UPS integration with FileMaker

[rpdwyer]

Hello List.

NRGship has a software solution utilizing a plugin to that allows FM  
solutions to retrieve shipping info, like cost estimates, within FM.  
However, the pricing structure requires a monthly subscription fee.  
Anybody know of other solutions that allow FM to get quotes on  
shipping from UPS?  Of course, I could just use a web viewer of UPS  
site, but was hoping for a plugin type solution.

Thanks,

  --Rick


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[rpdwyer]

Actually, UPS has an XML API available... this might do the trick.

--Rick

On Nov 5, 2009, at 9:51 PM, Rick Dwyer wrote:

> Hello List.
>
> NRGship has a software solution utilizing a plugin to that allows FM  
> solutions to retrieve shipping info, like cost estimates, within  
> FM.  However, the pricing structure requires a monthly subscription  
> fee.  Anybody know of other solutions that allow FM to get quotes on  
> shipping from UPS?  Of course, I could just use a web viewer of UPS  
> site, but was hoping for a plugin type solution.
>
> Thanks,
>
> --Rick
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> FMPexperts mailing list
> [hidden email]
> http://lists.ironclad.net.au/listinfo.cgi/fmpexperts-ironclad.net.au

  --Rick


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[ajknrgsoft]

Rick -

Our solution uses the UPS API's to get shipping costs, etc. It's not  
possible to call the API's directly from web viewer, but you could  
certainly create some PHP or ASP pages which do. However, the data is  
not in FMP and you'd have to scrape the HTML to get the rate info into  
FMP.

Not sure how familiar you are with XML, but it would take a few hours  
to get the XML key, go thru the docs, write and test some PHP coding  
for web viewer. With NRGship, you can be getting rate info back in  
well under an hour.

If you just need rates, this may be acceptable, but if you're going to  
take the next step and ship from FMP (why would you not!?), our  
products do it all. We've got hundreds of customers, and at one point  
sold for a "fixed" price, however the carriers are ALWAYS updating  
their APIs and adding new functionality. (Hardware like scales and  
printers are also changing...) Because we are a "certified" UPS vendor  
we have to go thru a grueling re-certification process twice a year.  
It's no longer feasible to provide updates and support at a one-time  
cost.

Feel free to email or call if you'd like more info.

Regards,
Andy Knasinski, Partner
NRG Software, LLC.
Ph 262-347-4348

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[bfr00]

On Nov 6, 2009, at 9:30 AM, andy knasinski wrote:

> Rick -
>
> Our solution uses the UPS API's to get shipping costs, etc. It's not  
> possible to call the API's directly from web viewer, but you could  
> certainly create some PHP or ASP pages which do. However, the data  
> is not in FMP and you'd have to scrape the HTML to get the rate info  
> into FMP.
>
> Not sure how familiar you are with XML, but it would take a few  
> hours to get the XML key, go thru the docs, write and test some PHP  
> coding for web viewer. With NRGship, you can be getting rate info  
> back in well under an hour.
>
> If you just need rates, this may be acceptable, but if you're going  
> to take the next step and ship from FMP (why would you not!?), our  
> products do it all. We've got hundreds of customers, and at one  
> point sold for a "fixed" price, however the carriers are ALWAYS  
> updating their APIs and adding new functionality. (Hardware like  
> scales and printers are also changing...) Because we are a  
> "certified" UPS vendor we have to go thru a grueling re-
> certification process twice a year. It's no longer feasible to  
> provide updates and support at a one-time cost.
>
> Feel free to email or call if you'd like more info.
>
> Regards,
> Andy Knasinski, Partner
> NRG Software, LLC.
> Ph 262-347-4348

Thanks for making your case. You raise good points and I'm not sure  
this is prominently displayed on your web page and pricing pages.



Bruce Robertson
Filemaker 9 Certified

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[ajknrgsoft]

Bruce -

Thanks for the feedback.

We have also done some comparisons to using ODBC as well. Normally  
when the UPS rep "comes out" to setup ODBC, they do a one-way  
integration where you can pull orders from FileMaker using a keyed  
entry. Post shipment, the ship costs and track # do not get  
automatically entered into FileMaker.

With the NRG products for UPS, FedEx an Endicia, you get a very TIGHT  
integration where you can be IN filemaker, hit a button that says  
Ship, and your label prints. From a Mac or PC. We also built in the  
hooks to thermal printers and digital scales. Before 10.5, there was  
no easy way to print to a thermal printer without an expensive driver.  
We create our own interface to talk to these devices.

We're working to get more videos on the website, but we're always glad  
to do an impromptu demo to show you how quick and easy it is to use.

Regards,
Andy


On Nov 6, 2009, at 3:02 PM, [hidden email]  
wrote:

> Thanks for making your case. You raise good points and I'm not sure
> this is prominently displayed on your web page and pricing pages.


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[esaline]

We used IntelliBar for our thermal labels.  They added built in  
Ethernet now but 5 years ago we used HP Direct Jet Print servers and  
it was a free default driver.

We have the same printers that we bought 5 to 6 years ago, they are  
rock solid.  The only time we have problems is one some uses acetone  
or a screwdriver to clean the heads.

...and when they call to see if can order more toner for them because  
they are running out of ink ;)

Erik


On Nov 6, 2009, at 2:09 PM, andy knasinski wrote:

> Bruce -
>
> Thanks for the feedback.
>
> We have also done some comparisons to using ODBC as well. Normally  
> when the UPS rep "comes out" to setup ODBC, they do a one-way  
> integration where you can pull orders from FileMaker using a keyed  
> entry. Post shipment, the ship costs and track # do not get  
> automatically entered into FileMaker.
>
> With the NRG products for UPS, FedEx an Endicia, you get a very  
> TIGHT integration where you can be IN filemaker, hit a button that  
> says Ship, and your label prints. From a Mac or PC. We also built in  
> the hooks to thermal printers and digital scales. Before 10.5, there  
> was no easy way to print to a thermal printer without an expensive  
> driver. We create our own interface to talk to these devices.
>
> We're working to get more videos on the website, but we're always  
> glad to do an impromptu demo to show you how quick and easy it is to  
> use.
>
> Regards,
> Andy
>
>
> On Nov 6, 2009, at 3:02 PM, [hidden email]  
> wrote:
>
>> Thanks for making your case. You raise good points and I'm not sure
>> this is prominently displayed on your web page and pricing pages.
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> FMPexperts mailing list
> [hidden email]
> http://lists.ironclad.net.au/listinfo.cgi/fmpexperts-ironclad.net.au

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