Set Up DHL Account Connection in AfterShip Tracking
Plans: All plans Platforms: All platforms
Currently, brands prefer to get updates on their shipments via account-specific slug because they get higher rate limits for a smooth experience.
To track shipments seamlessly, DHL account holders can use dhl-api slug after establishing a connection with AfterShip. Also, apply for a higher rate limit if they are not satisfied with the current one (250 calls per day). Here’s how the whole process works.
In this tutorial, we will introduce:
Prerequisites
Post API access
Acquire the DHL API key
Add DHL API connection in AfterShip Tracking
Upgrade rate limit
Before you start, make sure
You have an active DHL account. If not, register yourself here .
You have access to DHL's Shipment Tracking - Unified API that covers the following DHL Group divisions:
Post & Parcel Germany (incl. mail/letter tracking)
DHL Global Forwarding (incl. DHL Same Day)
DHL Freight
DHL Express
DHL Supply Chain
DHL eCommerce Solutions
a. Asia-Pacific
b. US, Canada
c. EU (Belgium, Luxemburg, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, United Kingdom)
If not, get access to the API by filling up this short form . For more information on DHL's Shipment Tracking - Unified API refer to this developer guide .
Once you have applied to access DHL's Shipment Tracking - Unified API, you will soon receive an email from the DHL support team if your request for access is approved or declined. If approved, the email will be somewhat like this.
You will also be granted a new app with access to this API with a test quota under My Apps section.
Visit this link: https://developer.dhl.com/ and log in with your credentials.
If you're already logged in, go to the My Apps section located in the footer.
You should see your newly created App labeled as Shipment-Tracking-Unified-API, which will already be marked as Approved.
Click Edit to open the app configuration portal. Your app will be set up for the Shipment Tracking - Unified API with a daily limit of 250 requests.
Go to the View tab, find the API Key, and copy the API key to establish a connection with AfterShip. Now, proceed with the changes in the AfterShip Tracking admin.
Log in to your AfterShip account
Go to Settings and select Carriers.
Switch to Require carrier connections. Click on DHL Express and then select dhp-api
Hit the Connect button and paste the copied API key you copied from DHL portal to establish a connection with AfterShip
Let's check how you can get higher rate limit for smooth shipment tracking.
Go to the My Apps section again and click on your app
You’ll see a page with the option of Upgrade rate Limit which you need to click
You’ll land on the upgrade request form that you must fill up
To figure out how much rate limit your DHL account should be having, use this formula:
✓ Daily shipment count: Enter your daily DHL shipment account. We suggest mentioning the highest shipment count that you’ve ever had with DHL
✓ 5 is for the average shipment active state of DHL (from booking until delivered)
✓ 24/6 is for 6 hrs crawling frequency in 24 hr (4 times a day)
While filling out the form, click on the checkbox given for Send yourself a copy so that no confusion takes place with DHL regarding the rate limit
Hit the Send message button. You are likely to receive an email from DHL about needing a few additional details or confirming the new rate limit, so reply accordingly
You’ve got a higher rate limit for better tracking experience with AfterShip.
Overview
Currently, brands prefer to get updates on their shipments via account-specific slug because they get higher rate limits for a smooth experience.
To track shipments seamlessly, DHL account holders can use dhl-api slug after establishing a connection with AfterShip. Also, apply for a higher rate limit if they are not satisfied with the current one (250 calls per day). Here’s how the whole process works.
What you'll learn
In this tutorial, we will introduce:
Prerequisites
Post API access
Acquire the DHL API key
Add DHL API connection in AfterShip Tracking
Upgrade rate limit
Prerequisites
Before you start, make sure
You have an active DHL account. If not, register yourself here .
You have access to DHL's Shipment Tracking - Unified API that covers the following DHL Group divisions:
Post & Parcel Germany (incl. mail/letter tracking)
DHL Global Forwarding (incl. DHL Same Day)
DHL Freight
DHL Express
DHL Supply Chain
DHL eCommerce Solutions
a. Asia-Pacific
b. US, Canada
c. EU (Belgium, Luxemburg, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, United Kingdom)
If not, get access to the API by filling up this short form . For more information on DHL's Shipment Tracking - Unified API refer to this developer guide .
Post DHL's Shipment Tracking - Unified API access
Once you have applied to access DHL's Shipment Tracking - Unified API, you will soon receive an email from the DHL support team if your request for access is approved or declined. If approved, the email will be somewhat like this.
You will also be granted a new app with access to this API with a test quota under My Apps section.
Acquire the DHL API key
Visit this link: https://developer.dhl.com/ and log in with your credentials.
If you're already logged in, go to the My Apps section located in the footer.
You should see your newly created App labeled as Shipment-Tracking-Unified-API, which will already be marked as Approved.
Click Edit to open the app configuration portal. Your app will be set up for the Shipment Tracking - Unified API with a daily limit of 250 requests.
Go to the View tab, find the API Key, and copy the API key to establish a connection with AfterShip. Now, proceed with the changes in the AfterShip Tracking admin.
Add DHL API connection in AfterShip Tracking
Log in to your AfterShip account
Go to Settings and select Carriers.
Switch to Require carrier connections. Click on DHL Express and then select dhp-api
Hit the Connect button and paste the copied API key you copied from DHL portal to establish a connection with AfterShip
Let's check how you can get higher rate limit for smooth shipment tracking.
Upgrade rate limit
Go to the My Apps section again and click on your app
You’ll see a page with the option of Upgrade rate Limit which you need to click
You’ll land on the upgrade request form that you must fill up
To figure out how much rate limit your DHL account should be having, use this formula:
✓ Daily shipment count: Enter your daily DHL shipment account. We suggest mentioning the highest shipment count that you’ve ever had with DHL
✓ 5 is for the average shipment active state of DHL (from booking until delivered)
✓ 24/6 is for 6 hrs crawling frequency in 24 hr (4 times a day)
While filling out the form, click on the checkbox given for Send yourself a copy so that no confusion takes place with DHL regarding the rate limit
Hit the Send message button. You are likely to receive an email from DHL about needing a few additional details or confirming the new rate limit, so reply accordingly
You’ve got a higher rate limit for better tracking experience with AfterShip.
Updated on: 27/03/2025
Thank you!