Sage 100

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  • 1.  Is "rolling your own" integration to UPS / FEDEX still a thing?

    Posted 02-04-2020 09:40
    I never quite got into creating my own integration to/from the standard UPS or FEDEX shipping solutions. Instead, I found it easier to have StarShip handle the heavy lifting. I know previously I've read quite a bit about people writing their own integration and skipping the middle-man. 

    Is this still a thing and if so - how are you handling the write-back? Is it a VI writeback or do you use scripting or some other method?

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    Wayne Schulz - Schulz Consulting - 860-516-8990
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  • 2.  RE: Is "rolling your own" integration to UPS / FEDEX still a thing?

    Posted 02-04-2020 10:03
    StarShip doesn't work for Canadian carriers so when asked to help push tracking data back into Sage we need to build something.  The other software puts out a CSV which is brought in using VI, but if the shipping software only has the SO # it can be fun (VBS to query the invoice table for the SO#, create a new CSV inserting the invoice#...).

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    Kevin Moyes
    Technical Systems Analyst
    Munjal White Consulting Co.
    Toronto ON
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  • 3.  RE: Is "rolling your own" integration to UPS / FEDEX still a thing?

    Posted 02-04-2020 15:41
    I have never found a single solution to this issue primarily because of whether or not an invoice exists at the time the tracking info is available... At one point, I configured UPS/Fedex to write back to an Access DB the usual shipping information & tracking #'s but also included the SaleOrder number as well.  This was because this client did not create the invoice until the next day after shipping.  Then developed a mod to SO Invoicing that whenever a SaleOrder number was entered for the the invoice, to go check the Access DB and import the appropriate tracking numbers directly into the invoice at entry time.  This was back in the days of 4.3, so scripting was not really viable... perhaps something similar could be created now w/ scripts and eliminate the need for an MD mod.... 

    Clients that were using Sage's built in Shipping functions either were using Starship, or using a barcode reader to enter the tracking numbers...
    ​

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    Randy Marion
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Is "rolling your own" integration to UPS / FEDEX still a thing?

    Posted 02-06-2020 16:37
    @Randy Marion's custom solution using access is still in play at this client using 2015.  Will likely switch to a shipping solution on next upgrade. ​

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    alan niergarth
    Velosio LLC
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    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Is "rolling your own" integration to UPS / FEDEX still a thing?

    Posted 02-04-2020 10:14
    We've been using scripting to do the write-back. 

    Observation - I've been seeing companies change between FedEx and UPS more frequently than in the past. Shipping costs and service quality are most frequent factors. For organizations that want an inexpensive option, scripting has been the cheaper option. However, my opinion now is to favor StarShip as the lower cost option. StarShip makes it easy to move between FedEx and UPS contracts and it supports USPS, which is very competitive for small package and offers a 1st class mail option. In the upper Midwest, Speedee (supported by StarShip) is very competitive with FedEx/UPS and generally has better quality of service.

    The upfront cost may be higher, but over a couple of years, StarShip results in lower overall costs.

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    Myron Stevenson
    Consultant
    Clearis Consulting, Inc
    Duluth, MN
    218-525-6720
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  • 6.  RE: Is "rolling your own" integration to UPS / FEDEX still a thing?

    Posted 02-05-2020 09:24
    If it is just UPS or FedEx with NO RATE SHOPPING, then DSD's Shipping Integration (https://development.dsdinc.com/enhancement/sosi-shipping-integration/) is a great, affordable solution.  If rate shopping is required, StarShip is still the way to go as far as I know.

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    Brian Kelly
    President and Head Cheerleader
    Accounting Systems, Inc. (ASI)
    Columbia SC
    803-252-6154 x210
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  • 7.  RE: Is "rolling your own" integration to UPS / FEDEX still a thing?

    Posted 02-05-2020 11:22
    A lot of clients don't want the starship expense.  So we setup a sql instance, create a view to control data out of Sage, have UPS/Fed Ex keyed import job to pull in order information, then save back to SQL the tracking information.  Then depending on the clients processes some are just happy with a simple VI job, some are on premium and we can automate it every X minutes, or we use scripts to write it into Sage 100 every X minutes.  Typically this makes every client happy until the volume gets to high or they need rate shopping.

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    Chris Mengerink
    Director
    DWD Technology Group
    Fort Wayne IN
    260-399-8653
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