturer Product Identifier. Correct the affected items before reprocessing.

• Incorrect receiver classification: Review Receiver type under Commercial invoice. Ensure the selected value accurately represents the consignee. If the field is populated through Order Management Rules, verify the relevant rules.

• International trade-document validation fails: Verify the applicable commodity descriptions, item weights, quantities, export information, and trade-document settings.

• Mail Innovations rates are unavailable: Review MI customer number, MI customer Guid, the configured package type, and Rateshop Mail Innovations. Confirm that the UPS account is eligible for the requested service.

• Dangerous Goods rating fails: ECO mode and rate estimation are not supported for Dangerous Goods shipments. Review the Order's Dangerous Goods setting and the selected service.

• Address validation fails: Verify the destination address and Client Account Address validation configuration. Street-level validation is available only for supported destinations.

• Return-label processing fails: Review Print return labels, the return address, return service, and any required return billing information.

• References do not appear as expected: In the Client Account, review General → Labels, including the configured reference values and types. Standard UPS shipments submit a maximum of two references; Mail Innovations can submit up to four.

• Ship-from contact information is incomplete: Review Ship from phone and the originating address in the Client Account before processing the shipment.